The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-16

IN SENATE.

CALIFORNIA INDIANS

SATURDAY, Sept IA, 1850
T. ,ats.t-lsr CALIFORNIA INDIANS.
Mr.. BELL reported from the Committee on In
dian Affairs, a bill for the appointing three Indian
agents for the State Of CaIifornla TO examine into
and report upon the condition of the wild tribes OF
s. the said State Fs
The bill was taken up for consideration. 8
Mr. FREmoNT and MIR. GwIN explained the condi-
ton and numbers of the wild tribes of Cafor-
| MA
Mr.. GWIN, moved to raise the compensation
of the agents from 81 500 to $1,000 year, owing
to the high prices of subsistence along the Sierra
j Nevada country, where these wild Indians chiefly
exist.
MIR. BENTON moved 81 900 year and twenty
i cents mile for travelling expenses. He was OF
opinion that the mileage would induce the agents
to travel, and they must travel to learn the neces-
sary facts regarding the scattered tribes of Cali
i fornia.
The question of pay was debated by Messrs.
| ArcHrsox, GwM, FREMoNr, RUsK, BELL, and
Others and finally ordered to third reading with
the amendment Of Mr.. BENToN
LIBERIA.
i The presiding officer laid before the Senate a
! communication from the Secretary of the Navy,
/ covering report from Rev. X. X. Gurley of the
condition and prospects of the Republic of Libe-
| ria Laid on the table and ordered to be printed
CALIFORNIA BILLS.
j Mr. GWIN introduced bill providing for q
survey Of the public lands of California, and fol-
grants Of prescriptions to actual settlers, &c
/ Referred TO Committee on Public Lands.
! Also, a bill TO provide for the settlement OF
land titles and claims to land in California. Re
ferred.
Also, bill to establish certain lighthouses in
/ California and for survey of the coast and har-
bors of said State. Referred, and the several bills
ordered to be printed. NJ
! Mr. GWIN, also, gave notice Of bill he
should introduce, establishing at Sacramento and
Benicia, offices for the assay of gold dust.
Mr.. FREMONT introduced bill providing
/ temporary regulations for the working of the gold
placers and the gold mines Of California, and fol
| the preservation Of order in the mines.
/ Mr. FREMONT said he had carefully drawn
up his bill from the Spanish and Mexican mining
laws. in force during the last hundred years, mod
flying them to the existing state of things and
! our own institutions. Referred to Committee
/ on Finance and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. FREMONT introduced bill making do
nations Of land to early, and granting presumption
rights TO subsequent settlers in California. Re
ferred and ordered to be printed.
/ STATUE GEN. JACKoN.
Mr.. BADGER introduced resolution author
izng the Secretary of the Navy to exchange GER
tain bronze cannon for other metal for the bronze
equestrian statue of Gen. Jackson, about to be
erected in the City of Washington in memory o.
the Hero of New Orleans.
] ShAyE-TR ABE BILL.
On motion Of Mr.. CLAY, the Senate resumed
the bill for the abolition Of the slavetrade in this
District; the question beng upon concurring in
4 the amendments Of Mr.. Pearce, adopted In Com
/ mittee Of the Whole, to wit:
/. Imposing penitentiary penalty of not less
/ than two nor more than ten years, upon any per
son who shall aid, abet, or induce slave to alb
/ scond. or who shall harbor such slave with thu
intent of aiding his escape from his master.
4 Goa al ~ hn nI,.o ~ al =.
slave upon any person who shall succeed in aid
ING or securing the actual escape of such slave.
q Comforting upon the local courts of the Dis
j trict Corporations power TO prohibit the incoming
of freee negroes, and to remove free negroes resi-
dent in the District.
amendments in the bill, as necessary to protect
the rights and interests of the white citizens Of this
District. and as matter Of duty to the South
Mr.. CLAY was in favor Of the principle of the
amendments, but was opposed to their incorpora
ton into this bill. They would endanger thu
nassage of the bill and tend to the defeat of til,
main object of the abolition Of the slave trade.
Mr.. BENTON also opposed the amendments
AZ endangering the suscess of the measure.
Mr.. HALE desired to know where were thu
free negroes to go.
amendments, as essential to the protection OF III,
ruhts of property and the safety Of the South
Il Mr. HALE read the Declaration of Independ
apce ms proof that all men created equal am
i commended that the amendment relating to free ne
4 groes involved the discretion Of making sav.
/ Of every free colored person IN this District,
\ Mr.! EWING was in favor of the simple bill
for the abolition of the slave traffic, and entirely
I opposed to the amendments, as unequal and un
;uat in their operation. free wife might Undue.
her slave husband to abscond and there ought Il
! he some discrimination in the law in such cases
II eyen considered the amendment, badly dgestet
IL, L.,
,emnts TO abscond, as to cases where slaves hay,
actually absconded. With these incongruities in
4 he amendments, he hoped they would be rejected
Mr.. MASON appealed for the amendments,
/ and thought that from the tone and temper OF
/ Ills discussion, principles had been avowed, and
doctrines proclaimed going to show that the in
terests and sentiments of the two sections of the
/ Union were incompatible with the idea that they
1 continue 10 exist together
4 Mr.. BELL spoke at length upon the whole
subject Of slavery in this District, and the rela
TONS mon the subject between the North and the
south. He considered it great misfortune thai
4 the Union was thought to be SO strong that any
s.c,;on might press its mischievous designs with
ont fear Of disturbing the Union. He thought these
/ amendments were necessary to the bill; and that
I some measures were imperativey required to pro-
,ect the white people Of this District against that
Large and increasing class of free negroes, con-
tanning as it does many idle, vicious, and Ii
| centious persons.
/ Mr.. UNDERWOOD was of the opinion that
neither the measures that had passed, or that
/ MIGHT be passed would stop this slavery agitation
! II Would go on, and he saw no help rit, do what
/ we might. He had voted upon the Texas Bound
ary for the sake OF peace, and had been misrepre.
! scented in the newspapers at home, as encourag
inc disunion sentiments by voting to pay money
| to secure peace with Texas.
| Here matter of personal explanation oc
cprred between Messrs. RusK and UNpERwoop
on the Texas question, not appertaining how.
| ever to the bill under consideration.
Mr.. PRATT moved some verbal amendments
to the amendments of Mr. PEARcE, which were
agreed to.
Mr.. CLAY urged the propriety of disagreeing
| to the amendments, and for furnishing kidnappers
and regulating the ingress and egress of free ne
| eroes. If they were adhered, the whole bill would
be defeated and all the objects of the bill and the
amendments Does the senator from Maryland
| desire that?
| Mr.. PRATT. do not want the bill TO pass
| without the amendments.
Mr.. CLAY earnestly urged the passage of the