The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-24

Mr.. BROWN, in reply 10 question OF MIR. kAuF-
MAN as To whether there a report accompany
ing tbs bill, said there was none. One was not
deemed necessary, as the bill explained itself II
was simply an application to incorporate benevo-
lent society. The bill reserves to Congress the right
TO repeal or amend the charter.
The charter is proposed TO be granted " the or
der Of Odd Fellows, of which he was not MEM
ber The gentleman from Tennessee says that Con-
gress has no power TO grant charters or pass acts
of incorporation. This may or may not be 50. The
committee, however, thought differently. They
believe that under the power to legislate over the
District of Columbia charter can be granted.
Mr.. JONES inquired whether the gentleman be-
ieved that Congress possesses power TO make cor
poratoni
Mr. BROWN replied, that Congress possesses
power in the District. Within the limits ii has
no power; but the corporation proposed is to
be confined within the limits The gentlemen who
ask the act OF incorporation are respectable. He
believed that Congress has power to grant II, and
no harm can come out Of it.
Mr. JONES renewed his motion 10 lay the bill
upon the table, and, on the question being taken,
il was decided in the negative--yeas 5S, nays "a.
The bill was then referred TO the Committee of
the whole House.
ROMAN CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
Mr. BROWN, from the same committee, re-
ported bill to incorporate the Roman Catholic ST.
Joseph's Benevolent Society.
Mr. JONES moved to lay the bill upon the table
The motion was disagreed to, and the bill was
referred to the Committee Of the whole House.
IT.
trict of Columbia, reported bill to increase the
compensation of the keepers Of the southern draw OF
the Potomac bridge to two dollars day each.
Mr. JONES moved to lay the bill upon the table,
and the motion was agreed to-ayes 90, noes 5S.
CALIFORNIA
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. THOMPSON
of Mississippi in the chair,) and resumed the con-
sderation Of the special message of the President
communicating copy of the constitution of Cali
fornia.
MIR. MOREHEAD, Of Kentucky, was willing to
unite with any both parties, to settle the ques-
tons now agitating the country on just and Sc
cure basis. That they will be settled, there was no
SO as to preserve invoatet the Constitution and form
of government secured to US by our fathers, and
under which we have prospered. He spoke of COM
promises which led to the formation of the Const-
tuition, and alluded to the law of 1893 us being a
dead letter in the North.
Mr.. VAN DYKE asked the gentleman to put his
finger single where southern Shareholder,
who pursued his slave into northern State, and
got out process, under the act of l793 and put it
into the hands of the United States marshal, was
ever resisted. He denied it.
Mr.. MOREHEAD would not be led off into col
lateral disputes He knew of no case of resistance,
personally, but from hearsay.
Mr.. MEADE said that he had perused the records
of New York. Judge Edmonds decided, in case
before him. that, in order to enable the owner to
recover his slave, he must bring certified copy of
the law of his State which recognises slavery nor
would he suffer the ordinary printed statute to be
taken evidence, although there was an ndivid-
ual ready to swear to it as the law of the State.
Mr.. VAN DYKE desired to say few words, but
Mr.. MOREHEAD refused to yield the floor, and
repeated that he would not be led off into collateral
disputes He had known instances from hearsay.
gentleman from his own State was knocked
down in the streets of Cincinnati while in pursuit
Of his slave. His intention not to drive the
two sections farther apart than they now are. He
then opposed the restriction OF slavery in the Ter
ritories, and referred to the decisions of the SUI
preme Court TO show that the ordinance of 1857
not to be regarded as a precedent, nor any law
made in pursuance Of it. There are grave objec
tons to the admission of California; but if she can
be made a part of the basis ON which the entire
questions can be settled harmoniously, amicably
and satisfactorily, uniting with her bills for the
Territories of New Mexico and Utah, his mind was
made up to give the measure his support.
Mr.. PECK, OF Vermont, spoke in favor of the
admission of California. He said that the objec-
tons not entitled TO any serious consideration,
and proceeded to notice some of them. II the con-
stution of that State did not exclude slavery, OPP
position would not have come from southern gen
tlemen. What course the North would have pur-
sued, was another matter. The South are commit
ted to the doctrine that the people, in forming a
State government have the right to exclude slavery
or not; therefore, they cannot urge its exclusion
from California as an objection to her admission.
There was constitutional bar to her admission.
This was not pretended Congress was bound, by
the ninth article of the treaty with Mexico to pro-
ritories He was, therefore, in favor of giving them
territorial governments, and was for Inserting in
bills for this purpose the so-called Wilmot proviso.
| He concluded by arguing that Congress has the
| right to legislate over the subject Of slavery.
| Mr.. WILMOT obtained the floor, when the COM
mittee rose,
| And the House adjourned.
The following papers were to-day presented
der the rule, viz:
By Mr.. DUNCAN: The petition of c. II. Butler
and one hundred and forty nine Others citizens of
Amesbury and Salisbury, Massachusetts, for a
jury trial for persons claimed fugitive slaves.
Also, the petition Of David Oliphsnt and forty
eight citizens Of Haverhill, Massachusetts, for the
same. Referred to the Committee the Judiciary.
Also, the petition of David Olphant and fifty cit
liens of Haverhll, Massachusetts,, that slavery and
the slave trade may be prohibited in all the Terri
tories of the United States
Also, the petition of David Oliphant and fifty cit
liens of Haverhill, Massachusetts against the adj
mission into the Union Of any State which shall not
prohibit the existence of slavery within its limits
Referred to the Committee on the Territories
Also, the petition Of David 0hphant and forty
two other citizens Of Haverhill, Massachusetts,, for
| the repeal of all laws enacted adopted by Con-
grcss Tor the support Of slavery in the District OF
| Columbia. Referred 10 the Committee on the Dis
| trict of Columbia
| BY Mr.. BURROWS: The petition Of the members
ofthe bar Of the county of Niagara New York, ask
| ing Congress TO establish new judicial district
and district court in the western part Of the State