New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-24
FROM WASIIINGTO
Proceedings In the senate on fhursday-ur.
Upderwsod's Amendment 10 the Fugitive
slave Bili-mr. Hupter's Amesdment-nr.
Pratt's Amendment-The state Of the Case
A Family Quarrel.

a Qunrfct.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
WAsHIscroS, Thursday. Aug. %.
The Senate is jogging along perfectly At its
leisure, rather waiting upon the House than really
intending to do any business itself The Fugitive
Slave bill is ostensiby the work before them,
which, now in the middle Of August tomorrow
being, believe, an late as the lasest day that Con-
gress has ever set upon any former occasion, 10
getting itself discussed and acted upon with as liz
tie show Of hurry as II the whole year were before
u.s. The developments oday have, however,
been both funny and instructive. You will recol.
lect that In my last noticed the curious pro posi-
tiod Of Senator PEArr Of Nd. TO make Congress
general underwater for the safe keeping Of all the
slave property in the United States, 90 a. 10 70.
heve anxious owners OF all concern on that score.
Well, Sir this seemingly preposterous proposition
was discussed along lsziy, chiefly by Ar. PRATT
himself, until today, when, merely because obody
seemed 10 want 20 talk abou, Il any more the
question was taken upon il and decided In the
negative, ten Senator's only voting 10 the affirm.
alive.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD then brought forward his
amendment which is substitute for the WHO'D
amendment OF Mr. Mason, which is another sub.
sttule for the Whole bill as originally reported by
the judiciary COrnmttee-so diificulI do Southern
men iind II even % please themselves with regard
10 what they are attempting to strengthen the
bands Of this infamous slave catching lsw.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD had previously presented his
amendment and explained its features 20 the Sen.
ate, the principle Of which "a that be departs a.
little a. possible from the lsw Of 1885, now 10 force
substituting Commissioners appointed a. I nited
sta.es officers, by the Circuit aud Disric, Courts,
IN lieu OF the State Magistrates, who are required
t. act by that law, who are relieved from the
neces.ity OF doing 90 by the decision Of the ga
preme Cour, OF the UniEed STATES 10 the cass Of
Prise versus the Common wealth OF Pennsylva-
rs, and fin ally prohibited rom doing 80 by the Le
gisi.taros Of several Of the states.
NJ Underwood also adopts the two amend
ren,s OF the Con mittee Of Thirteen, the Omnibus
Committee. one Of which requires the Shareholder
about 70 pursue bis slave. 10 cause 10 be made up
a record in one Of the Courts Of his own State,
establishing the fact that Slave Of his nat run
away, bis or her name, age, description, &c. which
record shall DO evidence Of every thing bat ideosi
ty before the Judge or Commissioner before
whom the Slave 10 brought In the Free State The
other requires tina; the claimant shall give bond
before TIE judge or CommissiOuer Within. Sc
curity .hst be will when be returns h0ne, take
the Slave before the Court shere, and give him N
opportunity 70 institute action for his freedom,
if be has any claim upon which 70 ground zach an
action.
Mr. USDERwO0D hss, believe been really de-
sirous o. framing bill which should be as little Of
fersiye 10 the North as anything could be which
would promise SEINE efficient remedy 10: the la
neLtabe laxity Of the present saye-catching sys
TEN. Mr. MASON, who r0se 70 review this proJa
AID contra /, with As own, has such deiicscy.
he is perfectly in earnest and desires and intends
20 frame az which Oh al mean something. Hsb
lot mealy -mouthed in any way slavery 10 :se
frs. and last article In his political creed he |
s-e1,hes the atmosphere Of the plantation tod the
spin. Of Inc oyszseer. He hn noe fairy discoy |
cred ct tia. we are now living In the nineteensh /
CENTURY and that be 10 not his own grsndiathsr |
or II be hss discovered 10 Il only makes bin snsri
A dsguenecgype Of bis face should be taken and \
presery ed for utsTe generations a. tgen1Ine speci
ines Of that Democrttic aVtocrii, the raoid Loco
Foco slsvebolder Of the Southern plansstions
He sren Go1sly op oosed every mitigating ieatars |
aHr UNDERWOOD bill Heasented reluctantly !
70 the N akipg up Of q record q. home. provided IL
should be Lett entirely a. the option OF the slave
catchsr whether he would 90 90 or not bar he o.
ected ~ toto 70 the requistion OF bonds even with
DOT security 70 permit me Save a. epportunlty 10
amply 70 the Court a. home For tbs opposition Dc
cave half dozen reasons, me oae Of which, II be
bad chosen 20 say 90 which vouid have saved aim
the trouble Of gfyirg any 0: tie others, was, that
when slave IL recaPtqred and taken home, IL Is
esseltia that he be hurried of 10 the warn eli
mated Siberia d America, the cosson.feds OF Ala
bsma, or the sugar plantations Of Louisisna
Mr. hAsoss bill haa several features OF sIringsn-
cy which are wanting In the bill Of Mr. UsDkEr
wooD. Among others IL provides tia 4 AFTER ne |
slsys has been delivered sY 10 va master or ais
axeut, bs u hen liberated By ,.oleaos. Sssss % :