The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-13

or coming to reside therein, who shall neglect or
refuse TO comply with the laws and ordinances
made TO be made touching such residence, or the
prohibition thereof and 10 enforce such removal or
q compliance with such ordinances, by fine and
imprisonment at labor, or either, at their discre-
| ton.
| The question pending was on the following
| amendment proposed by Mr.. SEWARD:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and in
| sert:
| SEC. Slavery shall forever within the
District Of Columbia, and all persons held in bond
age therein shall be free The Secretary of the In
terror shall audit and pay, to all persons holding
slaves within the District at the time this act takes
| effect, such damages as they shall suffer by the
passage thereof; and the sum OF two hundred thou
sand dollars is hereby appropriated TO carry this act
into execution, out vi any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated
SEC 3 An election shall be held in the District Of
Columbia 10 ascertain wheNQr this bill is approved
by the people thereof Those who approve the act
shall express their appreciation by ballot contain
ing the words "For emancipation in the District
Those who opposed shall vote by ballot contain
ing the words Against emancipation in the Dis
trict" All persona entitled ~ vote for any mum
cpal oil in the District and ali citizens of the
United States residing within the District perina-
nently, shall be deemed qualified Ia vote at such
election. Such election shall be held within six
months from the passage of this act, and on public
notice of not less than three months, to be given by
the Marshal of the District. If majority OF the
votes given such election shall be in favor of this
act, il shall 90 into effect Immediately. II ma
iority Of the yocs shall be against the same, this
| act shall be void and Of none effect.
Mr.. SOULE alluded 10 the debate which took
| place yesterday upon the laws alleged to be in
force in The southern cities regulating the entrance
OF free negroes those citSs, and their detention
in prison during their stay there. lie alec adverted
to the letter written by ship master of Boston,
| and read yesterday by MIR. WiNTHRoP, IN which
the practice under the laws OF those cities stated
He pronounced the statements made in the letter,
both of the law OF Louisiana and the practice pur
sued under that law in New Orleans, TO be wholly
and entirely false, from beginning to end.
! Mr. BERRIEN made a similar allusion to the let
ter, and the statements made in il, with regard to
| the laws Of Georgia, and the practice pursued at
Savannah, with respect to The arrest and inlprison
ment of free negroes, and he pronounced the state
ments, so far they referred to Savannah and the
laws Of Georgia, to be false.
Mr.. WINTHROP replied, and Mr.. BERRlEN
rejoined-the point in debate being how FAR the
Senator from Massachusetts was responsible for the
statements in the letter--he having avowed, both
yesterday and to day that he could not and did not
! vouch for the contents OF the letter.
Mr.. EWING said that he thought the letter was
a matter of but small consequence. He did not
think the Senator from Massachusetts had done any
thing which called for the severe animadversions
| made upon his conduct In 20 doing. He then al
luded to debate which had taken place some time
since the California bi during which the Sena-
| tor from Georgia had read Il letter commenting
upon the conduct of the late Administration, and
| making statements which he (Mr. f then and
| now pronounced to be false. Yet the Senator pub
lished that letter in his published speech.
Mr. BERRlEN explained that circumstance. He
read the letter. and stated at the time that It was
| addressed by gentleman to Senator, and that
that Senator prepared to vouch for the respect
| ability of the writer.
| Mr.. EWING and Mr.. BERRIEN continued the
debate.
| AIessrs BUTLER, DAVIS of Massachusetts,
| WINTHROP, SOULE, and DOUGLAS continued
the debate on the subject of the laws relating to
free negroes, both in the southern and in the free
| States.
bon n ant
| proposed by the Senator from New York, (Mr.
| SEwARp) and 1t was rcJected-yeas >, nays 40,
as follows:
| YEAS-Messrs Chase, Dodge of Wisconsin,
Hale, Seward, and upham-5.
| NAYS.-Messrs. Atchison. Badger Baldwin,
| Barnwell, Bell, Benton, Bernen, Bright, Butler,
Clay Davis OF Massachusetts,, Davis OF Mississippi,
| Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas,
| Downs, Ewing, FelCh, Fremont, Greene, Gwin,
| ilamlin. Houston, Hunter Jones, King, Mangum,
| Mason, Morton, Norris, Pearce, Pratt, Rusk, Sc
| hastan Shields, Smith, Soule, Spruance, Stur-
| geon, Turney, Underwood, Wales, Whitcomb,
| Winthrop, and Yulee-i6
| The bill wns then reported to the Senate, and
| the question was on concurrug with the amend
| ments made in Committee of the Whole; the
amendments being the third, fourth, and fifth
| sections, added TO the bill motion of Mr..
PEARCE.
MIR. CLAY said that he hoped that the Senate
would not concur in the amendments made in
committee. lie had Just heard, with great plea
sure, Of the passage OF another OF those bulls which
formed part OF the general system OF peace inca
sures. This bill. now before the Senate, the
last in that general system, and was the only one
now remaining Enacted upon II the amendments
prevailed, he thought il would defeat the passage
OF any bill Bot If they should be rejected, and
shpuld be- presented a separate bill, he thought
il likely they would both pass ut this session.
MIR. DICKINSON moved 10 lay the bill on the
table Tor the present with a view 10 take up the
bill from the House to supply deficiencies in the
I appropriations for the pay and mirage Of mem.
bcrs OF Congress, which il was important should
be passed TO day.
Whole The amendments reported by the Com.
mittee on Finance were agreed 10.
MILEAGE TO THE NEMEEss From cALToRStA.
Tho bill provided that the Senators and Repre-
sentatves from the State of California, and the del
cgate from Oregon, shall receive S2,bOO each for
mileage, and more.
Mr.. BENTON moved to strike out this provision
and insert in lieu thereof the following
That the mileage of the Senators and Reprcseu.
tatvcs from California and the Delegate from Ore
gOn be computed according TO the most usual trav
cling route within the limits Of the United States
Mr.. BENTON said the route which this amend
nent would probably indicate would be that of the
South Pass, and the mileage would be computed by
that route.
Mr.. GwIN said that the South Pass and per.
haps other routes we're emgrant routes, but denied
that they were by any means travelling routes. No
one returned from California by that route. lie
would appeal to HE colleague 10 state whether il
would be safe to travel by that route TO and from
California.
Mr.. FREMONT said that persons could travel
by that route at this time, and the journey would
occupy about forty days from the frontier An es-
| cort would be necessary, or one could 60 with an
enigrant party. lie did not think II would be safe
60 return by that route unless an escort was sup
piled, which would be matter OF considerable ex
pense.
Mr. GWlN contended that there but ono
travelling route from California 10 the seat Of Gov.
crnment, aud that route was across the Isthmus OF
Panama. lie thought II strange that the long es-
tablished law the subject Of mileage should be
changed in ths case, and discrimination made
against the Senators aud Representatives Of new
State. lie repeated, that the only practicable route
by which members could travel here from Califor-
MIA was by way Of the lsthmus, and they ought tc
be allowed their mileage computed by that route
There no travelling route from California hero
through the limits Of the United States.
Mr.. HAMLlN supported the amendment
Mr. ATCHISON supported the amendment. lie
did not think that u made any determination
against the Senator from California. No member
Of Congress could receive milcageio for travelling ON
a route without the lbiis Of the United States.
Mr.. GWIN replied, aud then moved TO strike
out Of the proposed anne ndment the words, with
i'm the limits Of the United States"
After further debate, DIR. G.. withdrew has
amendment