PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE, ON THE CRITTENDEN RESOLUTION DECLARING THE
OBJECT OF THE WAR, JULY 24 AND 25, 1861.
July 4th, 1861, Congress met in extraordinary session, at
the call of the President, to make provision for the welfare
of the country, and especially for the prosecution of the
war. Meanwhile, Mr. Crittenden, so famous for his attempt at
Compromise, had ceased to be a Senator, but he had become a
member of the other House. Here he introduced a resolution,
declaring the object of the war, which was adopted by the House
with only two dissenting votes.
July 24, the same resolution, in nearly the same words,
was introduced into the Senate by Hon. Andrew Johnson, of
Tennessee, afterwards President, who pressed a vote at once,
even without having it printed. On Mr. Sumner’s objection it
was postponed. His few words in making this objection have
significance, as showing his feeling towards Mr. Johnson at
that time, and also his unwillingness that the Senate should
commit itself hastily to a proposition which, under the name of
the “Crittenden Resolution,” was destined to play an important
part.