Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-27
CON GRESS.
IN SENATE.
MoNpAY, AphIL %. 1850.

IN SENATE.
MONDAY, APRIL %, 1850.
|, Mr.. CLAY / have several petitions with which to
trouble the Senate The first is the petition Of four citizens
Of the State of Kentucky. who state in their petition that
each of them has lost The four have four slaves
OF very great value That these slaves have refuge
the State of Ohio and that it is in vain for them to attempt
TO recspure them; that they cannot go there and attempt
recover their properly without imminent hazard to their lives
They state that by The consu ion Of the United States they
are entitled 10 the delivery OF their property thus fed from
them TO them that is the duty of the Government Of the
United States that portion Of the constitution, and
failing the performance of that duty they contend that they
have right ask from the United States compensation for
the ptopery they have lost in consequence Of the failure OF
the Government, of the United States to execute that proy-
sion of the constitution. The petition, sir. is exceedingly
well drawn up the whole argument and states it
admirably do not believe that any jurs in the country
though he might have stated it in eloquent language
could have stated with force their demand that this pro-
vision Of the constitution should be complied WITH that
they should receive compensation for these slaves should
be glad if this petition were printed. II comes from men
with whom true very well acquainted ;but
ing as il does from class OF farmers urging their
in their language appears to be deserv OF the ate-
ton Of the Senate move that the reading OF the petition
be dispensed WITH that be laid upon the table, and printed
The petition which the honorable Senator presented with
the foregoing observations the petition Of James NJ Pennei
VIM Coppage and other citizens OF the county OF Pen
dleton the State of Kentucky 1t sets forth that by article
one section one Of the constitution OF the United States Con
section eight il made their imperative duly pass all
laws necessary carry the powers thereby granted nhe
Government Of the United States into effect whe by article
SIXTH second the laws made under the constitution b
Congress are the supreme laws Of the land and in protection
Of private personal rights and the rights of properly by the
fourth article section Is provided that no person held
to service labor in State under the laws thereof
Gaping another, shall in consequence OF any law or
guaon therein be discharged from such service labor
but shall be delivered up claim OF the party to whom such
service or labor may be DUE They further that they
sess by birth the proud privilege of citizenship in Kentucky
and reside upon borders in the county OF Pendeton south
of and adjacent to the Ohio and the State Ohio That
under the laws Kentucky there is due 10 them respectively
both the services and labor Of four certain servants
Of the value of 900 b, who, within the last six weeks
by the unlawful acts, mscbievous conrover
ses and impairment ntermeddngs with their domestic con-
cerns by persons residing nonslavehong States have
induced their negroes escape into the State o. Oho whee
in of combinations and associations of
therein said negroes discharged from the labor due
the petitioners violation Of their rights under the laws of
Kentucky and of the constitution That they inhibited
from pursuing by themselves orsgents to make claim forthese
by of mobs of hwess and brute oce
which they might have doneh had Congress passed all laws
under The constitution necessary eectuate those guarantees
that Congress alone afford They ask in absence Of due
and efficient laws emanaing rom the Government in protec
ton of their rights that Congress will do them the justice
which with The wrong sustained by granting
them full uvaeni in money for the value OF their servants
The petition laid upon the table, and the question Of
printing referred to the Committee on Printing.
MIR. CLAY. Mr.. President, have received number of
other pe,ions-ke Petitions would call them-l suppose
score of them praying o the repeal Of all laws by which
slavery and the slave trade horned in the District OF 20
umbia that State shall hereafter be admitted into the
Union unless the constitution Of such Stale expressly prohi
bits the institution Of slavery, and They all those
petitions with little slips Ct newspaper attached to the heads
Of EACH issuing originally believe, from print in this city,
and which have been dispersed throughout the country and
back might have been little convenient
if the petitioners had written to somebody here instead OF
dOlbp In
back again. and the and requested somebody here
get slips and attach these them These petitions
however, sent and out Of respect to the right OF
petition and to the petitioners themselves, who dare say
are very respectable enthey from the State of Chic,
and from the Slate Of Michgan-out of respect for the
every body knows do, upon all the
points except onel these petitions and that
the reading them be dispensed with, and that they be laid
upon the table.
The petitions One from Green county, Ohio one
from Amont, Michigan asking that slavery and the slave
trade may be abolished in the District Of Columbia, or the
seat Of government removed theefrom Also that no State
may be admitted whose constitution does not prohibit slavery
within its limits Also that the righ. Of trial by Jury may
be secured fugitive slaves Also, that slavery may be ex
pressy forbid by law in all the Territories.
Neither being read, they were laid on the table.
Mr.. SEWARD. The number of anti slavery petitions
which find in my hand this morning is very much reduced
and attribute this to the circumstance that persons who take
deep interest in that subject have thought desraband
have accordingly done enlist the support of the dsn
guished Senator from Kentucky in behalf Of their views
find therefore, that my number Of petitions is reduced the
number which, glad to the Senator from Kentucky
has presented.
present petition from citizens Of New Ybk, asking
reduction Of the rates of postage cents all prepaid
letters Of not than half The petition
ferred to the COMMITTEE the Post Office and Post Roads
Mr. g. also presented five petitions from citizens Of New
York and petition from citizens Of Michigan asking that
slavery and the slave trade may be abolished in the District
Of Columbia, the seat Of government removed thereom.
Also like number petitions from the places, ask
ing that slavery and the slave trade may be prohibited in all
the Territories by express law
Also like number from the places, asking that no
State may hereafter be admitted whose constitution does
expressly prohibit slavery within its limits.
Also like number from the places, asking that the
right Of trial by jury may be secured to fugitive slaves when
arrested any other State than that which their
claimed all Of which severay ordered to be laid the
table
Mr. WALKER presented the proceedings of meeting of
citizens of New Jersey held Rcevle, in that State, in ia
Of act granting the public lands in limited quantities
actual settlers free OF cost which referred the Com
mittee Public Lands .
Mr.. WHITCOMB submitted documents relating to the
claim Of Francis Mortimer, Revolutionary soldier TO pen
sion which referred TO the Committee Pensions
Mr. DAYTON presented the proceedings Of meeting held
at Rcevie, in that State, in favor Of the Of law
granting the pubic lands in limited quantities to actual set
tiers free of cost which referred the Committee
Public Lands.
LACKING BILLS.
Mr. BENTON moved TO take up bis motion Of instruction
to the committee of thirteen against lacking any other BILL
foreign NATTER the bill for the admission Of the Stae
of California
Mr. CLAY. will thank the clerk to read il before the
question is taken,
The motion was read as follows:
the said committee be instructed report separately