rainy and disagreeable. Busy writing until the time to go to the Committee. The House met but did little or nothing. We went on in the old way discussing the proposal of Mr Millson with its ruinous riders. At last, after amending it so as to draw its teeth we rejected it. Then, we came upon some propositions to pledge ourselves about slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr Carwin seemed over anxious to bring us to a vote untill I broke out and declared myself in favor of abolishing it, and only retained from action by the conviction that it was unnecessary—since slavery was waning out without the need of it. I then warned gentlemen of the change that was taking place in the opinion of our region from the action of Major Anderson and from the rumor that was going abroad of a conspiracy to seize the capitol by force. This change rendered it impracticable for us to do any thing more in the way of concession on such small matters even. I therefore trusted they would not be further pressed. This destroyed them in fact. We did not get through the question further before adjournment. Since the last secession the committee has become quite thin, and can scarcely retain a quorum. And indeed it has pretty nearly done its office. I said I would vote straight through against any and every amendment to the constitution that might be hereafter offered. I also intimated very broadly that if the gentlemen continued to oppose what we had done we might as well give up all further progress. In point of fact we have got them in a corner, and we can do pretty much as we like. Home to dinner. We had invited Mr Chandler of Boston and a young Mr Porter, but they declined.