The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-13
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FnIDAr. April ~, 1850.
s SENATE.
FIRST SESSION.

FnIDAr. April -, 1850
SENATE.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs. SEW
nnD. Rgsk' DoDsE of Iowa, FEIcH. and DAVIS OF
Mississippi.
SLAVERY AND FUGITIVE SLAVES.
MIR. SEWARD presented a large number of Pc
ntions IN opposition to the extension OF slavery, TO
the admission of any slave State, and in favor of
extending to fugitive slaves the right of trial by
jury.
Mr.. FELCH presented similar petitions
INDEX TO LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Mr.. BENTON moved, and the Senate proceeded
10 the consideration OF the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Secretary Of the Senate be
authorized to contract with Messrs. Little 4 Brown
for twelve hundred and Fifty copies of the synopti-
cal index prepared by direction of the Senate and
TO embrace in addition the laws of the present
sion OF Congress, at price not exceeding three
dollars volume, printed and bound in the style Of
the statutes at large, published under the authority
of Congress by said Little & Brown.
After a debate, in which Messrs. KING, BEN
TON, UNDERWOOD, and DOWNS participated,
Mr.. DICKINSON moved, and the subject was
laid on the table
THE COMPROMISE coMMITTEE-cALIFoRNIA.
This subject being under consideration at the adj
tournament yesterday, came up as unfinished bust
Mr.. DICKINSON moved that it be laid on the
table, with view to take up the deficiency bill;
but withdrew the motion by request.
this business was placed at the adjournment yes
terday was rather awkward one. He hoped
that this subject would not be postponed but be
taken up and disposed Of in one way or the other,
that ia ii the Senator from New York did not con-
slider the deficiency bill requiring immediate
ton. The present subject, it was now very appa-
rent included in its consideration a long train of
propositions, each of which would perhaps lead to
long debate. He urged action by the Senate upon
the subject, that might be got rid of, and then
the California bill could be taken up and consid
ered
MIR. DICKINSON renewed his motion to lay the
subject on the table
Mr.. CLAY asked that the motion be withdrawn.
Mr.. DICKINSON said that his courtesy had not
yet entirely run out, and he would withdraw his
motion once more
Mr.. CLAY said that he merely desired to make a
PROPOSE ion to those Senators who opposed to
this committee. On one hand it was desired to APP
point this committee, and to refer to it certain sub
ccts on the other hand was desired TO oppose the
committee, and to proceed with the immediate
sideraiion Of the California bill. This was the state
Of parties.
He now proposed to those who opposed the APP
pontment of the committee, that they would with
draw their opposition and let it be raised. Let the
various subjects be referred to them, and let the
committee report to the Senate either bill en-
bodying all the provisions necessary for the whole
subject, or amendments suggestions Of amend
ments to the California the fugitive slave bill.
When they shall have reported, the Senate may or
may not adopt the recommendations of the COM
nittee. That amendments to those bills will be
offered, whether committee be raised or not was
certain. The California bill required amend
ment which, to him, was Indispensable Before it
was passed ii should be amended to require a
REIMBURSEMENT by California of her claim to the
public domain. And he would also say that, whe-
Their the committee be raised or not, the Senate
would have to come to vote upon the union of the
Territorial bills with the California bill for if no
one else did, he would himself move to amend the
California bill by adding to it the Territorial bills
IN this way the question of an union or union of
fha To- (Nol -
fore the Senate; there was no escaping the vote.
He therefore suggested that the opponents of the
committee only postponed action on the California
bill.
He would, also, say that the opposition to the
committee could only delay its appointment few
days. There were some five or six Senators absent
who, on their return, would vote for the appoint
ment Of the committee. They, with those who
voted for il yesterday, would be more than ma
jority of the Senate and il could eventually be APP
pointed. He urged, them that those who were
opposed to the committee would now allow its APP
pontment, and then proceed with the discussion on
the California bill.
Mr.. BENTON said the Senator from kentucky
had o-day shown his own high character. II was
the character Of that Senator TO make open bold
and manly course, and bold and manly avowal
Of his purpose The Senator had clearly swept away
all disguise, and stated the question to be the union
or no union of other questions with the admission OF
California He would say that, if this subject was
to go he held in his hand, and would lay the
table, several matters of instruction the commit
tee. When these were disposed of, he would not
say, for he did not know, whether there would be
others not.
MIR. BUTLER asked that the instructions be
read.
They then read as follows:
j. With instructions, that in any BILL scheme OF
other measure measures they may report, they
shal not connect the admission Of the State Of Cali
fornia with any other proposed Legislation which
shall require the assent Of any other State TO lie
completion.
2. That they shall not connect the admission Of
the State Of California with any measure which is
connected with question Of boundary or other con-
troversy with any other State.
3. That they shall not connect the admission Of
the State OF California with any other measure Of
less dignity than the reception and admission of
sovereign State, TO be a new and entire member Of
this Union.
4. That they shall not make California a party
to, or in any way include connect her with, an
provision in the nature intent of a compact re-
lating to slavery, or TO any slave State slave Ter
rtory, other than the compacts Of the Constitution
s. That they shall not make California a party
10, or in any way include or connect her with, any
provision in the nature intent Of compact Of any
description, other than the compacts Of the Consti-
tuition, and those compacts relating To the domain
which have been heretofore required Of new States
formed out Of the territory Of the United States.
8. That they shall not report any measure pro.
posing any alteration in the boundaries Of the State
Of California.
I. That they shall not make the State of Caliior-
MIA party 10, or in any way connected with, or
tnc question: OF ncr duHllseOn IN any way connected
with or dependent on, any provision in the nature
Of compact, which has not been required Of either
Of the following named States Ohio, Indiana I'LL
nois. Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida.
5. That they shall not make party to, or in any
manner bind TO, include in, connect with, any
provision having the character or intent Of COM
pact, any State, people, having the political
ganization Of State not represented in this body.
9. That they shall not connect the admission Of
he State Of California with any matter foreign to
the admission Of that State in a direct manner on
Aprecisey equal footing with the original States,
and unencumbered with any other conditions, re-
sponsibiities, or considerations.
Mr. DICKINSON then moved, and the subject
laid on the table.
PERSONAL ExPLANATIoN
Mr.. KING corrected error in the report Of
some remarks made by him, contained in the Union
ofyesterday.
DEFICIENCY ELL.
Mr.. DICKINSON moved, and the Senate pro-
ceeded 10 the consideration Of the bill from the
House Of Representatives TO supply deficiencies in
the appropriations for the service Of the fiscal year