Congressional.
Washington, Dec. 20.
--Senate.--Mr. Morrill's Tariff bill was tabled.
Mr. Clarke's resolution of inquiry into the condition of Fort Moultrie, its garrison, &c., was brought up.
Mr. Hunter said the discussion of the question might lead to the presentation of facts that might result in a conflict between the troops and people of South Carolina, and thus precipitate results which all were anxious to avoid.
Mr. Mason said it would be but a few days before events would take place which would enable Congress to act in the face of open facts, and thought action should be delayed until then.
Mr. Davis opposed the resolution, which was laid over.
Mr. Slidell, on a question of privilege, exonerated the reporter of the Associated Press in Washington from the charge, made yesterday, of sending a false dispatch, but said as the agents were dispersed over the country, and were a unit in action, he would introduce a resolution expelling the one in the Senate gallery, and would call it up at the end of four days.
Mr. Johnson's resolution was taken up.
Mr. Pugh replied to the speech of Wade, of Ohio.
He stood up boldly in defence of the Northern Democracy.
The animus of Republicanism was to denounce all as traitors who disagreed with it. He recited the absurdities and outrages of the Republicans, and adverted to the fact that no Northern Senator had signified his approval of Mr. Crittenden's proposition to incorporate the Missouri Compromise with the Constitution.
He urged them to give peace to the country by a conciliatory proposition.
Mr. Wade said — They wanted security for good behavior.
Mr. Pugh resumed. Mr. Wade had said the day of compromise is past.
Then, I say the day of Union has passed; for the Constitution was a compromise.
He besought the Republicans to adopt Crittenden's compromise.
The times were perilous.
The telegraph might at any moment announce that a State had withdrawn, and all knew five others were arranging preliminaries to follow.
Beneath the federal structure was a hidden giant which now showed signs of motion.
His voice was storm and his movement earthquake.
Mr. P. refuted Mr. Johnson's argument, it was the duty of the Government to coerce a seceding State.
It was a matter of discretion only.
He eloquently depicted the horrors of civil war, and said he would retire from the Senate if he thought the sentiments of the people of Ohio were truly represented by Wade.
He concluded with the touching picture of the invisible hand inscribed on the wall, "Mene, mene, tekel Upharsin."
The Chair announced the following committee under the resolution of Mr. Powell, referring the President's Message to a committee of thirteen: Powell, of Ky.; Hunter, of Va.; Crittenden, of Ky.; Seward, of N. Y.; Toombs, of Ga.; Douglas, of Ill.; Collamer, of Vt.; Wade, of O.; Bigler, of Pa.; Rice, of Min. Doolittle, of Wis.; and Green, of Mo.
Mr. Davis asked to be excused from serving on the committee.
Granted.
The bill granting the right of way to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was debated and made the order of the day for to-morrow.
The Senate then went into Executive session and adjourned.
House.--Mr. Delano asked leave to offer a resolution requesting the President to communicate from whom he received the communication alluded to by Mr. Miles, in the Charleston Convention yesterday, in relation to an attack on Fort Moultrie if reinforced.--Ruled out.
The Pacific Railroad bill was discussed and passed — ayes 95, nays 74. 