[164]
Louisiana, and Florida have been seized with hostile and treasonable intention; and whereas, senators and representatives in Congress avow and sanction these acts of treason and rebellion; therefore,
Resolved, That the legislature of Massachusetts now, as always, convinced of the inestimable value of the Union, as the necessity of preserving its blessing to ourselves and our posterity, regard with unmingled satisfaction the determination evinced in the recent firm and patriotic special message of the President of the United States to apply and faithfully discharge his constitutional duty of enforcing the laws and preserving the integrity of the Union, and we proffer to him, through the Governor of the Commonwealth, such aid in men and money as he may require, to maintain the authority of the national government.
Resolved, That the Union-loving and patriotic authorities, representatives, and citizens of those States whose loyalty is endangered or assailed by internal or external treason, who labor in behalf of the Federal Union with unflinching courage and patriotic devotion, will receive the enduring gratitude of the American people.
Resolved, That the governor be requested to forward, forthwith, copies of the foregoing resolutions to the President of the United States and the governors of the several States.
These resolutions followed the message to Congress of
President Buchanan.
So the matter stood until the 5th of February, when
Mr. Tyler, of
Boston, for the
Committee on Finance, reported that an emergency bill ought to pass, and said that the committee had received information of an alarming character, which rendered it necessary that the
Executive should at once be provided with means of defence.
Mr. Slack said lie supposed he violated no confidence in saying that within the last twenty-four hours the Finance Committee had received the most alarming information.
It might be that an attack would be made upon
Washington, within the next fifteen days.
Mr. Davis, of
Greenfield, said he was in favor of the bill, but thought the information could not properly be communicated to the public, and he therefore moved that the
House go into secret session.
The motion was agreed to, and sitting with closed doors, the
House passed the bill, as follows:--
There is hereby appropriated the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, to be designated as the Emergency Fund, which shall be paid out of the treasury of this Commonwealth, from ordinary revenue, on any
