Constitution. Sir, these rebels, who have disregarded and set at defiance that instrument, are, by every rule of municipal and international law, estopped from pleading it against our action. Who, then, is it that comes to us and says, you cannot do this thing,.because your Constitution does not permit it?' The Constitution! Our Constitution, which you repudiate and trample under foot, forbids it? Sir, it is an absurdity. There must be a party in court to plead it, and that party, to be entitled to plead it in court, must first acknowledge its supremacy, or he has no business to be in court at all. I repeat, then, that those who bring in this plea here, in bar of our action, are the advocates of rebels. They are nothing else, whatever they intend. I mean it, of course, in a legal sense. I mean they are acting in the capacity of counsellors-at-law for the rebels; they are speaking for them, and not for us, who are the plaintiffs in this transaction. I deny that they have any right to plead at all. I deny that they have any standing in court. I deny that they have any right to invoke this Constitution, which they deny has any authority over them, which they set at defiance and trample under foot. I deny that they can be permitted to come here and tell us we must be loyal to the Constitution." The bill was re-committed to the Judiciary Committee, and on a subsequent day reported back with a recommendation to strike out the fourth section, and insert the following: That whenever hereafter, during the present insurrection against the Government of the United States, any person claimed to be held to labor or service, un der the laws of any State, shall be required or permitted by the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due, or by the lawful agent of such person, to take up arms against the United States, or shall be required or permitted by the person to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, or his lawful agent, to work or to be employed in or upon any fort, navy-yard, dock, armory, ship, or intrenchment, or in any military or naval service whatever, against the Government and lawful authority of the United States, then, and in every such case, the person to whom such service is claimed to be due, shall forfeit his claim to such labor, any law of the State, or of the United States, to the contrary notwithstanding; and whenever thereafter the person claiming such labor or service shall seek to enforce his claim, it shall be a full and sufficient answer to such claim that the person whose service or labor is claimed had been employed in hostile service against the Government of the United States, contrary to the provisions of this act. This was adopted, and the bill passed. Ayes, 60; noes, 48. This extra session of Congress was closed August 6th. Called at the time when the President's proclamation was issued summoning an armed force to the aid of the Government, its business was primarily to provide ways and means for efficiently carrying on the military operations thus commenced. This object was met in a most liberal manner. Duties on cer tain imports were increased; a loan of two hundred and fifty millions was authorized; the issue of fifty millions of Treasury notes, reissuable as often as they might return to the Treasury, was also granted; taxes collectable at a future day were also laid, with a guarantee that they would be collected if needed. The repeal of the specie clause of the Subtreasury act, this departure from the established policy of the Government in time of peace, made the paper currency of the country at once available for the uses of the Government, and relieved the banks from the restraint which had been held upon over-issues of their circulation. The army was increased to almost any extent the President might require. One bill alone authorized the enlistment of five hundred thou sand volunteers. In short, every thing in the power of Congress was done to give strength to the arm of the Government. The spirit and opinions of the people expressed through their representatives in Congress, as shown in the preceding sketches, were of the most patriotic and harmonious character, creating sanguine anticipations of a bright, and prosperous, and united future to the whole country. The position taken by the members from the Southern States, that their constituents regard. ed the election of Mr. Lincoln as a proof that the people of the North had become so abolitionized as to intend the destruction of their domestic institutions, remained to be proved. At the extra session, when the entire control of Congress was placed in the hands of the North, no decisive expression of Northern sentiment on this point was manifested. CONNECTICUT. One of the Southern New England States, bounded north by Massachu setts, east by Rhode Island, south by Long Island Sound, and west by New York; area, 4,674 square miles; pop. in 1860, 460,147; wa tered by the Connecticut, Housatonic, Thames, and their tributaries, and numerous smaller riv. ers; the State is divided into 8 counties, viz, Hartford, Tolland, Windham, New London, Middlesex, New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield; and into 4 congressional districts, each comprising two counties, in the order above stated. Its Legislature meets annually, and consists of