The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-24
THIRTlETH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

FIRST SESSION.
WAsHIyoror, July a.
The Senate met at the usual hour. The Vice Presi.
dent took the chair, and called TO order.
Several petitions were prese nted. among which wss
by Mr. Hale, Of New Hampshire, from citizens Of
Philadep bia, in favor of ndment the Terri.
toral Bill giving permission to people of color residing
in Oregon TO vote.
THE TERRITORIAL BILL.
The territorial bill taken up half eleven
O'Clock.
Mr. CLAYTON explained the various sections, and
said he would not discuss the merits Of the bill The
compromise agreed upon, it was believed, would meet
the approval OF the Senate. The reoson why the.
South had preferred 1t to the Missouri compromise was
that the latter gave very small proportion Of inha-
bitable territory to the South.
Mr. Niles enquired what the compromise of the
bill? Does it afford the to Congress Of legslatne
upon the question Of slavery in the territories?
Mr. CLAYTON said that the bill neither atirms It
disarms it. 1t refers the subject to the highest judi
oia tribunal in the country.
Mr. NILEs-That amounts to just nothing at all.
The whole question has beeu surrendered to the dc.
Mr. CALHouN-We claim nothing for slavery-no.
thing, ut all only ask adherence to the
Constitution. 1t is only upon this basis that
the Union be preserved. We wish to maintain
harmony among all the msmbrrs-it is only by hsr.
mopy We can maintain the Union.
MIR. Dickinson rose. but gave way to
MIR. NILES, who said 1t the first time he had
heard satisfactory decarxti by the Senator from
South Carolina. If his remarks to be taken liter
ally, there 10 NO subject of coutro, ersy. He had
thought that the South had claimed right to
their slaves to all the territories But sir (said Mr.
ny by this declaration Of common basis, are not
free coil free labor and free principles in all our in
stitutions implied! Yes, sir, but / apprehend IL
means something else 1t means a punculio Of Inc
quality in the doctrine of free soil and free labor
no inequality at all, sir The laws by which this
slave property, as it is called, may be restricted win
be uniform and whatever rules Of property will apply
to one section, will apply to all
Mr. DICKINSON stated the difficulty Of the former de-
mttee to establish compromise, the Senator from
Connecticut had said that they who should 70 for q
compromise, might find themselves burnt in efigy
when they 90 home am not alarmed at that threat;
people who reason only by burning In efagy are
welcome to doit think the Senator. however, spoke
more than set down for him. WI on he spoke Of
burning in efhgy Mr. D explained the purpose of the
committee to be cancellation and compromise, and
warmly approved the bill
Mr.. Dickinson, in which he contended that Congress
bad no power over slavery in the territories. And
It lodges the question in every It does nothing
it settles nothing-t amounts to nothing-t Is worse
than nothing 1t leaves the question opsn and there
s the great danger These patry schemes of avoiding
the slavery question for q day or for . moment-of
shrinking from the duty which owe to the
worthy of the American senate. The te @-
ritory Is free by the act Of God which created.
it and free by the act Of and the half civiised
people who improved it, by the laws Of freedom The
question Is, shall 1t remain hall directly or
indirectly subvert the law of heaven and mau and
shrink from responsibility; there is eowardly visage
on the face Of the bill to get rid Of the issue submitted
to them.
Mr Dickinson, abiding to remark of Mr. Niles.
said that he held it be particular dshonor TO BE-
burned in efgy as It was the report only Of ruans
and Yards therefore he spprehend NO disgrace
that As regarded his posi- ton with his CON
stituents In the language Of book which, doubt.
the Senator from ut had read he vould say
to the Senator Who art thou that judgeth another
mans servant by his ju he sta ndsth or
falleth.'' IL the Senator call him to account ho
would render 1t to him. when the Senator shall have
settled with his own constituents the anguase Of
the broker if there was any thing over Mr. Dickinson
shrink dodge the question unless the constitution
lodges and is coward. He approved Of the bill with
his whole heart.
Mr.. CoRwIN submitted few observations, pre-.
lpinsry to asking whether the question of slavery
could be brought BY writ Of before the Supreme
ton the subject! How is the value of slave to bs
ascertan.d when told that there no property
in but to the value Of his services? II the value
Is not two thou and dollars is the question to be de-
cided by the judges appointed by the President?
Mr. CLArIoN, IN reply to a question, said that the
of the territories Of California aud New Mexico were
not capable Of electng delegates to Congress.
Mr. CoRwIS-Why are they rot 4!
Mr.. CLAYToN-They are too ignorant.
said the question: in the outset to be settled by
the prope Judicial tribunal it must rest With the SUI
preme Court, where the constitution placed It, and
where it must be left 1t involves construction Of
the tuition Of which Congress Is not the eons
tutional exrounder. here bring no law which pro.
tects this species Of property the Of thecon
sttuton sustain and those guara mites course
The question can be brought up before the Supreme
Count on writ Of ha6eus corpus and not to the
subject they have Jurisdiction all the means to
bring it before the court.
Mr. WEsrcoIr wished to know whether certain
clause in the bill prohibits the governor secretary and
the judges Of California from passing laws for pun
isbmept of venal offences of slaves, as a class
MIR. PHELPS replied that what laws shall be poseed
must be uniforms fa distinction be made between one
class Of people and another tho would be limit to
the power to be exercised. HI - for leaving the
lT pi klat i've unp tionu bsra wopla~ o1 ~
Mr.. CALHOUN sa'd that the object Was not to decide
the contested question here One side contends that
That slavery cannot go into the territories according
to the constitution and laws of Mexico. The other
side take opposite view. The COMMITTEES did NOT
pretend to decide the question: Throughout they
procte on the ground that the constitution deci
dedit
Mir. NILES said he would like to know the opinion OF
OF the msjority and he asked whether tho nittee
by esta blishipg temporary governments and rivins
them the power Of local govern exhausted uris-
dcton over the subject Of slavery or whether may
pass laws with reference to slavery other matters!
MIR BALDWIN. after few preliminary remarks, said
that his object in rising was for the purpose Of
striking out all that part of the bill which follows the
twentieth section, TO leave in it only much as
provides for territorial government in Oregon.
question: in the little State from which he came the
question between the whg and democrat vas, who
Ia the most orthodox on the wilmot provisol He
stated some OF the objections which he had the bill.
He would vote against 1t il we could have honest,
fair judicial execution the law it would not be very
exceptionabe; but he had no confidence in the Su-
preme Court, because they Tad gone into the free
States and stricken down the writ Of habeas be-
meath the iron heel of slavery The heart Of the
ton Is beating and throbbing with anxiety on this
great question, and when asked fer something
to give peace and quiet to the people, what do the
mittee p? Nothing The Senator from Vernon mr.
Phep recommends this bill, because 1t carries with it
the laws Of freedom and the Senator from South Caro-
INA MT Calhoun) says-yes take it, because it
ries slavery and those gentlemen inform their re.
spestive constituen cies 9.
The above, apparently, does not conclude this de-
bate We WILL doubtless receive it from our reporters
by due course Of mail
Markets.