AFFAIRS OF THE NATION: Likelihood of an Agreement by the Peace Conference; THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION: Progress of the President Elect Towards Washington (2/15/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 2/15/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Thursday, Feb. 14.

The Senate had a prolonged EXecutive session to day, over the nomination of PETIT for United States Judge of Kansas. Contrary to expectation, he would have been confirmed, had a vote been obtained, but it is rumored that this was defeated by repeated calls of the Yeas and Nays.

It is a very unfortunate fact that some Republican Senators are generally absent when their votes are most needed. This is an abuse which needs correction or rebuke. The whole number of Senators, since the secession of six States, is 54, of which the Republicans are just one-half, leaving the casting vote with the Vice-President. DOUGLAS, it is understood, will never vote for PETIT, and this would defeat his confirmation, if all the Republicans were present, as it requires an affirmative majority. If PETIT shall be fastened for life as a judicial incubus upon Kansas, by the absence of a Republican Senator at the critical moment, the public will hold such Senator responsible.

Against Judge BLACK's confirmation there will be, at least, twenty-nine votes in full Senate. As Messrs. DOUGLAS and PUGH are both against him, Republican absenteeism can alone help him to the Supreme Bench.

Quite a breeze arose in the House to-day upon BRANCH's proposition to censure Gen. SCOTT and order the military out of the District. The resolution was not a direct censure, but amounted to that. He attempted to snap it through the House under the previous question, but Mr. HOWARD obtained the floor, and by a coup d'etat BRANCH's proposition was tabled by more than a two thirds vote. This whole matter arose upon the special resolution to investigate concerning the contemplated attack upon the city.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

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Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3934453/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Affairs of the Nation: Likelihood of an Agreement by the Peace Conference – 2-4
The Virginia Convention – 4
The Incoming Administration: Progress of the President Elect Towards Washington – 4-5
The West-Secession Defeated – 5-6
Editorial: Reasons for Patience – 6-7
Editorial: The Cotton Movement in England – 7-8
What Will They Do About It? – 8
What Virginia Means by Union – 8