Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-29
CONGREss--IsT SESSION.
THURSDAY, JANUARY "a, 1851.

Mr. Claws resolution ln5tructin9 the committee VA w
Library to purchase il ii be procured AT reasonable
rce th. original manuscript of Gen. Nasingtons Fare
well Address, was taken up.
Mr. CLAY made brief but eloquent speech on the subject
of the sentiments Of Washington, the means oil preserving
the Union the danger attending the present controversy De-
tween the North and the South and the applicability OIL
General Washngtons advice 10 the present condition Of
things.
The motion agreed 10.
After the presentation of memorials the bill from The COM
mrce on the Judiciary carry into effect the third clause
of the second section Of the third article o the constitution
relative To fugitive slaves was taken up
Mr. Butler called the attention of the Senate to the means
of carrying into effect provision OF the constitution re
subject was one of great importance 10 the save-holdns
States The Of Kentucky lost annually S3OUo0 by the
elopcnient of slaves Missouri suffered in the way
On the WHOLE the South lost s5OO0 year by these eloe
mcnts. ,
lie knew that statutory cnacmen's were OF little avail
when parties disposed Ia act in good faith. Or@
naly the States were be liable aid in experimenting i
aycs There was difficulty formerly in recovering i
aye slaves Many people from the Son, took slaves with
their families 10 the North without moestaon The State
authorities exercised the constitutional provision But IN
consequence of 4 arising in New York, il became ne
ccssary in l93 enact law requiring State officers to
apprcfcnd igvcs This act was executed in good faith
for Time until New York and Pennsy yaniaways first
on this snblectsscd laws which obstlced the recovery
OF fugirivcs New York forbid heowner Of fugitive slaves
the of her courts or officers Ia apphcnd them The
legislation of New York and of many OF the other States
was fraudulent evasion Of the constitutional provision.
Mr.. Dickinson here said the courts OF New York had
pronounced the law unconstitutional.
Mr.. Butler Of This, md he intended I'D give
credit tic bench Of that State while al the same tine
he denounced the conduct Of the Governor Of that State
Senator here, who had refused 10 deliver fugitive
savcn which he could not be sustained even by his own
Legislature. He went through with The provisions OF the
laws Of nearly all the Northern States, including Ohio, and
declared them 10 be deliberate and sku frauds OH the Con
sutiou.
lie gave hint that Senator from Maine formerly Go
vernon that Stale had conducted himself treachcroisy
towards The constitution on this subject ana his absence
from his seat should not him. Senator here from ONO
had also introduced resolution in public meeting declar
ing that this provision in the constitution null and void
and ought 10 be- 81 treated.
Mr. Chase Which Senator is referred o1
Mr.. Buer--l mean you.
MIR. Chase II is moi | never wrote, never Offered
never voted Tor such resolution and never will offer OF
yotcior il.
Mr. Butler Here is the newspaper statement. That il
all know of it.
Mr. Chase-If the Senator relies upon newspaper state
for his authority he should he careful in his
scriions.
Mr. Builrr-If the person is akin tho newspaper in
sentiments, il may hr supposed that the statement is true
Bat the denial ol the sufficient Mr.. Il. review
ed the Maryland ease and read the opinions OF Justices Ia
new Story and Baldwin, which, Judges declared thai the
Union could have been framed without this provision
II was be said, the cornerstone oil the constitution.
The North had got their commercial and navg aon nd
vantagcs in yure Of the provision The Southern who
signed the constitution would sooner have cut oil their
hands than hive given their signatures II they had known
that this clause 10 be annucd These results fore
told 10y thai saeaciouS patriot George Mason The North
compromises They would say THE Lord has delivered the
South into our hands,
Mr. Butler dwell upon the condition of the question: and
declared that The South would resist and her would be
Equality or independence"
Mr.. Chase made remarks.