a Senate of 21 members, and a House of Representatives of about 260. This State held its annual election for State officers, and its biennial one for members of Congress, on the 1st of April, 1861. It resulted in the election of William A. Buckingham, the Republican candidate for Governor, by a majority of 2,086, and the entire Republican State ticket; a large Union and Republican majority in both branches of the State Legislature, and the elec tion of Messrs. Dwight Loomis, and Alfred A. Burnham, Republican members of Congress in the 1st and 3d districts, and of Messrs, James E. English and Geo. C. Woodruff, Democrat e members of Congress in the 2d and 4th districts. On the 15th of April Governor Buckingham received the President's Message, calling for 75,000 soldiers and immediately issued a proe lamation calling upon the patriotic citizens of the State to volunteer their services in aid of the General Government. The proportion of the 75,000 men required from the State was one regiment of 780 men; and the banks of the State promptly proffered the money necessary for raising, equipping, and maintaining the troops. The State Legislature met on the 1st of May, and Gov. Buckingham, in his Message, announced that 41 volunteer companies had already been accepted, and that a fifth regiment would be full in a few days. The regiments would not leave the State till they were fully equipped with camp and baggage trains, and prepared to take care of themselves on all occasions. He recommended also the organization of an efficient State militia. The Legislature promptly responded to the Governors suggestions. On the 3d of May, an act to provide for the organization and equipment of a volunteer militia and for the public defence, passed both Houses. This bill authorized and empowered the Governor to cause to be enlisted, enrolled, and mustered into the service of the State of Connecticut, for such time as he might deem expedient, volunteers, in his discretion as to numbers, not to exceed ten thousand men, to be officered, organized, armed, and equipped, in such manner as the Governor should order and direct, said force hereby authorized being in addition to the present military organization, and a part of the militia thereof. The officers and men to receive the same pay and rations while under the provisions of this act, until mustered into the service of the United States, as officers and men of the same rank and arm of service in the army of the United States. They were to be liable at all times to be turned over by the Governor to the service of the nation. They were to be paid by the State only for the time actually spent in organization, drilling, and instruction. All expenditures for arms, supplies, equipments, and transportation to be paid for by the Governor out of the State Treasury. Each volunteer was to receive ten dollars a month in addition to the regular pay of the United States, which is eleven dollars a month. Two millions of dollars were appropriated to pay the expenditures under the act. The first regiment, of 834 men, commanded by Col. Alfred H. Terry, left the State on the 10th of May; the second regiment, of 800 men, commanded by Col. Daniel Tyler, on the 13th or 14th of the same month; the third, of over 800 men, under Col. J. Arnold, on the 22d; and the fourth, of over 1,000 men, commanded by Col. Levi Woodhouse, on the 10th of June. While the great body of the people of the State were earnestly in favor of the war, there were a number who believed that the Union never could be restored by hostile measures, and who boldly avowed this opinion. These persons called what they termed "Peace Meet ings," and attempted to raise "peace flags " in various parts of the State. These proceedings roused the indignation of the citizens, who generally advocated a vigorous prosecution of the war, and led in several instances to serious collisions and acts of violence. Gov. Buckingham, on the 15th August, issued a call for four regiments of infantry to volunteer for three years or the war; and immediately on the publication of this summons, a "peace" meeting was called at Saybrook, Conn., on the 16th August, and an announcement was made that a peace flag would be raised. Those of opposite views rallied in much larger numbers than the "peace" party, and raised the Stars and Stripes, and the peace" party attacked the Union party, but were beaten off, some of them being seriously wounded. Union speeches were then made and a guard placed on the ground to prevent the raising of a "peace" flag. 66 On the 26th August, a "peace" flag was raised at New Fairfield, Conn., and an attempt to pull it down led to a vigorous fight, in which two of the "peace" men were seriously, and it was thought fatally, wounded. A similar meeting was attempted the same day at Stepney, but the peace flag was torn down, the Stars and Stripes raised, and several Union speeches made. Among those present at Stepney was a considerable party of Union men from Bridgeport, and on their return, as they passed the office of the Bridgeport "Farmer," which had been the leading organ of the "peace " party, they were, or conceived that they were, hissed and insulted; whereupon the volunteers, who formed a considerable portion of the company, attacked and sacked the office of the "Farmer." The recurrence