The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-11
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSIOl
SENATE.

sENAIEs
"WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1850.
The Vice President submitted to the Senate a
message from the President, in answer to reso-
luton concerning our relations with Hungary
The documents show that no agent had been ac-
credited by the Government of Hungary to this
Government at any period since General Taylor's
accession to office, and that no communication
had been received from the Minister of Foreign
Affairs Of that country.
The Vice President laid before the Senate res
olutions of the Legislature of Michigan in favor
of the Union, and commenting the efforts of
General Cass to preserve it.
On motion of Mr. Cas-, 10, 900 copies of the ad-
dresses delivered on Mr.. Calhoun's death we're
ordered to be printed in pamphlet form. A reso-
luton was also adopted, that the Chair appoint a
committee of six Senators to attend the remains
Of the deceased to the place Of iuternent in his
native State
Mr.. Underwood submitted series of proposed
amendments 20 the CONSTITUTION, which were or-
dered to be printed They propose to make a
majority Of both Houses sufficient to pass bill,
after it shall have been vetoed by the President
to limit the President to one term to vacate the
seat of any Judge of the Supreme Court, whose
removal shall be asked by joint address of the
majority of each House; to regulate the term OF
all offices and the mode Of removal by law; TO
render members of either House ineligible to Of
flee Except Cabinet ofices) during the time for
which they were chosen, and two years thereafter
The Vice President made an exposition of the
rules of the Senate in relation TO the preservation
of order and decorum in debate, and declared his
purpose hereafter, when the occasion demanded
il, to call members to order, in pursuane, Of the
authority conferred by the rules of the body. BY
a unanimous vote, his remarks were ordered TO be
entered on the Journal of the Senate, and also
printed in documentary form.
Mr.. Bells resolutions coming up, as the special
order Mr.. Baldwin Of Connecticut resumed his
remarks on the topics embraced in them Having
closed, MIR. Underwood of Kentucky followed, in
10 sspeech defending slavery. Without conclud-
ing, be gave way for q motion to adjourn.
THURSDAY, APRIL A. 1850.
The Vice President announced the committee
to attend the remains Of Mr. Calhoun TO their place
OF interment, as follows: Mr. Mason of Virginia,
MIR. Davis of Mississippi, Mr.. Berrien of Georgia,
Mr. Webster, Mr.. Dickinson, and Mr.. Dodge of
Iowa
Numerous petitions in relation to slavery were
presented by Messrs. Seward, Hamlin, and Cor
win, and ordered to lie upon the table
Mr.. Clay presented similar petitions from citi-
zens of Lewis county, Kentucky.
In presenting the petitions, Mr. c. said that he
wished to discharge himself of three or four petit
tions which had come into his hands and for
which he could wish the petitioners had selected
some other channel They came from citizens Of
his own State-principally, he believed, from the
city of Louisville were somewhat numerously
signed, though he did not suppose that they rep,
resented the views of any considerable portion OF
the people of any part Of the State Of Kentucky
By examining the petitions, it Appeared that they
were signed in considerable degree, by the
same persons. They were printed, and 1t was to
be presumed that they had been brought up by
consent and design of few Abolitionists, who
had found their way, perhaps, into that quarter
They had sent their petitions to him. and he
wanted to get rid of them laughter He
hoped they might be received, and laid on the
table
The petitions were accordingly laid upon the
table
Mr. Borland called up the resolution in rela-
ton to Public Printing His amendment pro-
posed to DISCHARGE the present consractors for the
printing from their engagement, paying them for
what they had done, and to appoint - and
-, meaning the Union and Iatelhgeneer, il
is presumed, to do the printing
Mr.. Hale said it was notorious that the print
ing of the last Congress though contracted for al
a higher price than the present, was wretchedly
done. and even then, the contractors complained
of this came in, underbid them, and then, the
moment the work is begun, we hear great out
cry that they cannot do what they have underta
ken. Il looked very much as if they knew, wber
they began, that they could not do it. He wa.
told that the printing done at the Office of ont
of the papers proposed to be employed now-(th'
Union ofhce) Before he voted for the resolution
he desired TO know whether the printers Of The
Union and IaelliQeneer were directly or indirectly
interested in the present contract.
A very pertinent inquiry, and one that ought
to be answered No Senator, however, thought
proper to reply
The resolutions of Mr.. Bell were taken up, and
Mr. Underwood resumed and closed his remarks
Mr. Foote expressed desire to have his mo-
tion of reference to select committee OF thirteen
acted upon.
Mr.. Webster rose to suggest what he thought
the best mode of proceeding. He was in favor OF
taking up the California bill first, debating it as
long MS il might be deemed desirable, and then
acting upon il, per Sc His mind was made up
Then they could proceed to the consideration ofthe
Territorial bills, debate them, act upon them
and he was prepered to act upon them in accord
ance with the principles and declarations Of his
late speech-[To vote against the Proviso, and
pass the bills without It'd Era
Mr. Foote, much as he admired the statesman
like views of the Senator from Massachusetts,, re
Gently presented, was compelled with profound re
greet to dissent from the propriety Of the course
he had Just marked out. He urged several rea
sons why the Territorial bills should have prece
dence. There was decided majority in boil
Houses in favor of admitting California--but /
the Proviso could be passed The peace Of tn
country was involved in the latter but the forme
measure was comparatively Insignificant
Whether we shall be able under the most ia
vorable circumstances which can be imagined l.
exist, to establish Territorial Governments rphou
| the Wilmot Prouiso as 80 elequently urged In GU
hearing few weeks since by the honorable Sen
| ator from Massachusetts,, Is question which al
must admit to be involved in great doubt. will
not declare with the honorable Senator from
Kentucky, Mr.. Underwood, in his admirable re
marks Of to day, that, in consequences Of the late
excellent speech of the honorable Senator Of Mas
sachusetts, he stands repsdiate9 and condemned BY
! the whole North, including his own constituents
! do not so believe i have a confident hope that
the honorable Senator from Massachusetts, will be
ultimately triumphant IN the war which he IL
wsging in behalf Of the Constitution and the
Union against fansticism, and bigotry, and sec
tional jealousy. But yet II is true that Free
Solism is not yet extinct under the blows OF the
honorable Senator from Massachusetts, and his
heroic comrades in arms. In spite Of the potent
ridicule Of the honorable Senator from Massschu'
setts, "the Wilmotn still survives. The monster il
indeed seriously crippled under the blows which
have been 80 sturdily dealt upon him, but he Is
not yet powerless for mischief The snake Is scotch
ed, not killed; Il mayfurn and @nseU again Though
the supporters Of the Wilmot Proviso in the North
are seriously enfeebled and dispirited, though
several signal triumphs have been achieved over
these wretched factionists at the ballot-boI, yet
still are there large numbers Of men 10 the free
States who openly and fercely maintain the odiou'
principles for which they have heretofore contend
ed, and whose representatives here, In the two
Houses Of Congress, are yet jealous, united and