Pennsylvania, in favor of original resolutions offered by Mr. Critten den. Petition of citizens of Montrose, Iowa, praying that measures may be submitted to the people for settlement of present difficulties. Petition of citizens of Washington county, Pennsylvania, in favor of Crittenden resolutions. Proceedings and resolutions of union meeting held in Mason county, Kentucky. The following witnesses were examined: No. 7. George R. Wilson, Washington. No. 8. John R. Tormey, Baltimore, Maryland. At 2 o'clock p. m. the committee resumed its session. Present, Messrs. Branch, Dawes, and the Chairman. The following witnesses were examined : No. 10. John B. Clark, House of Representatives. The Chairman, pursuant to instructions of the committee, addressed the following communication to the Secretary of the Navy: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 30, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to enclose the following inquiries, by direction of the special committee, and to request an answer at your earliest convenience, viz: 1st. Are there any officers and seamen unemployed at the present time; and if so, how many? 2d. Are there enough of each to man all the unemployed vessels, should occasion require? 3d. Does, in your opinion, the disturbed condition of the country make it expedient for Congress to place at the disposal of the department additional money for repairs or other purposes, and how much? Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. ISAAC TOUCEY, WILLIAM A. HOWARD, Chairman. Secretary of the Navy. Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. THURSDAY, January 31, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following papers were received from the House : H. R. 68. Joint resolution relative to a vote of the people of the several States on propositions to amend the Constitution of the United States. H. R. 957. A bill to provide for taking the sense of the people of the several States on certain proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Joint resolutions adopted by the legislature of Pennsylvania, relative to the maintenance of the Union. Petition of citizens of Pennsylvania in favor of the Crittenden resolutions. The following witnesses were examined: No. 11. Winfield Scott, United States army. FRIDAY, February 1, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following witnesses were examined: No. 16. Enoch Louis Lowe, Frederick city, Maryland. SATURDAY, February 2, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following witness was examined: No. 20. Wm. M. McCauley, Washington. The following paper was received from the House: Petition of citizens of Eastham, Massachusetts, in favor of Crittenden resolutions. The Chairman, in pursuance of the instructions of the committee, addressed the following to Governor Hicks, of Maryland: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 2, 1861. MY DEAR SIR: Several days since the special committee charged by the House with making certain inquiries directed its Chairman to respectfully request your excellency's attendance on the committee at the Capitol, at such time as might suit your convenience. Accordingly, I will name Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, of next week, the 4th, 5th, or 6th instant, as may best suit you. May I ask the favor of a reply? Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. MONDAY, February 4, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following papers were received from the House : H. R. 69. Joint resolution in regard to existing questions of controversy. Reported to the House from this committee, and recommitted. H. R. 968. A bill further to provide for calling forth the militia of the United States in certain cases. Also H. R. 969, (recommitted.) A bill further to provide for the collection of duties on imports. The following witness was examined : TUESDAY, February 5, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The Chairman laid before the committee a communication from the Secretary of the Navy in reply to a call of the committee of the 30th ultimo, which was dated the 4th instant. The following witnesses were examined: No. 24. Charles G. Wagner, Washington. WEDNESDAY, February 6, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following witnesses were examined: No. 25. O. K. Hillard, Baltimore, Maryland. No. 26. Philip T. Dawson, Baltimore, Maryland. The following papers were received from the House: Petition of the committee of thirty-three, appointed at the workingmen's mass meeting, held in Philadelphia, January 26, 1861, in relation to the dissensions between the north and south. Petition of citizens of Vinalhaven, Maine, in favor of Crittenden compromise. Petition of citizens of Pennsylvania in favor of the Crittenden compromise. Petition of citizens of New York in favor of the border State compromise. The Chairman informed the committee that he had received a letter from Governor Hicks, of Maryland, in reply to the one of the Chairman of the 2d instant, in which Governor Hicks stated that his time was so engrossed by business affairs of importance, that he desired the committee would not insist upon his attendance before them, unless they deemed it exceedingly important, in which case he, of course, would attend. After consultation, the committee instructed the Chairman to address a communication to the governor requesting his attendance. The Chairman accordingly addressed the following communication to Governor Hicks, of Maryland: COMMITTEE ROOM, February 6, 1861. MY DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 4th instant was received and placed before the committee. They have directed me to say that they are very desirous of quieting unreasonable apprehensions, as well as of establishing important facts. They much desire the attendance of your excellency, if possible. If you can reach Washington in the morning, our prompt attention might enable you to return on the same evening. Hoping to hear from you on return mail, I remain your obedient servant, WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. His Excellency THOMAS H. HICKS, Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. THURSDAY, February 7, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following papers were received from the House: Resolutions of the legislature of the State of Delaware, approving the Crittenden resolutions. Petition of citizens of Prince George's, Maryland, in favor of the border State compromise. Memorial of citizens of Putnam, Connecticut, praying Congress to instruct the President to put down treason and rebellion as the most effectual means of preserving the Union. Proceedings of a union meeting in Princeton, Indiana, in favor of the Crittenden or border State compromise. The following witness was examined: No. 11.—Winfield Scott, (continued.) Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. FRIDAY, February 8, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following papers were received from the House: Petition of citizens of Brown county, Indiana, in favor of the Crittenden compromise. Six memorials by citizens of Philadelphia, praying Congress to stand firm for the Union, the Constitution as it is, and the enforcement of the laws. The committee proceeded to consider the manner of closing up their labors and reporting to the House. The Chairman was instructed to prepare a report to accompany the testimony taken by this committee in pursuance of the resolution of the House, directing them to inquire whether a secret organization exists in this city having for its object an attack upon the Capitol, &c. Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. SATURDAY, February 9, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The Chairman laid before the committee the following communication: EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Annapolis, February 7, 1861. MY DEAR SIR: Your kind favor came, and found me laboring, as is my fortune, every moment of time, except the short period devoted to sleep each twenty-four hours. I am quite desirous, as indicated in a former letter, to visit Washington, but at this time doubt the policy, occupying the peculiar position I do. Yet, if really thought by yourself and committee very material, I will go to Washington. I can do no more than repeat verbal relations made, and written statements. One of the men making an important communication is an office holder in Washington, as reputable and veracious as any man, and brother to a delegate to the peace congress, now in session. Cannot you or some member of your committee run over and see me here? Obediently, &c., Hon. WILLIAM A. HOWARD. The following witness was examined: THOMAS H. HICKS. No. 27.-Joseph H. Boyd, Baltimore, Maryland. t MONDAY, February 11, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following papers were received from the House: Remonstrance of citizens of Little Falls, New York, against making concessions to or compromises with slavery. Memorial of citizens of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, praying Congress to adopt measures to settle present difficulties. Memorial of citizens of Philadelphia in favor of the Crittenden resolutions, as amended by Mr. Bigler. Four petitions of citizens of Philadelphia in favor of the Constitution and Union as it is, and the enforcement of the laws. Joint resolutions of Minnesota on the state of the Union. Memorial and resolutions of the constitutional union party of New Hampshire on the disturbed condition of the country. Mr. BRANCH submitted the following: Resolved, That his excellency Thomas H. Hicks, governor of Maryland, be earnestly and respectfully invited to appear before the committee, and give them any information in his possession touching the matters into which the committee have been instructed by the House of Representatives to inquire. |