a right to go on. I wish the letters read as part of my speech.

Mr. FESSENDEN:--There is no objection to reading them.

The PRESIDING OFFICER:--The Chair has decided that the Senator from
Kentucky is in order.

Mr. POWELL:--I have not yielded, except for the purpose of reading
these letters.

The PRESIDING OFFICER:--Is an appeal taken from the decision of the
Chair?

Mr. FESSENDEN:--I take no appeal.

The Secretary read as follows:

WASHINGTON, _February 11th, 1861._

MY DEAR GOVERNOR: Governor BINGHAM and myself telegraphed
you on Saturday, at the request of Massachusetts and New
York, to send delegates to the Peace or Compromise Congress.
They admit that we were right and that they were wrong; that
no Republican State should have sent delegates; but they are
here and cannot get away. Ohio, Indiana, and Rhode Island
are caving in, and there is danger of Illinois; and now they
beg us, for God's sake, to come to their rescue, and save
the Republican party from rupture. I hope you will send
_stiff-backed_ men, or none. The whole thing was gotten up
against my judgment and advice, and will end in thin smoke.
Still, I hope as a matter of courtesy to some of our erring
brethren, that you will send the delegates.

Truly your friend,

Z. CHANDLER.

His Excellency AUSTIN BLAIR.

P.S.--Some of the manufacturing States think that a fight
would be awful. Without a little blood-letting this Union
will not, in my estimation, be worth a rush.

Mr. POWELL:--I think it evident from these letters, that there is, and
has been, a fixed purpose in certain quarters, that the Peace
Conference should do nothing. Indeed, it seems, from the letter of the
Senator from Michigan [Mr. CHANDLER], that while he opposed any
Republican State going into this Conference, yet, as some of them were
there, and Indiana, and Illinois, and Ohio, and Rhode Island were
about to cave in, on the advice of Massachusetts and New York he asked
Michigan to come in and relieve them, and save the Republican party
from rupture. Is it possible that the Republican party is to be saved,
even if the Union be destroyed? It is very evident that those
"stiff-backed" gentlemen were to be sent here in order to prevent any
compromise being presented. The object, then, as I stated, on the part
of certain members on the other side of the Chamber, has been to send
d