FEDERAL RELATIONS.
The PRESIDENT announced the consideration of the minority report of the Committee on Federal Relations-identical with joint resolution [S 4] on pages 44 and 45 of these Reports.
Mr. RAY, in behalf of a minority who voted for the resolution sending commissioners to Washington, submitted their protest, which was ordered to be spread upon the journals, as follows:
Mr. President:
The undersigned, Democratic members of the Senate, having voted on Thursday last in favor of the joint resolutions authorizing the Governor to appoint five commissioners to attend the conference of States at Washington city on the 4th of February, proximo, and having voted under protest, respectfully submit the following reasons for their vote, and ask that the same be spread on the journals of the Senate.
We voted for the resolutions,notwithstanding the conditions and limitations imposed by them on the discretion and action of the commissioners, because we were deeply impressed, not only with our own responsibilities, but with the magnitude of the issues involved in the result of the proposed conference, and we hailed with pleasure any proposition coming from the Republican majority, which looked towards a peaceful solution of the grave controversies threatening our existence as a Nation.
But while it was our pleasure to support the resolutions appointing said commissioners, we respectfully protest against sending commissioners to said conference with all discretion withheld, and all power abrogated, by the resolutions of their appointment, as amounting to a mocking of the patriotic ends of the conference proposed by Virginia and Kentucky, as trifling with the solemn facts and portentous signs of a revolutionary hour.
We protest against the provision prohibiting the commissioners to act until nineteen States shall be represented in the conference, as evincing a purpose of preserving the politic forms of negotiation, while the powers to negotiate are withheld.
We protest, also, against the provision of said resolution requesting the postponement of said conference, because every day's delay weakens the bonds of Union, and forces into view new obstacles to the peace and tranquility of the country.
page: 164[View Page 164]We also protest, because the resolutions do not indicate any, but virtually deny all, means of settling our National controversies by other means than the sword.
And we especially protest against the Implied hostility contained in the resolution, to all measures of conciliation and compromise, as well as against the unfriendly and reluctant manner in which it has pleased the majority to respond to the fraternal invitations from Virginia and Kentucky, as manifesting a settled purpose to insure the failure of the conference.
J. N. CONLEY, THOMAS E. COBB, M. W. SHIELDS, S. K. WOLFE, FRANKLIN LANDERS, SMITH JONES, JOHN C. SHOEMAKER, H. K. WILSON, M. M. RAY, THOMAS SHOULDERS, QUINTIN LOMAX, ARCH. JOHNSTON, M. T. CARNAHAN, A. B. LINE, C. P. FERGUSON, CORNELIUS O'BRIEN, W. C. TARKINGTON
On motion by Mr. BLAIR the consideration of the report was postponed till Thursday next at 10 o'clock.
