The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-08

throw themselves upon the power OF numbers,
looking exclusively 10 geographical lines, and
with a view of gratifying certain feelings growing
out of those lines they have the power and can
vote it down. Having done SO, they OF course
will abide the consequences.
Mr.. BERRlEN ask the Indulgence of the
Senate a moment, TO make suggestion. I'M
derstand that the Executive message which has
been received relates TO the Texas boundary. We
have a bill upon that subject, which has been
made the special order for tomorrow at III clock.
With the desire expressed from all quarters ask
the unanimous consent of the Senate that the bill
now under consideration may be informally passed
over merely 10 receive and read, and order TO be
printed, the Executive message, when we can re-
sumo the consideration of this bill.
The PRESIDENT. l presume the unanimous
consent of the Senate will be given without pest
poning the bill at all.
No objection being made, the message and &C
companying documents were read
To nv recollection afterwards, the senator
from Mississippi Mr., Foote introduced an
amendment to provide the same boundary of $50
3O', in the form spoken of by the senator from
Louisiana, [Mr. Downs which left it discre-
tional with California to adopt it or not. do not
mean TO say that think he offered that amend
ment. 1t was placed upon the table, and, accord
ing to my recollection, printed. Subsequently,
the senator from Mississippi MIR. Foote] offered
the same proposition in different form, and the
proposition was then made by the senator from
Tennessee Mr. Tuneyl as an amendment to it,
providing that if adopted by Congress, before It be-
came obligatory either upon Congress or Califor-
mia, it should be sent back to the people to be de-
termned by them; and that amendment was dis
tinctly rejected Afterwards, according to my
recollection, vote taken upon the proposition
of the senator from Mississippi, and it was re-
jected. That was my recollection.
Mr.. FOOTE, (nterposing) Allow me to state
10 nufo hat ralac pd tar
certain voting had taken place here that ought to
have satisfied Northern friends of the bill that 1t
was impossible to obtain that amount of support
from Southern senators which would enable them
carry the bill in the event of one or two votes
falling OFF from Northern supporters. That you
know to be the case--that all understood.
Mr.. MASON resumed. Now, sir, all meant
to say is this, to put myself right: ! have never
voted against the boundary of $50 30 as the
boundary of California, nor have ever committed
myself ultimately to vote for it. This question is
reserved. certainly never could have voted for
it, unless the provision of the Constitution could
go back, and the inhabitants of California could
have Immediately passed upon 1t as well as our
selves.
MIR. HAMLIN. How senators have voted
upon the various propositions that have been sub
mitted is shown by the record; how senators will
vote will be shown by the same record; how sena-
tors might vote upon certain hypothecated cases
is, asst seems to me, question of very little I'M
portance, do not rise to minge in that discus
sion at all, but to make suggestion which, |
hope, may meet the ear of the chairman of the
committee who reported this bill. The motion
which he submitted few moments since was to
postpone the vote upon the engrossment Of this
bill till tomorrow. That motion understand to be
withdrawn. If there are senators absent who de-
sire to vote on this bill, Il the last senator who
would force vote, and thus deprive them of the
opportunity of placing their vote record. More
than that am willing to vote in favor Of postpo-
ming the question, if it be necessary. But the
point wish to suggest is this that we take the
question on the engrossment at this time, as un-
derstand no further anne ndment is proposed. II
there are none, would suggest that we take the
vote on the engrossment to-day, and on the final
passage of the bill tomorrow. 1t will then be
equally a test vote as on this question of engross-
ment, and if any gentleman wishes to speak he
can be heard on the question of the passage Of
the bill. shall certainly vote for delay, if ne
cessary, that senators who are absent may have
an opportunity of recording their votes against
the passage of the bill.
Mr.. YULEE. have an amendment which
wish to offer, and which will be prevented, if the
vote is now taken on the engrossment of the bill.
That amendment was put into the hands of a
gentleman for examination, whom do not see in
his seat Mr. Berrien,] and who, by accident, did
not bring it to this chandler to day; and as told
him that probably, from the course of business, il
would not be needed to-day, 1t has not been sent
for. ] desire to make some remarks before the
vote is taken on the engrossment on the amend
ment which proposed to offer, which cannot do
in the absence Of the amendment, and in the alb
sence Of rialdocuments which wish to bring
to the attention OF the Senate. | think it would
be an extraordinary case for the Senate to act
upon this bid under the circumstances, when so
many senators are absent, and when none of Us eX-
al IL, bat "A
pecially when there are those who, like myself,
desire to be heard on the question, and when de-
sire to offer an amendment. move to postpone
the further consideration of this subject until to-
morrow, and that we proceed to the consideration
of executive business.
MIR. DAYTON. trust this matter will not be
postponed. There is decided majority, think,
in favor of the disposition of this question.
think that, with little patience on our part,
this question could be disposed Of and sena-
tors could be relieved. 1t is true, one or two
senators who are opposed TO the bill are abb
sent and there is an equal number who
are in favor of it also absent; and there are
those who, from indisposition, are scarcely able
to drag themselves to the Senate, who desire, if it
is possible to leave this place for few days; and
it seems but just that we should not delay action
In order to crafty two persons who nre
absent. If the absent senators were all upon one
side, so that it would change the result, there
might be some reason in delay; but as there are
some absent on both sides Of the question, the
result cannot be materially changed by our ac-
ton at. the present time. 1t seems to me impor-
tant that we should have action upon it now,
since there seems to be no disposition to de-
bate it, while every days delay is almost GER
tain to superinduce and give rise to additional
debate.
Mr.. YULEE / stated that had an amend
ment which | proposed to offer, and have given
the reason why it is not in my power to offer
nnow.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON THE ERIE RAILROAD
On Wednesday noon most distressing accident
occurred between Mast Hope and Lackawaxan,
on the Erie railroad, to freight train, composed
Of % cars, and filled with cattle and other stock