The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
TUESDAY, March ~, 1850
SENATE

SENATE.
Private petitions presented by Messrs. MA
| Son, PRATr, and FELoH
EXPLANATION.
Mr.. WEBSTER corrected an error in the report
of the remarks made by him on Thursday last, and
explained the reply made by him, on yesterday, To
a question put TO him by MIR. HALE.
CHEAP POSTAGE.
Memorials praying a reduction of postage were
presented by Messrs. DICKINSON and PRATT.
COMPROMISE COMMITTEE
Mr.. FOOTE moved 10 take up the resolutions
heretofore submitted by Mr.. BELL. with view to
their reference to select committee OF thirteen
Senators, six to be chosen from the southern and
| six from the northern States, and the twelve to
choose the thirteenth.
Mr.. BALDWIN opposed the motion. He was
opposed to the reference Of the question OF admit
sideration Of that subject by the Senate. He was
stating why that subject should not be considered
as sectional subject, when
Mr.. FOOTE called him to order.
Mr.. HALE said that he had few words to cay why
this subject should not be taken up for reference
a select committee of thirteen. The Senator from
Mississippi few days ago had stated that this
motion was made after a consultation with "nearly
all the leading" members of the Senate. What he
desired TO say was that if the leaders of the Senate
were to take this matter into their hands, and
| leave nothing for others to do, he was opposed
to the motion. friend had placed in his hands an
| which it was said: General Foote'S compromise
| committee has been completed, and consists Of Mr.
Clay, chairman; Mr. Webster, Mr.. Phelps, Mr..
Cooper, Mr.. Cass, Mr.. Dickinson, Mr. Dodge, jr.,
Mr. Mason, Mr.. Soule, Mr. Bell, Mr.. Butler, Mr..
| Mangum, and Mr.. Berrien." By this, he sup
posed that these gentlemen were the leaders Of the
| Senate.
Mr. FOOTE said that he had never consulted
with any one upon the names of the persons who
should compose the committee He was indiffer-
cnt upon that point, because he knew fair com
mittee could be chosen, and was firmly of opinion
that such committee could report plan which
| would be satisfactory to the country
/ Mr.. HALE replied, and Mr.. FOOTE reoincd.
Mr.. CHASE asked the yeas and nays ON the mo-
/ ton, and they were ordered, and resulted fol-
| lows:
| YEAS-Messrs. Atchison, Badger Bell, Berrien,
Bradbury, Cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis of Mssis.
| sippi, Dawson, Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa. Downs,
1 Foote, Hunter, Jones, King, Mangum, Mason,
Morton, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, and Sturgcon-24.
| NAYS-Messrs Baldwin, Benton, Butler Cal
houn, Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis of Massachu-
sets, Dayton, Dodge of Wisconsin Felch Greene,
Hale, Hamlin, Phelps, Seward, Shields, Smith,
Underwood, Upham, Walker, and Yulce22.
SO the resolutions taken up.
| Mr.. FOOTE then moved they be referred TO a
select committee of thirteen Senator'S, six to be
chosen from the northern and six from the southern
States, the thirteenth to be chosen by the twelve,
with instructions to devote themselves to the ad
justment of plan of settlement of all the conflict
ing questions growing out of the subject of slavery
The VICE PRESIDENT suggested that part Of
this motion confiicted with the rule of the Senate
which prescribes the mode of appointing commit
tees. The rule requires that all committees shall
be chosen by ballot. The motion would seem to
limit the power of choice in requiring that GER
tain number of the members of the committee
should be chosen from particular section of the
country.
Mr.. FOOTE said he would withdraw the motion,
or would modify it to simple motion TO refer the
resolutions to select committee of thirteen men,
bers, to be chosen by ballot. He was certain fair
committee could be chosen.
Mr.. BERRIEN suggested that the modification
would obvate the difficulty intimated by the
Chair.
Mr.. CLAY said that he hoped the Senator from
Mississippi would persevere in his modification OF
his motion. He would be sorry that this, or any
other committee of the Senate, should be open 10
the charge of having sectional aspect He de-
sired to say word about the mode of constituting
this committee. He had never been consulted with
by any one as TO the name Of any one who should
be on this committee The Senator from Mssissip-
ri, with his usual kindness, mentioned TO him his
intention to move the election of a committee OF
thirteen, for the purpose OF procuring il possible
settlement Of the difficulties The Senator ask ed
him, would he concur in the movement He stated
TO the Senator what he desired TO say the Senate
to-day, that to secure settlement of the difficult
ties now disturbing and agltating the whole coun-
try he would vote for any proposition, coming
from any quarter, that looked to, proposed, any
mode Of settlement.
He not sangune the Senator the
results which that committee would bring into
the Senate, but still he would consent TO any ex-
pertinent. He would try experiment after ex-
pertinent, so long as there was the least hope.
As TO the mode Of selecting this committee, he
thought that the remarks which got into the news
papers, about conferences and interviews between
Senators about the selection OF committees, or
the mode Of disposing Of public business, were
not subjects that ought To be treated Of in debate.
On another occasion of great moment to the peace
Of the country, he had proposed the appointment
of a committee Of thirteen, and he made out the
list himself and put IL into the hands Of the Speaker
and he appointed every one of them. On the other
occasion when he moved the appointment Of the
joint committee Of twenty three, the members
focked 10 him and asked whom he wanted on the
committee. He prepared list, and on the first
ballot eighteen Of those on the let prepared by him
were chosen, and the other five had plurality OF
votes; and they afterwards chosen without
proceeding TO n ballot.
Mr.. BUTLER said that ne did not wish that his
vote should be misunderstood He had objec-
ton 10 the committee being appointed at this time,
but not opposed to II finally. Ifit be now organ
lied, all the various resolutions would be referred
10 the committee.
Mr.. FOOTE said the motion was confined TO the
reference Of the resolutions Of the Senator from
/, Tennessee (Mr. BELL) alone
Mr.. BUTLER said that the motion might be "a
stated, but II the committee raised. other SEN
ators would move 70 refer their resolutions to IL
the Senator from New Hampshire mir. HALr)
would doubtless move 10 send the Wilmot proviso
10 the committee as an instruction
Mr.. FOOrE said he thought not. No man OF
sense would move vote to send the Wilrnot pro.
viso TO n compromise committee as an nstruc.
ton.
} Mr.. BUTLER said that he did not know ho~ far
! the term men Of would be applicable, but he
still supposed the motions would be made He
thought that II the committee was raised at thi,
time and is action should not prove satisfactory Il
would produce irritation, and place matters in a
more difficult situation for settlement.
Mr.. CASS said he desired 10 say a few words or
this subject, and he would move its postponement
till tomorrow.
And the subject was then postponed till to-mor
row at 49, O'Clock.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
! OF Mr.. GAYS
COMPROMISE RESOLUTIONS.
: Mr.. TURNEY, being entitled TO the floor com.
> menced his remarks by commenting on the greal
principles upon which the Constitution was based
The broad principle that Constitution was equal
among the States, and equality among the people
forming these States. The territories Of the United
n States the property Of all the States
I and OF the people. He then considered and stated
the history Of the present difficulties, attrbutinp
G them 10 the scheming of the American and foreign
abolition societies He also traced the history OF the
4 Free Soil party, and alluded TO Martin Van Buren,
- r.. a. A