The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-15
I'm CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES.
THURSDAY. MARCH il. 1850.
SENATE.

MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS.
j Mr. UNDERWOOD presented a memorial, very nu-
merously signed BY citizens OF Paduca asking that that
town may be made port OF delivery, and appropra
ton OF 0O0 to deepen the water from the grand
chain between that and the mouth Of the Ohio river
that any boats might reach Paduca which was referred
4 to the Committee on Commerce.
/ Mr. u. also presented memorial from Isaac Sheen,
who represents himself as first counsellor to the prophet
hs church Of jesus Christ Of assrdsy sants tosshsr
with two apostles and some twelve high priests, urging
very grave complaints against their brother Nor
mons, whom they designate as the Salt Lake Mormon
bandi These people set forth thai Council Bluffs is
principally settled by Salt Lake Mornons who are gov
ened in political well spiritual affairs BY the secret
lodge Of fifty men, that also rule the Salt Lake Territory,
andby Brigham Young, rgovemor priest prophet seer.
reveato and nqustoal chief that these people obsruct
the receipt Of the religious newspaper called the Melchis
relations in that quarter and they mpore the protection
Of Congress from the tyranny injustice and political IN
trigues Of the Salt Lake band and insist that the
ton are sufficient only 10 show the improperly Of ad
mting Deseret into the Union, but also to convince the
that no Salt Lake Mormon should be allow
ed to hold any office, either at the Salt Lake valley or
Council Bluffs They charge them also with having
commenced warfare against the liberty Of speech and
ao 5s s
memorial referred to the Committee the Post o.
fee and Post Roads.
lott Wisconsin, asking the adoption Of for the
adjustment of international difficulties by arbitration
which referred to the Committee on Foreign Rea-
Mr.. SHIELDS presented the memorial Of conven.
on Of citizens Of illinois, held vandala in that State
asking the right Of way and portion Of the public land,
to the Mississippi and Atlantic Railroad Company ncOr
porated by the State OF Illinois; which was referred to
| the Committee on Public Lands
Mr.. JONES presented petition OF citizens OF the
structoas to the navigation Of the Mississippi river at the
Des M0ines and Rock river rapidA which was referred
to the COMMITTEES on Commerce.
Juso ptnd nafifi OfC Clav.
ton county, Iowa asking the establishment Of mail.
route from CoebuY 70 Elkader, and the dscontngance
which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office
MI SEWARD presented petition Of citizens Of West
State Of New York. asking that the right Of trial BY jury
may be secured by law to fugitive slaves when arrested
any other State than that in which their service may
Mr. PRATT Mr. President. | do hope that this may
not be received by the Senate II does seem to that
of all the subjects Of all the petitions Of this kind which
have been excluded under practice rule OF the
Senate which have not seen, and which do not pre-
tend to comprehend, this is the most dangerous, be-
cause il is the most calculated TO- excite the public
mind of any introduced. Now, understand that some
senator's and from the South. too, have put the
question of reception OF such petitions as these upon the
ground that the subject referred TO is now pending before
the Senate apprehend must be apparent to every one
that il this is be the rule tits only necessary for some
senator to offer an amendment, embracing the subject of
this petition 70 any bill and thereby % annex the p petition mon
make it legitimate to petition upon every subject because
it may relate to something which is before the Senate
New York OF ali the subjects now exciting the minds
Of the people Of this country the escape Of fugitive slaves
is the most exciting, and is doing now the most harm to
the country. The senator from New York has intro
duced an amendment understand, to some bill, that
no fugitive shall be delivered up until he has been
tried by a jury; or. in other words, as we all know,
slaves they get beyond the jurisdiction of their master
into free State. The senator from New York knows
that his State under the pretext that the laws OF
laws Of the State and without permitting the claimant
return to Maryland to procure certified copy OF that
law set the slave free repeat that OF all the subjects
slaves doing the most harm. do hope therefore, that
this petition will not be received and ask the yeas and
nays upon the question.
Mr.. HALE said: must confess that have listened
with astonishmsnt 10 the suggestions made by the
honorable senator from Maryland this morning II
have been rightly informed by the several senators with
whom have conyersed upon the subject. in times past,
there is not slave State in the Unon there is not State
p
to freedom under the laws Of the State n which he is
claimed he is not entitled 10 legal trial to ascertain
hope shall be corrected am confident that this is the
law in many, if not in all OF the States. The person
claimed slave is entitled TO such trial As the laws
give him. and apprehend in most OF the States il is
Trial by jury.
Now, sir, II, in the States OF Maryland and Virginia,
which are slave States an individual charged with being
a slave has the right OF such trial the laws give
him. to ascertain whether he is a slave OF Motif that is
the right Of slaves in slave Statess il asking great
DEAL that reemen in free States should have the same
fightl What s the bill that is before the Senate
gret As understand that law, sir any man that wants
victim can purchase affidavit; for understand they
can be purchased in the slave States, well in The
free States, and then may go into any one OF the free
Sateenay 20 into your house, MIR President, mine
may seize upon my wife OF my chid-and upon an az
parfe iayit, taken behind Backs hundreds OF thou
nds OF miles off, the wife OF your bosom, the child OF
your love- may be wreHched from your protection, and
carried away-hurried Off
Mr. BUTLER, Tin his seat, in low tone Of voice. Are
they backsl
have some held slaves that il would be difficult
or black descent Anybody white black. by that law
by the strength Of pars affidavit, taken behind
their backs hundreds OF miles Of may be hurried of TO
fate compared to which the grave would be welcome
relief Is too much TO ask that trial by jury the writ
OF habsas corpus, and every privilege that is dear 10
Americans, may be exercised in our own Statesi
Mr.. KING. call the senator 10 order
The VICE PRESIDENT. The senator will state his
point OF order.
Mr. KING. Il will be necessary to determine whether
the petition shall be received, before il be discussed
When il is determined that il shall be fecevedas pre-
il will be- judging from the vote which we had yes
teray il will be ia the power oil the senator 10 de-
liver his euiogy upon the blacks and upon the horrors OF
slavery but not before that.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair understands that
the senator from New Hampshire is in order.
Mr. HALE With the indulgence Of the Chair, when
the senator from Maryland objected 70 the reception he