Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02
Thursday, January q.
In SENATE.


The Chair laid before the Senate communication
from the War Department the subject of the i'm
provement of the Ohio river below Shipping Port; and
also another communication on the SUBJECT OF orylng
the Delaware Breakwater.
MIR. Swift presented petition from citizens of Yer
ment praying the abolition Of slavery in the Dsrlc,
Of Columbia.
. On presenting this petition, MIR. Swift made
marks, which will be given at another time The petit
ton having been read,
Mr. Calhoun said, whatever the motives by which
these petitioners actuaed, the effect was the same
These gentlemen pronounce the system uncrstlan, ma
lgnant, diabocal; and it TO be expected that the
Senate could sit quietly, and receive petitions couched
in such language? Whatever the motives of the petit
TONERS, the they have adopted is calculated 10
divide this Union He demanded the question not to
receive, and asked for the yeas and nays which
ordered.
Mr.. Buchanan said, he was not only willing, but anx
ious that this question should be settled and far
his vote would 60, he ready to put it TO resi-
But we have day dish served up of Mr.: Benton
resolutions, and another have dish Of abolition 1t
would be better to lay this BILL for the present. on the
table and take up the whole inject together He moved
to lay the question Of reception on the table.
The motion was withdrawn, while 49, "~..,
,,MTl.Lsgb pointed out part Of the memorial, which,
in effect avowed the object Of the petitioners 10 act on
the slaveheldng States throughout the District Of Co
lumbia "@y=.;..
Mr. Swift. said that there other language in
which the citizens Of the North could express their SEN
tmenss He considered that the analogy was striking
between the proposition fthe Senator from Missouri TO
inquire into the expediency Of prohibiting lottery draw
inas in the District Of Columbia and the inquiry into
the slavery question in the District Of Columbia
Mr. Calhoun said his object to prevent the petit
ton from being received He did not wish to press the
matter now, but he determined to resist the intro
ducton of every petition of this character He had not
the least objection that the petition should be laid the
table. -. ...'--
MR. Webster said he had petitions in his drawer
of similar import which he had kept back until the Se
nate should have ngreed be adopted
concerning the disposition OF them.
The question was then laid on the table.
MR. Clay, from the Committee ON Foreign Relations
reported the following resolutions which lie for
consideration:
meats to the Senate if they be at his command copies
of which accompanied the French bill Of in.
demnty from the Chamber of Deputies to the Chamber
Of Peers of France the 9th of April 1885, and Of
thesreport Of committees presented to the Chamber
of Peers on the 9Th of june 1888; and also, copy Of
the original note the French language, from the DUO
de Brogiie to Mr. Barton under date fthe goth Octo
Der, 1885, translation Of which wus communicated 10
Congress with the Presidents Special Message of the
18th January, 1886.
esoped also That the President be requested Of not
incompatible with the public ~in,eres9 to communicate
60 the Senate copy Of note, if there I've one, from
Mr. Livingston to the French Minister Of fWeign AT
fairs undertake of the eth day of April 1885, and
pies Of any other official note, addressed by Mr. Liv
ingston during his mission TO France, either to The
French Minister Of Foreign Affairs the Secretary
of State, not heretofore communicated to Congress
Mr.. King of Ga. from the Committee on Foreign
Relations reported bill concerning claims under Spa
nis stes to lands in Louisiana which was read and
ordered pseoad reading, and the report was ordered
tSbs printed