The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-11
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
wEDsEsDAv, April 10. 1850.
SENATE

SENATE.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs.
DICKINSON, HusTER, and RusK
SLAVERY AND FUGITIVE SLAVES
MIR. CoRwIN presented petitions from OHIO,
praying that persons arrested as iueiu'e NC
entitled to the right of trial by Jury.
Mr. WALES presented petition numerously
signed by citizens of Delaware, against the extern
sion of slavery the Territories, and In favor Of
the immediate admission OF California.
Mr. HALE presented petitions from several States
in favor Of the prohibition of slavery and the slave
trade in the Territories.
Also, several in favor of extending the trial by
Jury to persons arrested as fugitive slaves
Also, a large number against the admission of
any new slave State. j.
And others, praying that slavery be abolished
in the District Of Columbia, or the removal oil
the seat of Government TO some other place nearer
the centre Of the Union.
Also, a petition that the Senate would reject the
eighth resolution of the series submitted by Mr.
CLAY; and many other petitions OF similar char-
acter.
Mr. CLAY rose, and said that he desired to call
the attention of the Senate and the country 70 inc
character and nature of the petitions Just presented
by the Senator from New Hampshire, Mr. HALE
They were printed pieces OF paper, embracing eve,
ry variety of subject included In tins question Of
slavery, and were prepared at some common cen
tire and scattered all over the country Tor sigma
lures and then returned here evidences OF popu-
lar opinion. He wished to expose this deception,
Some of these printed heads OF petitions had found
their way into his own State. He had received
some of them few days ago from Lewis county,
Kentucky He objected to such q rami6ed scheme
of deceiving this body, or the country, as to the
opinion of the country. He held one OF these Pc
titions in his hand, and would ask the Senate to
examine il.
Mr. HALE called the Senator TO order
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from
kentucky is called to order. He will please take
his seat. The Senator from New Hampshire will
state his point of order
Mr. HALE. will state it, sir
Mr.. CLAY. Well, sir, let the Senator state his
point of order.
duty by loud talking, either from behind or be-
fore.
Mr.. CLAY. No one talks louder than yourself
Mr.. HALE was about stating his point OF order,
when
MIR. MANGUM rose to a point of order. If the
Senator from Kentucky was called to order for
words, the words should be reduced to writing.
Mr.. HALE said that his point of order had not
The VICE PRESIDENT said the Senator from
New Hampshire had not yet stated his point Of or
der; and the Chair could not tell yet what 1t was.
MIR. HALE then stated his point OF order to be-
that the petition on which the Senator from Ken
lucky was speaking one of those which he
had presented, and one which the Senate had re-
ceived and laid on the table. II was a subject on
which the Senate had acted, and that no remark ks
upon il were in order
The VICE PRESIDENT said the point Of order
involved point Of fact, upon which the Chair had
information.
the petition in the hands of the Senator from Ken
lucky was one to be presented, or one that had
already been presented
Mr.. CLAY said that it was perfectly proper for
him to make the remarks he intended 10 have done
How did the Senator know that it not his in
tention to make motion upon the petition?
The VICE PRESIDENT was understood TO say
that If motion was intended TO be made the mo-
ton should be made tirst, and the remarks should
follow the motion.
Mr. CLAY said that he understood the rule was
directly the reverse.
The VICE PRESIDENT said that he might be
mistaken, and would be happy to be corrected by
the Senate.
Mr. CLAY said that it was well established
rule that every member having paper to pre-
sent or a motion to make, had the right, and it was
his duty to state the body, in brief and pertinent
remarks the object and motive of the paper he pro-
posed TO present, or the motion he desired to sub
nit.
lie member should proceed to make long and
unnecessary speech, he could be called to order,
and confined TO the subject He remembered the
celebrated case of MIR. Randolph, who made a long
speech upon paper which had not been presented
called Mr.. Randolph TO order. An appeal was Ia
ken, and the decision was sustained.
Mr.. c. then proceeded to the examination Of the
character Of the petitions, and the mode in which
they were disseminated throughout the country
for the purpose Of manufacturing public opinion.
Whenever there appeared prospect OF cfiecting a
settlement Of the disturbing questions, these Adolf
and harmony, and to increase agitation and strife.
He considered the Aboltionists 10 be the greatest
enemies and oppressors Of the negro race. They
were interested only in keeping the public mind IN
agitation. They were like the Centaurs Of old;
they mounted the negro as means on which they
can ride into place and distinction.
He again denounced the petitions as a scheme 10
disturb and agitate the country by falsely manu-
featuring pubic opinion. His object to expose
the matter 10 the country and the Senate, that they
might not be deceived.
lie would not, however, submit any motion at
this time on the petition He would present some
petitions of another character. He then presented
a petition from merchants and others in Philadel-
phia in favor Of allowing number OF seamen from
the Government service to be detailed TO the expo
dition fitting out in New York TO aid In the dis
covery Of Sir John Franklin.
Mr. HALE presented a petition praying a reduc-
ton Of postage. Alec, petition praying the pro-
hbiton Of slavery in the Territories Of The United
States.
Mr. RUsK objected TO the reception Of the last
petition, and made some remarks upon the charac-
ter Of the petitions daily presented 10 the Senate on
the subject Of slavery and their inevitable enden-
CIV TO ALLEVIATE the different sections Of the country.
Vie particularly alluded 10 petition presented on
Monday by the Senator from New York, (Mr. sEw-
ADD which be sent 10 the Secretary's desk TO be
read Il was a petition from the citizens Of Onta-
rio county, New York, asking that the enrolments
Of the militia may include all classes Of persons,
and setting forth that in the enrolment OF the ma
tional militia distinction IL made whereby a large
pie, are entirely exempted from enrolment and
military duty. This large class, residing chiefly
in the southern States the chief burden Of the sys
tenn and Of the national defence, in cases Of insur
rection or invasion, is thrown upon the northern
States. That, in cases Of instruction or invasion,
the whole power Of the North may be called 20 de-
fend the South; that in Gaze Of n similar event oc-
curing the North, their reliance their south
ern brethren must, owing TO the inequality, be ex-
tremely limited, IL not utterly vain; and insisting
that alf the burdens and obi cations Of the people
Of the several States ought 10 be in all respects
equal and mutual; and asking Congress 10 imme-
diately remedy this inequality by the passage Of
law or the enrolment Of the militia Of all the States
which shall include all classes Of persons, without
any distinction Of color OF condition.
Mr. BUTLER, Mr.. FoOTE, and Mr.. HALE con-
tinued the debate.
Mr.. RUsR then Withdrew his objection 10 the re-.
oeption Of the petition, and IL received and laid
on the table.
ESEoLNEST OF THE SLAVES.
Mr.. CLAY then moved that the petition presented
on Monday BY Mr.. srwARD. alluded 10 by the Sen
ator from Texas, be taken up for consideration.
And the motion prevailed
Mr.. CLAY then moved that the prayer Of the pc.
-. "A n. ii. l..