The southern press., 1850-09-05
cor G X ES SION A l..
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, September 4, 1850.
SLAVE TRADE BILL

IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, September 4, 1850.
SLAVE TRADE BILL.
Mr.. CLAY, in view Of the strong desire ex.
pressed yesterday by several senators for the
postponement of the bill for the abolition Of the
slave trade in this District and as several sena
tors were necessarily absent who desire to vote
upon the bil moved that its further consideration
be postponed till Tuesday next; which was
agreed to.
POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion Of Mr. DICKINSON, the Senate
took up the bill Of the House, making the annual
appropriations for the support of the Post Office
Department.
| After the consideration Of some amendments of
the Finance Committee,
Mr.. YULEE moved to strike out the appropri-
alton Of $4,000 each ship, for the running of
two mail steamers between New York and
Havre, for the current fiscal year.
The motion was debated by Messrs. YuLEE,
DICKINSON, RusK, SEWARD, Dawson, and DAvfs'
Of Massachusetts, very minutely, when
Mr.. SEBASTIAN moved to postpone the bill
until tomorrow.
A division Of the Senate was called for. No
quorum voting. The Sergeant-at-arms was d.
rected to look up the absentees; and Il quorum be-
ing readily made up, the Chair announced the fact
Mr.. DOWNS, from the importance Of the
measure, and the five millions of money involved
in the appropriations it makes, and from the in
formation respecting them, hoped the bill would
Mr.. DICKINSON explained the appropria-
tions, and urged the necessity Of pass ing the sup
plies for the Government All the information
required was at hand, and there was nothing TO
Mr.. UNDERWOOD hoped the bill would be
persevered in, and if gentlemen desired informa-
ton, they could catechise the members Of the FL
nance Committee. A postponement wou only
be loss of time; and he for one, was anxious to
finish up the public business and go home.
| NEW OMNIBUS.
Mr. FOOTE said that he also desired to GO
home, and should vote against the postpone
ment; but not because he desired to push the ap-
preparations through; for, continued he, so help
me Heaven, ! shall oppose the passage of the
appropriation bills. shall oppose the voting OF
one dollar of the Government supplies, until
something shall be done in the settlement Of the
slavery question. And give notice now, that il
nothing is done in the meantime, shall bring
forward a new omnibus bill, aud move it al
an amendment to the Civil and Diplomatic bill
We shall have no use for appropriations, il this
slavery question shall remain unadjusted.
The motion to postpone the bill tomorrow
was lost, l3 to %.
The debate was resumed upon the amendment
, Mr.. YULEE from the, contracts of the Oceal
Mail Steam Companies, and from the official re
ports of expenses and receipts, exhibited thi
ocean system of mail steamers as a losing busnes
to the Government; and that this House appro
priation itself involved an ultimate expenditure o
81 500, 600. He contended also that the schem
; originated among certain spectators in New York
|, and that they had steamship ready, the Frank
=, lin, which did not meet the requirements of tn
service, because it was not at all adapted for ma
val purposes, lit should be demanded for the ser
vice.
Mr. DICKINSON replied in explanation of tn
propriety Of this opposition, and in vindicatio
E of the conduct of the Postmaster General in hi
r contracts with the mail steamship companies.
. Messrs. HAMLlN, YuLEE, DAWSON, RUsE
FoorE, Downs, BADGER and others, further pro
onged the debate.
The question at length being taken, the amend
ment Of Mr.. YULEE was lost, 20 to 25.
Mr.. YULEE then moved to limit the Hous
, contract to the original term of five years, SOM
Of the other contracts having been extended t.
ten years. Amendment agreed to, % to 6.
9 The amendment was concurred in, and the bill
was ordered to a third reading.
A Joint resolution was passed providing for tn
settlement Of the accounts of the late Pierce M
Butler.
REV. WALTER COTTON.
The bill for the relief of Rev. Walter Cotton
United States Navy, for services as Alcade ant
Admiralty Judge at Monterey, Alta California
was, on motion Of Mr.. BRADBURy taken up.
. Mr. SHIELDS opposed the bill. He consd
lain of the Navy, for the sham sale of a ship
: and for leaving his own vessel, and becoming tn
Alcade Of town in California, should come u
: here and demand a compensation.
r Mr. BRADBURY explained. Mr.. Cotton wa
4 ordered on shore, and directed TO undertake tn
r civil duties Of magistrate at Monterey, DC. lie wa
not allowed to leave. He remained on shore unde
! orders, at great expense, for three years. In al
his duties enjoined upon him, he had shown
u great dsinterestedness, and only asked REIN
. bursement for his expenses. He had saved som
Y thousands Of dollars TO the Government in tn
< purchase and sale Of ship, and is entitled Il
, compensation.
, Mr.. SEWARD. What amount does the bill
, , "FMSrB Mr.! BRADBURY. Seven thousand dollars.
r Mr.. SHIELDS opposed the bill.
Mr.. BUTLER advocated the compensation
: proposed. Mr. Cotton had paid into the Treas
!, ury large sum Of money which he might hav
/ retained, and such honesty and simplicity wer
E entitled to. indemnity.
Mr.. HAMLIN seconded the views Of Mr.
, BUTLER.
! Mr.. EWING proposed an amendment.
Mr.. WHITCoMB opposed the bill. He wa
not in favor of the principle of remanding officer
of the Governmentin extra allowances, for faith
ful discharge of their duty.
Messrs. JEFFERSON DAVIS, BERRIEN and 9th
ers further discussed the question, when the vot
/. was taken and the bill was passed.
MAIL BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND VERA oRUz.
The bill was taken up providing for week.
= mail by means Of steamships between New o.
3 leans and Tampico and Vera Cruz.
Mr.. SOULE moved an amendment, chang ing
to tri-monthly mail.
: Mr. SHIELDS moved SO to amend as to pre-
: vide for tr-monthy mail between New Orlean
T. or Mobile and Vera Cruz, at the discretion Of tn
Post Master General. Rejected.
And the bill Of Mr.. SouLE was ordered to
e third reading,
|, And the Senate adjourned.
e [ERRATUM.-lnstead Of Mr. DENNIS in yes
terday's report, mistake Of the printer read MI
Downs
unIIsE nE REPRESENTATIVES,