of these disturbances in several parts of the State led Gov. Buckingham to issue the following proclamation: A PROCLAMATION. Eleven States of the Union are now armed and in open rebellion against Federal authority; they have paralyzed the business of the nation, have involved us in civil war, and are now exerting their combined energies to rob us of the blessings of a free government. The greatness of their crime has no parallel in the history of human governments. At this critical juncture, our liberties are still further imperilled by the utterance of seditious language; by a traitorous press, which excuses or justifies the rebellion; by secret organizations, which propose to resist the execution of the laws of this State by force; by the public exhibition of "peace flags," falsely so called; and by an effort to redress grievances regardless of the forms and officers of the law. prosperity of this entire nation, and the hopes of uniThe very existence of our Government, the future versal freedom demand that these outrages be suppressed. The Constitution guarantees liberty of speech and of the press, but holds the person and the press responsible for the evils which result from this liberty. It guarantees the protection of property, but it regards no property as sacred which is used to subvert governmental authority. It guarantees the person from unreasonable seizure, but it protects no individual from arrest and punishment who gives aid and comfort to the enemies of our country. It provides by law for the punishment of offences, but allows no grievance to be redressed by violence. I, therefore, call upon the citizens of this State to support and uphold the authority and dignity of the Government, and to abstain from every act which can tend to encourage and strengthen this conspiracy; and I call upon the officers of the law to be active, diligent, and fearless in arresting and in instituting legal proceedings for the punishment of those who disturb the public peace, of those who are guilty of sedition and treason, and of those who are embraced in combinations to obstruct the execution of the laws; so that peace may again be restored to our distracted country, and the liberties of the people be preserved. Given under my hand and the seal of this State, at Hartford, this thirty-first day of August, A. D. 1861. WM. A. BUCKINGHAM. By His Excellency's command, J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL, the navy-yard at Warrington, Florida, when it was surrendered on the 12th of January. When ordered by Lieutenant Commanding Francis B. Renshaw to haul down the national flag, he promptly and indignantly refused to obey the order. A naval general court-martial held for the trial of the commandant of the yard submitted to the Secretary of the Navy," the propriety, justice, and good policy of bestowing some appropriate mark of approbation of the loyalty, spirit, and good conduct of Conway." The Department ordered this testimonial of the court to be publicly read by the commanders of all naval stations, and all vessels in commission. COTTON. The consumption of cotton in the year 1861 was greatly curtailed by the unfortunate events in the United States, which cut off the largest source of supply to the manufacturing world. Comparatively, the quantities consumed were as follows: Secretary of State. On the 9th of October the Legislature met in extra session on the call of the Governor, to provide for more soldiers and do it liberally; to rectify some errors in the militia laws passed the previous session, and to decide whether the State would assume its share of the direct national tax or leave the Government to collect it. In his Message, Gov. Buckingham stated to the Legislature that the expense incurred to the 1st of October, on account of volunteers, had Europe generally," been $943,939, which had been met by the money in the Treasury, and the sale of $800,000 of the bonds authorized by the Legislature, which had commanded a premium, the State having no previous debt. He then proceeded to say: "The calls made upon volunteers, for the national defence, have met with a hearty response, and but for a hesitancy on the part of the General Government to accept more troops, we might have had twelve or fifteen thousand men in the field to-day. We have, however, organized, equipped, sent into the field, and have now ready nine regiments of infantry. Their camp equipage was complete, and their appointments were highly respectable. About five thousand Sharp's and Enfield rifles have been purchased, and contracts made for an equal number of the latter arms, which have not yet been delivered. Arrangements have also been made to arm, uniform, and furnish complete equipments for two other regiments now rendezvousing, and for one not yet organized." The Legislature held a session of one week, and before adjourning conferred on the Governor unlimited power to raise volunteers; authorized another loan of two million dollars, and the assuming of the collection of the nation al tax, by which 15 per cent. would be saved to the people of the State. Before the 1st of January, the State had thirteen fully and well equipped regiments in the field; and before the 1st of March, 1862, the number had been increased to fifteen regiments, besides a large number of her citizens who had joined regiments in other States or arms of the service, not represented in the volunteer corps of the State. CONWAY, WILLIAM. An aged seaman, who was a quartermaster in the navy, on duty in Great Britain, bales. Total bales................ 