Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-09-12

troduced by him to secure measure for the
protection of New Orleans and other places
| FROM overflow,
The Bounty Land bill was again taken up
The bill was debated and amended in several
particulars and then laid over until tomorrow
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
lion of Executive business, and SO consumed the
remainder of the day.
House.-This morning AFR. McIIane arose and
alluded to the fact that personal difficulty had
occurred between MIR. Bayly and Mr. Sweetser,
and said that mutual explanation had taken
place since, through Mr. Disney. Mr.. Sweetzer's
friend, on the one side, and Mr.. McLane, Mr..
Bayly's friend, on the other. All offensive lam
guoge Withdrawn and atoned for, and the former
friendly relations established.
Mr.. Green asked leave to offer resolution
calling on the President TO communicate the
cost OF the mail steamers now in service, the
whether any of the Steamers in whole or In
part, have been hypothecated to individual
States, Cities, or foreign Governments, SO as to
preclude their use in the event Of a war.
Objections made.
Mr.. Green moved the suspension of the rules,
which was agreed to, and the resolution adop.-
! ed.
On motion of Mr.. Boyd, the Texas Boundary
bill was made the special order of the day for
every day at twelve o'clock, until it shall be
disposed of.
Mr Stanton of Tenn, asked leave to introduce
a resolution for the adjournment of Congress on
the 4th Monday Of September.
| Objection being made, he moved the suspen-
sion Of the rules-but the motion did not prevail.
| 104 to 60-not two thirds.
| Mr.. Vandyke asked leave to introduce reso-
luton, instructing the committee on Ways and
Means to report, as speedily as possible, bill
TO modify our present revenue laws, and to in
crease the duties on foreign articles which come
in competition with our own products, so as to
give fair and reasonable protection to the labor
and industry of the country, and that such duties
be made specific wherever 1t is practicable to
do So
Objection being made, motion was made to
suspend the rules, which was disagreed to-
yeas 60 nays 81.
M. Preston King asked leave to offer rcso-
luton llslrucling the committee on Ways and
Means to report bill making the duties spe-
ci6c, and equal to the I'D valorem at the time the
Tariff bill, in 1876, became a law.
Objected to.
lie then moved the House adjourn. Lost
50 to- 20.
The motion to suspend the rules, to introduce
Mr.. Kings resolution, was disagreed to- e5 to
I04.
Mr.. Strong, of New York, at two o'clock, NOV
ed that the House adjourn, and The motion pre-
vailed.
TUESDAY, Sept 3.
Senate. The bill to create the office OF Sur
veyor General OF Public Lands in California,
and to grant donations to actual settlers thereon,
was taken up, and the various amendments re
ported by the Committee on Public Lands were
d. posed OF.
H.. e
giving the President of the United States pow
er TO exclude from the lands TO be granted to
settlers, such territory as he may think expedient
10 reserve for military and naval purposes.
Mr.. Douglas showed that this amendment
would sanction previous acts of army officers,
by hich improved lands IN Astoria have been
seized and appropriated without Compensation TO
the use OF tine United States.
MIR. Davis commended that the settlers had no
right to the land, and that the government in
giving away the lands had perfect right TO re-
serve what they chose.
The debate was continued until ! o'clock,
when the bill was laid over until tomorrow.
On motion of Dir. Clay, the bill to abolish the
slave trade in the district of Columbia was taken
up Mr.. Clay briefly explained and advocated
the bill. Its object was to abolish the foreign
slave trade in the District. the bringing of slaves
and placing them IN depots here, not for the pur-
pose TO sale IN the District but for sale and ship
ment to Southern States. The bill did not pro-
pose to interfere in the least degree with the
sale of slaves by one inhabltant of the District
to another, nor 10 prevent such lnhabitant going
out Of the District to purchase slaves for his own
use in the District; 1t was in fact simple revival
OF the law of Maryland upon this subject, as
that law existed at the time of the cession of a
portion of her territory for the seat of govern
ment it was simply TO exclude traffic in The
District. which had no connection whatever with
that District. It's only effect upon which was TO
bring upon it the ooium which attaches to that
trade, which has been condemned and denounc-
ed so often aud so justly. Alter some verbal a
mend,nents, proposed by Mr.. Clay, had been
adopted,
Mr. Foot moved a substitute for the bill, plac-
ing the entire subject under the control and d.
recton Of the corporate authorities.
Mr.. Hunter opposed the bill as the beginning
of series of measures of aggre ssion upon the
South and as unconstitutional. He referred to
the celebrated case Of Graves persus Slaughter
observing, that Mr.. Clay then as counsel arg
ued with much ability and force that Congress
under The pnwer TO regulate commerce. has no
right TO prohibit any branch OF it, and contend
ing that if mis- argument was then good one, it
established the unconstlutionallty of this DILL
so also with an argument made on the same case
by Mr.. Webster till the Supreme Court ruled a.
gainst these gentlemen. But he contended that
they did not override upon the points represent
ed by them, upon which he [Hunterl relied IN
his opposition 10 the bill. He feared that this
measure bu: an entering wedge to the abol-
ition of the slave trade between the States 1t
would encourage species of sentimental legis-
lation which would result in disastrous conse-
quences. lie had the kindest feelings wards
the black race, and would do whatever he could
TO promote their comfort, consistent with what
he owed to his own race.
MIR. Pearce moved an amendment to the a.
mendment giving the authorities of the district
power to enforce the authority conferred on them
by the bill.
Air. Clay briefly replied to Mr.. Hunter, that
this was the last Of a series of measures report
ed by the Committee of Thirteen. 1t did not
look at all to the abolition of slavery 10 the dis
Irict, as Mr.. Hunter had minated. The Com
nItee had no such design, and his own opinion
was, that its effect would be quite contrary. He
that the Senator had no right to cite
The arguments made in the case of Graves and
Slaughter. The question was not what did the
counsel argue in behalf of their clients, but
what did the Court decide to be the Constitu-