Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-09-20
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.


Mr.. Douglas presented the creden-
tials of Mr.. Gwin, Senator elect from
California.
Mr.. Barnwcll presented the Gre
dentials of j. G. Fremont, Senator
elect from California. Mr.. b. re-
marked that he had doubts as to the
propriety of admitting California, but
to Colonel Fremont he had no per-
sonal objection.
Mr.. Davis, of Mississippi, said it
was matter of duty with him to in
terpose objections to the admission
of these gentlemen as Senators, as it
was impossible that they could have
been legally elected. He moved to
refer the credentials TO the Judiciary
committee, TO be considered and re-
ported on in reference to the law and
the fact.
Mr. Douglas would have no obiec-
ton if it were earlier in the session.
But time was pressing, and it was
important that the Senators from
California should be in their seats.
Mr.. Clay argued that California,
after the signature of the bill yester-
day by the President, was State in
the Union. Before, she was State
out of the Union.
The motion to commit the creden-
tials was rejected-yeas 10, nays SO.
Messrs. Gwin and Fremont ap-
peared, were qualified and took their
seats.
Mr.. Fremont gave notice of bills
establishing post-routes in California.
MIR. Chase gave notice of bill to
prohibit slaveryin the territories of
the United States.
In the Senate. after the admission
ofthe California Senators, the bill to
abolish the slave trade in the District
of Columbia was taken up, and Mr..
Mason moved to amendE by striking
out the section which prohibits the
slave prisons fi'em keeping foreign
slaves as merchandise.
Mr.. Clay opposed it.
MIR. Pearce proposed an amend
ment fixing the penalty at $500 fine,
to be imposed by the criminal court.
After some discussion, Mr.. Pearce
modified his amendment so as to give
one half the penalty to the informer
and the other half to the corporation
After some debate, in which Messrs
Clay, Jefferson Davis, Turney, and
others took part, Mr.. Pearce's amend
ment was rejected.
MIR. MaSon's amendment, striking
out the first section, was also rejec-
ted-yeas Is, nays 30.
MIR. MasCn's amendment, striking
out the second section, was rejected
yeas IL, nays 81.
MIR. Dayton offered an amend
ment to strike out the provision Civ
ing power to remove or punish free
negroes.
Mr. Seward substitute for the
bill abolishing slavery in the District
of Columbia and providing compen-
sation for the slaves.
The second section submits the
question cf emancipation TO the peo-
pie of the District. If the majority
ofvotes be for it, the act is TO go into
immediateTe6ect.
Mr.. Baldwin spoke in support OF
the amendment in the abstract, but
was opposed to it as provision OF
this bill.
Mr.. Dayton opposed the amend
ment.
Mr.. Pratt followed on the same
side.
MIR. Atchison made some remarks
showing that the Senator from New
Jersey was opposed to the amend
ment only as out of season, but would
be proper at another time.
Mr.. Chase said this bill to abolish,
the slave tlade had been amended in.
judiciously. He would have supper.
ted the original bill. but he would
not support the bill in its present
form, without amendment.
The debate was continued by
Messrs; Pratt, Mason, Butler, Win
throp, and Badger, when, without
taking any vote on the question, the
Senate adjourned.
In the House, MIR. Boyd stated
that the representatives frcg the
State of California, Messrs. Wood
worth and Gilbert; were present, arc
desirous to be sworn in.
Mr.. Venable raised the question
of Constitutional right ofthose repre-
sentatives TO take seats--having, bt
said been elected before California
was recognised as a State, and be
fore she was admitted into the Union