The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-05
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE .
THURSDAY, April 4, 1850.

The vlCEPRESlDENT announced the follow
ing Senators the committee to attend the re-
mains of the late Hon. JoHS {. CALHOUN 70 Sou'h
Carolina:
Messrs mason BERRIEN DAVIS of Mississippi,
WEBsTER, Dickinson, and DoDGE OF Iowa
The VICE PRESIDENT announced that he had
appointed Mr. -- TO fill the vacancy on the
Committee of Foreign Relations, occasioned by the
resignation of Mr. BENTON.
Private petitions presented by Messrs. Sc
WARD Mason, Downs, MORTON, CLARKE, Con-
WIN, KING, BoRLAND, DODGE of Iowa, RUsK, and
DICKINSON.
FUGITIVE sLAvEs-sLAvE STATES.
Mr.. SEWARD presented large number of pc
titions, praying that any bill passed by Congress,
relating to the recapture of fugitive slaves, may
contain provision securing the right of trial by
jury; and against the admission Of any more slave
States into the Union.
Similar petitions were presented by Messrs. Con
WIN and HAMLIN.
THE VIRGINIA LOAN TO THE UNITED STATES
Mr.. MASON presented memorial from the pre-
sident and directors of the Orange and Alexandra
Railroad company, asking the payment OF the sum
Of 8 l20, 900 advanced by the State OF Virginia TO
the Government of the United States, by resolu-
ton of the both December, $780, and transferred to
the petitioners asking its repayment with interest
to aid in the construction OF their railroad
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Mr. CLAY presented the petition of large
number of the members of the General Assembly
Of Kentucky in relation to the great railroad to the
Pacific, proposing that the eastern terminus shall
be at Columbus, Kentucky.
wooDwoRTH's PATEsT.
Mr. HAMLIN presented a relnonstrance against
the further extension Of Woodworth's patent.
SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE IN THE DIsTaIcT OF
coLUMBIA-sLAvE STATES, &c.
MIR. CLAY presented several petitions from citi-
of Louisville, Kentucky, praying that all laws
and parts Of laws recognising slavery and the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia may be repealed;
that no slave State be admitted into the Union;
h..
Mr.. G.. said the petitions had been sent 10 him,
and, 10 get rid of them, he moved they be
ceived, their reading dispensed with, and they laid
the table.
THE PRINTING.
Mr. portland moved, and the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration Of the joint resolution
reported the 2sth Of March, g 10 ensure more
expedition in the public printing" and the substi-
tute therefor submitted by Mr.. BoRLASD.
Mr. HALE inquired what would be the differ
in the cost OF the printing between the present
system and that proposed by the joint resolution
now before the Senate?
Mr. BORLAND said that he did not know.
Mr. HALE inquired if the difference could not be
apPronimated!
MIR. BORLAND said that he would say TO the
Senator from New Hampshire that under the pro-
posed arrangement, the printing would cost a
great deal more than under the present contracts,
and IL was proper that 1t should be The public
printing now was badly executed and executed in
bad tme-in time which rendered the work almost
useless. He thought il poor economy for Congress
to pay small price for public printing, and not
have II executed till such time it was wholly
useless for public purposes.
Mr.. HALE said that the printing for the last
Congress was, every one knew, done in most
shameful manner, and II was said that the prices
paid were SO low that the printers lost money.
Knowing this, the present contractors filed their
bids and obtained the public printing at rates low
than those allowed to the printers of the last
Congress. AS soon as Congress met, the cry was
heard that the printers could not do the work prop
because
would sustain large losses. All this was true but
the contractors, when they underbid the contrac-
tors for the last Congress, knew that the work
could not be done without a loss. Ii looked 10 him
as If the contractors intended not to do the work
Ii looked suspicious.
He desired to have fuller information on this sub
ject before he could vote for any change. Another
matter he desired to have explained. The substi-
tute for the joint resolution proposed that the pub
tic printing should be done by certain persons
whose names are to be inserted. Who were these
persons. IL was supposed that the publishers Of
the Union and the National Inteigencer were to be
the individuals TO execute The printing, and that
their names were TO be inserted in the blanks in
the new law. He desired 10 know whether this were
the case. Some gentleman should answer the ques-
ton. And, when this were DONE he desired, before
he voted upon the subject know whether either of
these persons were directly indirectly concerned
IN, or connected with the present contracts, or in
any way responsible for the present delays in the
execution Of the public printing. He wished to
have information all these points before he voted
Ior the lolnt resOlutlon- lie did not know but the
best course 70 pursue 10 release the present
tractors if they could not do the work properly.
There other bidders for the work besides the
present contractors would il be the best course
70 give up the present contractors, and take the
next lowest bidder and, il be cannot do the wor K
the next, and 30 ON till some is found who can
and will execute the public printing.
The third section Of the proposed joint resolution
provides 70 abolish the present contract system in
the execution Of the work for the Departments, and
gives TO the heads ofthe Departments vast amount
Of patronage; they will, if this law be passed. have
the whole printing at their disposal and the only
restraint upon them is, that the prices shall not
exceed those given 10 the Congressional printers.
For these reasons as at present advised, be would
vote against the joint resolution and proposed
Mr.. BoRLAND replied, stating the several
causes, beyond the control Of the public printers
which have delayed the execution Of the public
printing; and supported the necessity Of some &C
ton by Congress at once upon the subject.
Mr.: fOOTE moved, and the subject post
poned till tomorrow.
THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE, (sLAvERY)
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
Of Mr.. BELLS compromise resolutions, and the mo
ton 10 refer them 10 a select committee Of thir.
teen.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD resumed his remarks, com.
menced yesterday. He examined the various
grades, and rules and regulations Of society in all
the civilized nations Of the world, 10 show that in
all nations and In all communities involuntary ser
Vtude other than negro slavery existed, and neces
universal system Of involuntary seryitude has en-.
listed the philsnthropio efforts and benevolent sym.
pathies OF the people Of the North. The Abolition
sts lose sight Of every thing else-lose sight Of all
the slavery IN the social and political relations Of
the world, except the condition Of the negroes in
the southern States
He examined tho condition Of the negro race in
this country, both in the free and slave States and
cOntended that IL was established and well as
certained fact that the two could not exist to-
gether with an equality Of social, civil and political
rghts. There were thousands in his State who held
the same views, and who would gladly favor any
scheme Of emancipation, IL any measure Of coloni
zIng could be adopted. But the Aboitionsts Of the
North opposed this; their efforts were directed
against the institution Of slavery, and were in
tended 10 break down that with which they we're
not connected. and Of which they knew but little
The speech Of the Senator from Massac husett, (Mr
WEbsTER,) In which such a scheme was supported,
was denounced by the whole body Of those at the
North who waged this upon negro slavery
Their whole action much opposed 10 the
only true mode Of amehorating the condition Of the
negro, as y WIS opposed u slavery itself A few
years ago be presented petition from respectable
citizen Of Kentucky in relation 20 this subject and