The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY.FIRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION
SENATE
TUESDAY, JUNE Is, 1850.

lhihi 1T lhDI UUhuhESS -FlhDt DEcofUN,
SENATE.
TUESDAY, JUNE IS, 1850
Mr.. Hunter, from the Committee on Finance.
reported back the Deficiency bill of the House,
and-it Was read a third time and passed
The Omnibus bill Was taken up, the question
pending being on the motion of MIR. Hale to
amend, as follows
Insert at the end of the first section 0he part Of
the bill relating to California; the following:
New States not exceeding two in number of
convenient size and having sufficient population.
may hereafter, by consent of said State of Cali
fornis, be formed out of the territory thereof,
which shall be entitled TO admission under the
provisions of the Constitution
Mr. Foote moved TO amend the amendment by
by adding thereto, with or without slavery, as
the people of each State asking admission may
desireD 49,. ...
After protraoted debate, the amendment of
Mr.. Foote was adopted as follows:
GEAs-Messrs. Atchison Badger, Bell Ber-
rien, Butler, Clay, Clemens, Davis of Mississippi
Dawson, Dodge of Iowa, Downs, Foote Houston,
Hunter, Jones, King, Mason, Morton, Pratt,
Rusk, Soule, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood
Wales, and Yulee-26.
NAYs-Messrs Baldwin, Chase, Corwin. Dodge
of Wisconsin, Hale Phelps, Smith, Upham, and
The question recurring on the amendment of
Mr.. Hale, as amended, il was Withdrawn by unani-
nous consent.
Mr.. Davis of Mississippi submitted the follow
ing amendment, to come in after the 2lst section
"And that all laws, parts of laws, usages or
customs, preexsting in the territories acquired by
the United States from Mexico, and which in
said territories restrict abrdge, or obstruct the
full enjoyment of any right of person or property
IF n oifiyan If The TIDitad Sfatau Il
guaranteed by the Constitution or laws of the
United States, are hereby declared and shall be
held, as repealed"
Mr.. Hale moved to add to the amendment as
follows:
provided that the laws abolishing slavery in
said Territory are excepted from this repeating
elauseD t..,fgs
MIR Foota said that he thought that the Mexi.
can laws sSousnlng slavery hanSs.~S Az. ogaleo
by the Constitution of the United States He
thought therefore, that the amendment of his col.
league was unnecessary He would vote for II,
however He could not vote for the amendment
of the Senator from New Hampshire. ID was
but the Wimot Proviso in one of its various
shapes.
Mr. Clay said that he would vote against the
amendment of both Senators. The Proviso was
equivalent to the enactment. There was nothing
enacted by the amendment of the Senator from
Mississippi but what was proposed to be excepted
from its operation by the Proviso Of the Senator
from New Hampshire. He would vote against
both. He thought the adoption Of the amend
ment of the Senator from Mississippi would be a
departure from the indicated by the Senate,
which was not to decide at all upon the question
of the lea loci but leave it to be decided by the
Judiciary whether those laws were in force, or
whether they had been abrogated by the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States
Mr.. Davis Of Mississippi explained his amend
! ment All that was asked by it was, that those
local laws presxisting in the Territories interior
! ing with the rights which American citizens were
entitled to under the Constitution, should be re.
pealed. The amendment was not intended to reach
| the Mexican laws abolishing slavery, but il
was intended that any law which prohibited
| the enjoyment of rights secured by the Consti-
tuition of the United States should be set aside.
Messrs Pratt and Downs expressed themselves
as in favor Of the principle of the amendment,
but would vote against it.
Mr. Berrien supported the amendment
Messrs Davis, Foote, and Downs, continued
the debate
Mr. Dawson followed in support of the amend
ment, and in reply to the objections urged against
il.
Mr. Walker addressed the Senate in opposition
10 the asaputissSaa
Mr. Badger said that, by an amendment to the
bill already adopted, the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States and the laws Of the United States had
been extended over these Territories There was
then no necessity for the amendment, for every
thing proposed TO be accomplished by the amend
ment hsd already been accomplished by the
amendment which had been inserted He thought
the amendment unnecessary, and perhaps might
embsrrass the bill, therefore he would vote
against it.
Mr.. Houston moved, and the Senate adjourned
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1880.
The Senate, after attending to the business Of
the morning hour resumed the consideration of
the report of the Committee Of Thirteen.
Mr. Benton gave notice Of an amendment, al
tering the boundaries of New Mexico, as pro-
posed in the bill.
The question pending was on Mr. Hales amend
ment, which was rejected
The amendment moved by Mr.. Davis Of Mis-
sissippi was then taken up, and also rejected, by
the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs Atchison, Bell, Berrien. Butler,
Clemens, Davis Of Mississippi, Dawson, Foote,
Houston, Hunter, King, Mason, Morton, Pearce,
Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, and Yulee-ls.
NAYs-Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Benton,
Bright Cas-, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Corwin,
ID wis of Massachusetts,, Dayton, Dodge of Wis
consin, Dodge Of Iowa, Fsch, Greene, Hamn, |
Jones' Miller, Norris, Phelps, Pratt, Shields, |
Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood Upham, |
Walker, and Whitcomb-29.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Walker, to Sc
cure the right Of suffrage to aliens born, who had
signi6ed their intention to become citizens, was |
rejected.
Another amendment, moved by the same gen.
tleman, to strike out from the 10th section the |
words !" nor shall the lands or other property of |
non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or |
other property shared the same fate
Mr. Underwood moved to amend the 10th sec
ton, 80 as TO secure only the 10th instead Of the
18th and seth sections In each township for school
purposes. REJECTED
Mr. Underwood submitted an amendment, au-
thorising suit to be brought 10 the Supreme Court
by Texas against the United States, or the re-
verse; for the settlement Of their respective
claims, should Texas decline the proposition Of
settlement In the present bill Much discussion
arose, but no question was taken.
Messrs Berrien Dayton, and Sebastian, gave
notice Of various amendments, which were order
ed to be printed.
Mr.Cisy with great warmth expressed his
regrets that so many amendments should be Offer
ed, as IL to thwart the bill hundred times
already he had Sesn On the psint Of abandoning
MIR Berrien replied that he could not submit
in silence to the imputaton that his design TO
thwart the measure
The Senate then adjourned
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1850.
Mr.. Clay presented the proceedings and reso-
buttons Of q meeting Of the members Of the Con-
stitutional Convention Of Kentucky, approving
of the report Of the Committee Of Thirteen.
resolution was adopted, directing the pur-
chase of 1000 copies Of the Report Of the Pro-
ceedipgs Of the California Convention, at $3.50
per volume
The Senate resumed the confederation Of the
Compromise bill. Amer further discussion on
Mr. Underwood's amendment, 1t was rejected by
the following vote:
YeAs--Messrs Baldwin, Clarke, Corwin, Ds-