1826. 1860. 1×61. 560,000 2,683,000′ 2,258,000 98,110 972,058 843,749 281,100 625,501 578.20 129,600 970,200) 991,000 1,058,810 5,200,754, 4,655,940 The increase of consumption as expressed in bales does not represent the whole increase, for the reason that the process of packing has gradually improved, and the bales, without occupying more room, contain more cotton. In 1850 the average weight of bales was 392 lbs.; in 1861, 425 lbs. The weight of United States cotton in 1850 was 423 lbs., and in 1861 500 lbs. Hence the actual increase of consumption has been fivefold since 1826, and nearly the whole of the increase has been supplied from the United States. The actual production and consumption in the United States, with the average annual export price, down to the close of the fiscal year 1861, are given in the following table. (See p. 253.) The consumption of cotton in the United States has increased very rapidly without diminishing the surplus spared for exportation. On the other hand, the quantity exported has annually and largely increased. The United States surplus has in fact long been the sole dependence for supplying cotton goods to Great Britain and Europe. This fact has been a source of anxiety to the English Government as well as to the spinners, who have foreseen the great calamity of a "cotton famine" which sooner or later would overtake them, and they have long sought other sources of supply. For more than fifty years India has been the scene of extensive enterprises, and the results may be expressed in the language of the report of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, January, 1861: "The East India Company's experiments for the purpose of introducing American cotton are now brought to a close. They com menced in 1788, and have hitherto resulted, notwithstanding an expenditure of $1,750,000, in signal failure." That India, as well as many EXPORT FROM AND CONSUMPTION OF COTTON IN THE UNITED STATES. 16.2 10.7 9.9 value. price. 1827. 44,854,800 294 810,115 29,359,545 10 1828. 86,177,900 210,590,469 22,487,229 1829. 85,655,900 264,837,186 26,575,811 10 1830.. 37,953,600 298,459,102 29,674,883 276,979,784 1832. 60,210,000 822,215,122 1883. 68,054,200 824,698,604 1634. 68,745,500 884,717,907 1835. 76,710,800 1586. 82,856,500 9.1 25,289,492 81,724,682 86,191,105 1837. 77,879,000 444,211,587 68,240,102 1893. 86,121,000 595,952,207 61,556,811 1839. 96,605,900 413,624,212 61,238,982 14.2 1840.. 118,077,200 748,941,061 63,870,807 8.5 1841.. 119,715,200 530,204,100 54,330,841 10.2 1842. 107,240,000 584,717,017 1843. 180,056,600 792,297,106 47,593,464 663,633,455 8.1 6.2 54,068,501 8.1 1845.. 155,602,400 872,905,996 51,789,643 1846. 169,138,800 1847. 171,186,800 1848. 212,708,800 1849, 207,215,600 66,896,967 1,026,602,269 1850. 207,511,800 635,881,604 1851. 160,543,471 927,287,089 71,984,616 112,315,317 1,093,230,639 1853. 285,178,800 1,111,570,870 87,965,782 109,456,404 1854.. 259,492,600 987,883,106 1855. 1856. 1857.. 1859. 1859. 1860. 1861. of this American cotton for one of any other. Its price ranges from 6 to 12 cents. It is now 25 cents, as a war price. The Indian or Surat cotton is a dry, fuzzy, It is harsh, and very short-stapled article. used exclusively for weft, mixed with American. If it is used alone the cloth has a rough, woolly feel, and after washing or bleaching has a thin, meagre look. It has, however, a good color, and is cheap. Its market price is generally two-thirds that of the United States cotton. If the United States article were sufficiently abundant, and as cheap, the Surat cotton would not be used at all. The greatest efforts have been made to naturalize the American cotton in India; but where it lives at all, it in three years degenerates into the Surat sort, Thus the difficulty in supply is not so much quantity as quality, but the quantity is also a serious matter. The present United States growth has been developed under the most favorable circumstances of new land and labor 10.84 in the space of sixty-six years, and in the last ten the consumption has so outrun production that the price has constantly risen without 12.11 drawing from other sources much if any increase of supply. 5.92 547,558,055 42,767,341 7.81 527,219,958 58,415,848 814,274,481 61,998,294 7.61 6.4 11.3 8.05 9.85 9.47 9.49 12.72 93,596,220 The supply of cotton from sources other than 252,278,200 1,008,424,601 88,143,844 8.74 the United States exceeded that of the latter 293,728,000 128,382,351 1,851,481,701 12.55 by 44 per cent. up to 1820. From that time 368,962,100 131,575,859 1,048,282,475 166,536,100 1,118,624,012 181,386,661 11.72 up to 1845 the United States supply gained 440,534,800 161,434,923 1,886,468,556 10.85 rapidly. After that date the spread of manu461,720,200 1,767,686,388 191,806,555 400,776,500 807,516,099 84,051,483 11.07 facture in the United States trenched upon the quantities that otherwise could have been exported, while on the part of other producing countries the machine-made goods of England gradually supplanted the local hand manufactures. The result was