The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY-FlRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
FRIDAY, JUNE IA, 1850.

] SENATE.
FRIDAY JUNE IA, 1850.
A motion made by Mr.-Hale, that when the
Senate adjourn it adjourn TO meet on Monday
next, was, after considerable discussion, voted
down. Yeas H. nays 2S.
A bill authorizing change of venue in certain
cases in the District of Columbia, TO the courts of
the district of Maryland, was read third time
and passed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill reported by the Committee of Thirteen, the
pending question being on the motion of MIR
Turney to strike out the seth section relating TO
the Texas boundary.
Mr.. Clemens having moved to fill the blank in
this part of the bill with one million Of dollars, a
discussion arose. in which Messrs Clay, Hale
King, and Butler, participated and at the close of
which, the vote being taken, stood
| 1EAs-Messrs. Benton, Clemens Davis of
Mississippi Hale, Hunter, Pearce, Soule, and
Yulee--s
NAYs-Messrs Atchison, Badger, Baldwin,
Bell, Berrien, Bright, Cass, Clay Cooper Daw-
49,, =, qiSs ~ OF ,,$-y-Ss
sc, naxasg ''~%r7 1,'ooas, Kinse0s.S Pr.
Rusk, Seward, Shields Smith, SprHanSs, Sturgeon,
Underwood, Wales, Walker, Webster, and Whit
comb--30
The question then REQUIRED on the motion of
Mr.. Turney to strike out the whole section
| After a protracted debate the question was
taken, and the vote stood:
YEAs-Messrs Baldwin, Benton, Butler, Chase,
Clarke, Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts, Davis of
Mississippi, Dayton, Dodge of Wisconsin, Greene,
Hale, Hamlin, Hunter, Mason, Miller, Seward,
Smith, Soule, Spruanoe, Turney, Upham, Wales,
and Yulee--24
NAYs-Messrs Atchison, Badger Bell Berrien,
Bright, Cass Clay, Cooper, Dawson, Dickinson,
Dodge of Iowa, Downs, Foote, Houston, Jones
King, Morton, Norris, Pearce, Pratt, Rusk,
Shields, Sturgeon, Underwood, Walker, Webster
and Wh,tcomb-27.
Mr. King said that MIR. Clemens had paired off
with Mr. Douglas, who was detained at his lodg-
ings by sickness.
The reader, in estimating the chances of the
passage Of the bill through the Senate, will bear
in mind that had this section been stricken out
the bill would have been doomed He will then
observe that Bright Cass, Cooper, Dickinson,
Dodge, Jones, Norris, Shields, Sturgeon, Walker,
Webster, and Whitcomb, from free States, voted
against striking out in other words, in such
way as to promote the chances Of the passage of
the bill. The names of Norris, Shields, and
Walker, have not heretofore been found in such
a category Their record now ia significant
The Senate adjourned
SATURDAY, JUNE IS, 1850.
! Memorials were presented by Mr.. Hale on the
subject OF peace, and were referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations also, snti-sisvery me.
MORALS, which were laid upon the table
An order submitted by Mr.. Yuee yesterday,
that when the Senate meet on Monday, it be to
adjourn till Thursday next, coming up, Mr. Clay
objected to the resolution and called for the yeas
and Maya
Mr.. Berrien suggested that it would be better
to resolve to adjourn on Thursday next till the
Monday following That would give time to put
the Chamber in summer trim.
Mr.. fulee accepted the suggestion, and the
vote being taken ON his resolution as modified
stood-yeas 81, nays TO-
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
Omnibus bill.
The question pending was on an amendment
proposed by Mr. Hale to the 18th section.
He moved to strike out the words where the
value of the property, the amount in controver-
sy, to be ascertained by the oath or Affirmation of
either party, or other competent witness, shall ex-
| coed VI 600" and insert, Sin all cases in which
said Supreme Court of the United States would
have jurisdiction, If said had arisen ia any
one of the United Statesn
The part of the section, if amended as proposed,
| would read as follows:
"Writs Of error and appeals from the final
|
and may be taken to the Supreme Court of the
United States, In the same manner and under the
same regulations from the circuit courts of the
United States, in all cases ia which said Supreme
Court of the United States would have jurisdic-
ton, il said case had arisen in any of the United
Statesn
After some remarks of Messrs. Clay, Hale, Ber-
| rien, and Webster
MIR. Hale withdrew that portion OF his amend
\ NOR od tof non la1 a, ~
lowing in lieu thereof:
Except only that In all cases involving title TO
slaves the said writs of error or appeals shall be
allowed and decided by the said Supreme Court
| without regard TO the value Of the matter prop.
eriy, or title in controversy and except, also
that writ OF error or appeal shall also be allowed
to the Supreme Court of the United States for
the decision Of the said Supreme Court created by
this act OF Of any judge thereof or of the district
courts created by this act or of any Judge thereof
upon any writ Of habess corpus involving the
question Of personal freedom
| MIR Hale modified his motion ms 10 strike out
no part Of the bill, but insert m above last pro-
posed 10 come in after the word dolarsn And
the amendment was then adopted.
! Mr. Soue moved TO amend the 9Th section Of
the bill, relating 10 the establishment of the Ter
ritory of Utah, by inserting: And when the
said Territory any portion Of the same shall be
admitted as a State, it shall be received into the
| Union with without slavery, their Con-
stitution may prescribe at the time Of their all
Mission
| Mr. SouI6 said that he desired by this amend
ment TO ascertain the meaning Of this part of
the bill, as considered by the Committee Of Thir-
| teen.
Mr. Hale opposed the amendment; he consid-
cred that this Congress had no right TO make q
compact to bind any future Congress in its action
| upon the admission of n new State
Mr.. Dayton said that there was much force In
what was said by the Senator from New Iiamp-
shire. He would not vote against the amendment,
but, that he might not be misunderstood, he would
not vote for It,
MIR. Atchison said that be did not think the
Senator from New Hampshire had stated all the
reasons which had Influenced his course.
Mr.. Clay said that he had no great objections
to this amendment, but he stated some objections
TO the form of the amendment.
MIR. Berrien replied, and urged the adoption Of
| the amendment
Mr. Clemens moved, and the bill was postponed
till Monday.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of Executive business .--------.---
And shortly afterwards adjourned
--' MONDAY, JUNE II, 1850.
After the transaction OF the usual morning bust
ness. the Senate resumed the consideration Of the
report Of the Committee Of Thirteen, Mr. Soulc's
amendment pending.
Mr.. Webster repeated what he had said In
March last, that he did not think there was foot
Of territory In the United States whose character
~ regards slavery or free SOIL Was not hIsd and
settled by some irrepeslsble Law. He believed 70
still For this reason be had cheerfully voted
against what was called the Wilmot Prcviso. He
could not consider that any provision rsspccting
slavery was necessary, because he believed thst
there was no more possibility Of the Introduction