CONGKESS, U. S. 



205 





which might be looked upon as a proof that 

 conciliation was its ultimate purpose. 



Mr. Adrain, of New Jersey, moved a pream- 

 ble and resolution deprecating the spirit of dis- 

 obedience, and recommended that all laws con- 

 flicting with the Constitution be repealed. On 

 a division of the House this was adopted. Ayes, 

 153 ; noes, 14. 



As an offset to this, Mr. Lovejoy, of Illinois, 

 offered a preamble and resolution similar to the 

 preceding, except that it embraced also the re- 

 peal of all " nullification laws so called," to- 

 gether with other laws conflicting with the 

 Constitution. 



Upon this, Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, boldly 

 declared : u The truth is, Mr. Speaker, that 

 there is no propriety, as I conceive, in under- 

 taking to fool each other or the country by the 

 resolutions that may be introduced. Now, let 

 us meet this question fairly. The gentleman 

 from Illinois is not afraid to vote for any thing 

 which he is in favor of; nor am I. Let a reso- 

 lution be introduced by the member from Ohio, 

 or the member from Illinois, or any other mem- 

 ber, stating exactly what each of us understands 

 to be our constitutional rights in regard to sla- 

 very, and let us vote on it. I have no objection 

 to vote on any proposition that may be pre- 

 sented.'" 



This resolution of Mr. Lovejoy was adopted 

 by ayes, 136 ; noes, none. 



Upon the first opportunity after the passage 

 of this preamble and resolution, Mr. Morris, of 

 Illinois, claimed the floor. He had been en- 

 deavoring for some days, without success, to 

 get before the House a strong Union resolution. 

 The report in detail of the proceedings is not 

 without its interest. 



Mr. Morris, of Illinois : " Mr. Speaker, I 

 now send up to the Clerk's desk a resolution 

 upon which I desire the vote of the House." 



Mr. Landrum : " I rise to a question of 

 order. I call for the regular order of business." 



The Speaker: "The Chair must be allowed 

 to say to the gentleman from Louisiana that, al- 

 though these proceedings seem a little irregu- 

 lar, yet, under the rules, the House is now pro- 

 ceeding with the regular order of business." 



Mr. Morris : " I am now entitled to the floor, 

 and I do not yield it to any one, nor do I intend 

 to be cheated out of it." 



The Speaker : " The Chair has assigned the 

 floor to the gentleman from Illinois, and he will 

 submit his proposition." 



Mr. Morris : " Yes, sir, I have the floor, and 

 I want to see a fair fight. This House has 

 to-day, by large majorities, recommended the 

 repeal of the acts of the State Legislatures, 

 known as personal liberty laws, recommending 

 the repeal of the nullification laws, and all laws 

 in violation of the Constitution and laws of the 

 United States. Now it only remains for us to 

 declare our devotion to the Union of these 

 States." 



Mr. Barksdale : " I call the gentleman from 

 Illinois to order." 



Mr. Morris : " I do not yield to the gentle- 

 man from Mississippi, or to any other gentle- 

 man." 



Mr. Hughes : " Permit me to call the atten- 

 tion of the Chair to the question of order be- 

 fore the House. I think that while the House 

 is carrying out the regular order of business 

 under the 130th rule, the motion to suspend 

 the rules is not in order." 



Mr. Morris : " I decline to yield the floor to 

 the gentleman from Maryland or to any other 

 gentleman. I ask that my resolution may be 

 read." 



The resolution was read, as follows : 



Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 

 properly estimate the immense value of our national 

 Union to our collective and individual happiness ; that 

 we cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attach- 

 ment to it ; that we will speak of it as of the palladium 

 of our political safety and prosperity ; that we will 

 watch its preservation with jealous anxiety ; that we 

 will discountenance whatever may suggest even a sus- 

 picion that it can, in any event, be abandoned, and in- 

 dignantly frown upon the first dawning of every at- 

 tempt to alienate any portion of our country from the 

 rest, or enfeeble the sacred ties which now link to- 

 gether the various parts ; that we regard it as a main 

 pillar in the edifice of our real independence, the sup- 

 port of tranquillity at home, our peace abroad, our 

 safety, our prosperity, and that very liberty which we 

 so highly prize ; that we have seen nothing in the 

 past, nor do we see any thing in the present, either in 

 the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of 

 the United States, or from any other existing cause, to 

 justify its dissolution ; that we regard its perpetuity 

 as of more value than the temporary triumph of any 

 party or any man ; that whatever evils or abuses exist 

 under it ought to be corrected within the Union, in a 

 peaceful and constitutional way; that we believe it 

 has sufficient power to redress every wrong and 

 enforce every right growing out of its organization 

 or pertaining to its proper functions ; and that it is a 

 patriotic duty to stand by it as our hope in peace and 

 our defence in war. 



Mr. Landrum : " I object to that reso- 

 lution." 



Mr. Branch : " I have no objection to the 

 reception of the resolution ; but I move that it 

 be referred to the Select Committee of Thirty- 

 three." 



Mr. Morris : " As I understand there is ob- 

 jection to the resolution, I move a suspension 

 of the rules. The resolution is in the language 

 of the Farewell Address of the Father of his 

 Country, and I want to see who will vote 

 against it." 



Mr. Jenkins: "I desire to ask the gentle- 

 man from Illinois, whether Lincoln had been 

 elected in "Washington's time ? " [Cries of 

 " Order ! "] 



The question was taken, and the rules 

 were suspended, (two-thirds having voted 

 therefor.) 



Mr. Morris then submitted his resolution, and 

 demanded the previous question upon it. 



The previous question was seconded, and the 

 main question ordered to be put. 



Mr. Hindman called for the yeas and naya 

 upon the resolution. 



The yeas and nays were ordered. 