Mr. Mason took the floor
The Senate went into Executive session ana then ADJOURN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MI Thrston thcdcegae from Oregon stated that on HIS
way to the nf Government, he had lost the ncnor
al from the Legislature Of that Territory embracing several
Of interest the people there To supply the do
feet he asked permission cntroduce resolution instruct
inn the Committee the Judiciary 10 inquire whether the
United Suites has the right under tho treaty of 1916 10
dispose of the land occupied by the ludsons Bay Compa
British subjects, by making the several occupants
proper remuneration for what improvements they had then
made said land, and how is The amount of remuneration
BIZ ;lsrertancd and whether the Hudsons Bay Company
or Brilis! subjects had The time Of said treaty lawfully
acquired the occupation Of land in the territory Of Oegon
and whether the Pagc Sound Agricultural Company
toned in The It'll article of the treaty with England
titled any land than they had under enclosure III
Of actual cultivation the conclusion oi said treaty
Objection made To the introduction of The resolution
and il was not pressed.
The House proceeded tho consideration of the rcso
lion introduced by Mr. Marshall Of Kentucky the 3st OF
December calling upon The Secretary Of the Navy for nior
nation Of the total amount Of foreign and domestic hemp
purchased for the of the American Navy prices paid
therefor DC, and IL report the result Of experiments &c 10
test the relative strength Of each.
Mr.. Stanton ofkenucky, introduced substitute for This
resolution extending the call for extensive details upon
this subject. embrace the OF
furnish the American hemp and information whether they
hal complied with their contracts, Dc.
10 considerable debate. Mr..
Marshall Of Kentucky preferred his own resolution, the
ground that the extensive details called for by the substitute
were not necessary To any legislative action.
Mcssrs Stanton of Kentucky, Morchcad and Hall, said
the information necessary. That Justice could not be
done their constituents 10 whom the subject
Of growing interest, without IT,
Mr.. Stanton alluded 10 the pledges made by the present
Administration when coming into power reform abuses
alleged exist under Democratic Administration; but
when resolution was introduced tho Democratic side
Of the House Ia ferret them ont the other side resisted H.
ed
10.
The resolution as amended was then passed
The House then proceeded 10 consider the resolution in
rodnced by Mr. Savage the 3lst of December calling
for all The information possession of the Executive
within hs knowledge relative to the extraordinary proceed
ngs of the British Government in the forceabc seizure and
occupation of Tigre Island and all other information touch
i'm the conduct Of England in Central America.
Mr.. Hliard moved refer the resolution the committee
foreign affairs the ground that the subject one OF
delicate character and was Of negotiation be-
tween the Secretary of State and the British Minister. He
thought improper in the House do any that might
disturb the alcabc investigation between these two high
iunctiOnarcS.
Mr.. Thompson Of Miss said the Of the resolution
were that information would prejudice the public the Ex-
ecuiive could in his direction WITHHOLD il.
Mr.. billiard insisted on the improperly of the call.
Mr.. 1nge remarked that il call for important infor
nation If the gaining Of the information likely dis
b the existing negotiation it would be proper for the
Department 10 decline giving that ground If the
ter referred 10 the committee on foreign relations il
would be end 10 the matter lie moved the previous
question, which was seconded.
The question then put the proposition refer the
resolution the committee foreign relations and decided
in the negative, by yeas 81 TO nays l0l.
The resolution then adopted. -
Mr. Bayy called for the order of the day.
The Chair stated that the first business in order the
proposition refer the Presidents the subject
California the committee Of the whole the Of the
rnon and to print H. Upon which the previous question
moved.
The question divided and taken under The operation
Of the previous question: first the motion print which
was decided in the affirmative.
The question was then taken the motion 10 refer, and
decided vote Of yeas and nays of l02 in the Affirmative
and % in the negative
Several Executive communications living upon the Speak
ers table were taken up and referred TO appropriate commit
tees Among them report from the War Department
relative to the of the formation of the flats in the
Potomac river between the Long Bridge and Georgetown
and plan and estimate of expenses for their removal and
expense "f making bridge the Potomac the
Georgetown aqueduct.
When the report from the 81 Auditors Office showing the
contingent expenditures of said bureau read Mr. Ha
ralson moved that il be referred 10 the committee
and with instruction report upon the propriey
necessity of authorizing the Secretary Of the Treasury
employ additional clerks in that bureau with The view vi
speedy settlement of The claim before it. Mr. H. stated
that there Is 900 horse claims pending there
growing out Of the Mexican which could not be
on for years, with the present clerical force.
Some discussion took place in which Messrs Harralson
Thompson of Miss Einton and Evans of Md participated