The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-18
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
'IRsT SESSION.
wrpsEspAY. April n, ESQ.
SENATE

WEDNESDAY,, April II, 1850.
SENATE.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs. HALE,
UNDERWOOD, CAss, and CLARKE.
SLAVERY
Mr. HALE presented a series Of the usual petit
lions against the extension of slavery, the admis
sion of slave States, and in favor Of granting the
trial by jury to all persona arrested as fugitive
slaves and in favor Of the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia.
Messrs SEW ARD and HAMLIN presented sim
liar petitions.
Mr.. RUSK presented the joint resolutions of
Texas upon various local subjects; laid on the table
and ordered to be printed.
PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS.
MIR. WHITCOMB corrected an error in report
in the Union Of some remarks made by him IN re-
lation to the Patent Office building.
Mr.. FOOTE corrected an error in report OF
some remarks made by him ON the deficiency Dill,
and published in the InteihgtncT
WATER RorTED HEMP IN THE NAVY.
Mr. BENTON gave notice that he would, to-mor-
row or at some subsequent day. ask leave TO intro.
ducc a Joint resolution in relation to the use OF
water -roted hemp in the navy OF the United States
THE OHIO RIVER.
The VICE PRESIDENT announced the follow
ing Senators as the select committee on the memo
rial of Mr.. Elet in relation to improving the navi-
CATION Of the Ohio river: Mr.. CoRwIN, MIR. CLAY,
Mr. BnIoHr, Mr. BELL, Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi,
and MIR. Downs.
CUSTOM HOUSE AT MOBILE.
Mr. KING submitted the following resolution,
which, after some remarks from him, was consid-
cred and adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee Commerce be
instructed TO inquire into the expediency of max
ing an appropriation for the erection Of custom
house at Mobile in the State OF Alabama
CALIFORNIA LAND TITLES.
Mr. FELCH submitted the following resolution,
which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior COM
municate TO the Senate the report OF William Cary
Jones, made by him special agent appointed to
examine and report upon the subject OF land titles
in California.
THE NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS MAIL STEAMERS.
Mr. DOWNS submitted the following resolution,
which lies under the rules:
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Navy be d.
rected report to the Senate whether the contrac
tor for the New Orleans and Chagrcs line of mail
steamers Who sbound himself to establish line of
steamships to consist of at least five vessels for the
transportation Of the United States mail from New
York to New Orleans, twice month and back,
touching at Charleston, III practicable,l Savannah
and Havana, and from Havana to Chagrcs and
back twice month; that two OF the steamships
should be completed and ready for service the
LIST day of October lS45, and should be of the bur-
den Of not less than fifteen hundred tons, has com
piled with his contract; and, ii not, whether his
been engaged with his assignees will be calculated
to embarrass and postpone the final completion Of
the vessels contracted for, if not TO endanger the
fulilment of the contract with the Government
are not Of such a nature TO authorize and require
that the said contract should be declared by the
Government null and void; and whether the action
of Congress be necessary TO carry such n purpose
into effect, and to report such other information,
touching said contract, as may be useful to. Con-
gress.
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
Mr.. BUTLER presented the credentials of the
Hon. FRANKLIs III. ELMoRE, appointed by the
Governor Of that State Senator of the United
States, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death
of the Hon. JOHN c. CALHOUN.
CORPORATION OF TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA.
Mr.. CLEMENS, pursuant to notice, introduced
bill granting the assent of the United States to
sale or lease by the corporation of the city OF Tusca
loosa Of part of the margin Of the Black Warrior
river to plank road company; and, after some
remarks by Messrs. CLEMENS, KING, and UN-
DERWOOD, the bill read third time and
passed.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
of the United States was received by the hands of
Colonel BLIss, but was not read.
THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE, CALIFORNIA.
MIR. FOOTE moved, and the Senate proceeded TO
the consideration Of the motion made some time
since by him, 10 refer the compromise resolutions
of Messrs CLAY and BELL 10 a select committee OF
thirteen Senators. Upon this motion the following
amendment, moved (and modified at the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Clay by Mr.. BEsros, were pending:
Provided, That nothing in tits reference shall
lie construed 10 assert imply the existence oil
any power in Congress to abolish slavery in the
States any power to suppress the slave trade be-
tween the States; nor that Congress ought TO abol
ish slavery in the FORTS dock yards, and arsenas,
nor TO abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia :"
Mr.. CLAY said that he desired TO offer amend
ment 10 the amendment moved by the Senator
from Missouri. The Senator from Missouri had
offered ON Thursday last, certain instructions 10
the committee. lie mir. c. had suggested a
modification Of those instructions, which the Sena-
tor from Missouri had accepted for his own. He
proposed TO offer amendment to the amend
Inent as modified. The amendment was 10 strike
out all of the modified amendment after the word
provided" and insert: That the Senate does not
deem il necessary 10 express in advance any opin-
ion, or to give any instruction, either general or
specific for the guidance Of the said committee.
Mr.. BENTON said the amendment, which wac
called the amendment Of the Senator from Mis-
souri,, was properly the amendment Of the Senator
from Kentucky. He (Mr. b. had, on Thursday
last, accepted the amendment Of the Senator from
kentucky in lieu Of bis own-had accepted the
amendment in spirit Of harmony and compro
misc. The Senator from Kentucky now proposes
20 amend his amendment by striking Il al
out This being the case, be would withdraw hi.
modified amendment. He then offered his original
amendment, which follows:
Provided that nothing in this reference shall b,
into consideration any thing relating 10 either o.
the four following points
l. The abolition Of slavery in the States.
2. The suppression Of the slave trade between
the States.
3. The abolition Of slavery in the dock-yards
forts and arsenals.
4. The abolition Of slavery in the District Of Co
lumbia.
Nor shall said committee be authorized 90 con.
slider any question relating to the domestic slavery
in the United States.
Mr.. CLAY then submitted his proposition az an
amendment 10 this amendment Of Mr.. BENToS.
Mr.. CASS asked, was bc correct in understanding
the amendment Of the Senator from Kentucky a
in effect doing away with the other one'
Mr. CLAY. Certainly.
Mr.. BENTON said that, with all due Difference
he would suggest that the Senator from Kentucky
was not acting parliamentary in doing what h
had done in submitting this amendment IL wa
not, in parliamentary Law, an amendment al all
It was a resolve by the Senate. II had neither tb
character, mark, nor style Of amendment Al
amendment 70 proposition II an improvement, al
alteration, but not a destruction Of the original
This so-called amendment is move, resolve b,
the Senate 10 do away with the whole matter.
IL sort Of previous question 70 cut of debate 70
of all amendments, and IL 20 do away with any vot
upon the several points which submitted in tn
instructions.