a larger quantity of raw cotton to be sent to England, but also a larger demand for goods thence, until all the cottonproducing countries, except the United States, buy more cotton of England than they send thither.. The proof is in the following table, showing from the official sources the weight of cotton imported, and the weight of cotton goods returned to each country in 1861: other places on the globe's surface, does produce cotton there is no doubt; but the cotton is nowhere equal to the American. The cotton mostly manufactured is of several sorts: A fine long-stapled cotton called "Sea Island," grown only on the coast of Georgia. It has a small black seed, and is easily cleaned. The quantity is very small, not over 20,000,000 lbs. per annum being made. It is used mostly for muslin thread and the finest numbers of yarns-100 and upwards. It will command generally 50 cents per lb.; but as it is used in those descriptions of goods of which the greatest cost is the labor, the price is not so material. A similar description of poorer quality is grown in Australia to a small extent. There is also a long, strong, fine yellowish cotton grown in Egypt. From Brazil comes a coarse, harsh, bright-colored cotton, but strong and long-stapled, and a very small quantity of similar cotton from the West Indies. These long-stapled cottons are required to spin into yarns higher than No. 50's, and make the "warp," that is, the longitudinal threads of cloth. The short cottons will not answer for these yarns. The great American crop is a soft, white, silky medium staple, and is used for the lower or coarse numbers of warp and mostly for the weft. Every piece of cotton cloth requires two to five times as much weft as warp, and the whole manufacture requires nine pounds There were reexported from England 166,000,000 lbs. of the products of other countries to mix with the American cotton used in EuHence it will be observed that the rope. American supply is alone that on which the trade depends. In those years in which the American crop falls short the price rises in Liverpool, and, as a consequence, more is drawn from the other countries, as in the year 1861. The following table shows the quantities imported into Great Britain from each chief source since 1820, with the average price of leading descriptions in Liverpool for each year. IMPORTATION OF COTTON INTO GREAT BRITAIN, SHOWING THE SOURCES OF SUPPLY AND THE ANNUAL AVERAGE PRICES IN LIVERPOOL. 722,151,346 19,703,600 651,629,424 24,577,932 780,040,016 21,830,704 84,616,848 654,758,048 29,910,832 24,882,144 833,237,776 18,617,872 88,248,112 961,707,264 22,473,960 83,106,096 192,330,880 17,296,864 44,086,608 204,141,169 17,367,525 41,079,650 870,687,950 23,503,003 119,836,009 409,110 1,780,081 887,888,149 32,904,153 145,179,216 891,751,952 180,496,624 1,028,886,804 250,838,144 969,318,896 132,722,576 1,084,842,176 1861.. These have been the sources of supply, and it is to be observed that high as the prices have risen in the markets of the world under the effective demand of increased consumption among the growing numbers and improved condition of the people of most civilized countries, there has been no marked increase of production among the old sources of supply, nor have any new ones made their appearance, notwithstanding the long-continued efforts of the Cotton Supply Association. These efforts have been numerous and well directed through the agency of the British consuls and commercial agents in all parts of the world. Seeds and machines have been placed at the command of cultivators, and great numbers have entered into the culture without, as yet, much result. In the past year the efforts of the Association have been directed to the following places: Turkey in Europe has begun the culture under great difficulties, arising from the nature of the government. Greece has had seeds distributed throughout its departments. Cyprus has 80,000 acres under cotton, with English capital. Asia Minor. Under Sir Macdonald Stephenson seeds have been distributed in the valley of the Meander. Egypt. There are efforts being made to in 468,452 6,992,755 crease the production from 100,000 bales to 1,000,000, by English agency. Tunis. The English influence with the Bey of Tunis has impressed him with the importance of rivalling Egypt in cotton. Madeira. Cotton has been introduced with success. Sierra Leone. An English trader has commenced the culture, and native merchants are purchasing cotton-gins in England. Sherbo. The supply of native cotton is fair, and with a steady demand will increase, it is supposed. Liberia. Great efforts are made to introduce cotton as the staple culture. Gold Coast. The English governor is very active in promoting the cotton culture. Two societies have the matter in charge, and taxes are payable in cotton, which sells at one cent per lb. in the seed. When cleaned it brings fifteen in Liverpool. There are many millions of Africans who may be engaged in the cotton trade. Lagos supplies the present African cotton, and the quantity is about 3,500 bales. The New York Civilization Society have made arrangements with the chiefs of the neighbor hood for an allotment of five hundred acres land to be cultivated with cotton by a colony of free blacks from the United States. A similar company is organized in London. |