The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-12-20
Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury.

"a Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury.
S''' sS,@ 80 WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. l3, ls4s.
The slavery question has been the principa
topic in both Houses to.day-lhe topic of debate
in the Senate, and of action in the House.
-4The ball was opened in the Senate by Mr..
Benton, who presented a memorial from New
Mexico, asking for the establishment of a civil
government, the exclusion of slavery, and the
non.mulilaton of their territory ny incorpora.
ting any portion of il with Texas. He thought
this was very reasonable, AMI proper, and
pertinent petition, and that it ought to be referred
tn the Committee on Territories.
Mr.. Calhoun, on The other hand, though! it
was an insoltnt and unreasonable petition, and
thai il came under that class OF Abolition petit
tnns. the question of receiving which had al.
ways been laid on the table in the Senate, and
he hoped that course would be pursued with
this, .,yS
IIereupon arose very spirited and some
what tart debate, wherein Messrs. Benton, Cal.
hat,n, Wesico,t, Brrrirn, Footc, Clayton, and
Hale participated. and which was finally termi-
mated by tho reception the petition, by vote
of 33 ayesto IA noes, and its reference to the
Commiliee on Territories.
Mr.. Douglass then Introduced some amend
rneG,s to his bill proposing to admit New MeAi'
co and California as a State, which, together
with the bill were referred to the Committee.
!, might as well stay there, for it cannot be
passed at the present session.
In the House, Mra PaItrey asked leave 10
introduce bill, of which he had given notice,
The title Of which was read by the Clerk, and
Improved io be bll.io repeal all acts or paris
ofacts establishing or supporting the slave trade
in the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. Holmes, Of your State, Immediately OBJ
jccted To grazing leave for the introdlnction of
such hill; and the yras.and and nars being or.
dercd ON The question of gr ln;ng leave, it was
refused by ayes 80, noes 63.
Subsequently, Mr.. .Roct, of Ohio, offered a
resolution inslrncting. the Committee on Terri
tories tn report bills establishing Territorial
Governments in New Mexic" and California.
and excluding slavery there from. On this he
moved The prcvons question. The announce.
lnrnt .of this resolution caused an Immediate
aud general ful,er throughout the House. and
the first step was q,
"A malion to, lay the resolution on the table,
on which the yeas aud nays were ordered,
when. ,j,g,g,,.,. s..
A call Of the House moved. AMI ordered,
and l57 members having answered, further
proceedings were dispensed with and the Vote
taken +, -,
On the motion to lay The resol ton on The
table, WHICH way ueya,ived-yeas9 90, nays
l07.g<5 e..;.:.
is'Fhe question then REQUIRED on The call Tor
the previous QUESTION, when
:. Mr.. Vinion, Of Ohio, inquired whether the
resolution was one direct ng the COMMITTEE {"
ia9uirc or iaslrnciing them TO report, aud the
Sp-aker having stated that it was one OF instruc
tion and imperative at that, Mr.. linton said hr
hoped then the previous question would moi he
IL ON The table and for the passage ofti;c rcso'
luiion.) '@
e i.fhe previous question was, however second
ed. notwithstanding Mr.. Vinton's inlinlation,
and
The resolution was adopted on yeas an nays,
ty los yeas to 80 noes. ,,.l
q, A letter from Washington to the Philadcl
phia Enquirer says:
.. am informed, ny competent authority. II al
a bill for the Organization of the new territories
of California aud New Mexico, embracing the
Missouri cotupromi<r, will he iurr.'duced ii'"
the Senate early in the approaching session by
q distinguished Senator, and that hill some.
what similar in its character, but, in regard to
slavery, containg the provisions Of the di.
nance of 1857. will also be introduced by Il
leading Wing in the lower House. The latter
will probably pass the House before the Senate
will have acted upon The other, but the Senate
will then strike out the Wmot proviso from
the House bill, and BY close vote insert the
Missouri compromise. Under no circumstances,
am assured, will the majority of the Senate.
at the ensuing session, consent to the adoption
of Mr.. ClaYton's compromise Of the last ses.
sion.