The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-11

ny tnat oouy, or Dill 10 supply certain ueIcien-
cies IN the annual appropriations.
ADMISSION OF THE CALIFORNIA SENATORS.
Mr.. DOUGLAS, presented the credentials of
the Hon. WM. M. GwIs, senator elect from the
State of California.
Mr.. BARNwELL, presented the credentials of
Hon. JOHN c. FREMoET, senator elect from Cali
fornia. Mr. BAREwELL said that whatever might
be his opinions against the admission of California,
admitted into the Union, his feelings could only
be those of satisfaction in the presentation of the
credentials Of Col. Fremont, as senator elect
from that State The credentials were read.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS, said that if he were
only to consult personal and party feelings and
the simpe question ofcourtesy he should be the last
man TO mterpose, in this instance, the slightest
obstacle; but as he considered that the admission
of these senators involved constitutional ques-
ton, he moved that the question of their adns-
sion to in the Senate be referred to the Com
mittee the Judiciary, to report the facts IN the
matter.
Mr. DOUGLAS, Mr.. FoOTE and Mr.. CLAY,
opposed the reference, and urged the propriety
Of admitting these senators at once to their seats,
on the ground that California having become
State in the Union, was entitled her to all the I'M
munities Of sovereign State
Mr. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Mr.. TURNEY,
Mr.. BERRIEN, Mr.. MASON, and Mr.. BUT
LER, were III favor OF the reference to the judi
ciary Committee, because these senators were
elected by an unauthorized body OF men called the
Legislature of State in the Union, was not con-
stitutionally possessed of any authority to elect
members to either branch of Congress-.
The question upon referring the credentials to
the Judiciary Committee, resulted II to 81, as
follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Atchison, Barnwell, Berrien,
Butler, Davis, of Mississippi, Hunter, Mason,
Morton, Pratt, Sebastian, Soule, Turney.-l2.
NAYs.-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Benton.
Bright, Cass, Chase, Clay, Davis, of Mass,
Dawson, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge, of Wlscon-
sin, Dodge, Of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Ewing,
Felch, Foote, Greene, Hamn, Jones, King, Man
gum, Norris, Phelps, Seward, Shields, Smith,
Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales, Walker,
Whitcomb, Winthrop.-36.
CLASSIFICATION.
The Senate being so classified, that nearly as
possible, one third OF it's members may be re-
newed every two years, a Classification became
cessary Of the respective terms of the two Cali
fornia senator's Three ballots marked /, 2, and
3, were folded up by the Secretary, and put in
the ballot box DR.. Gwin took out ballot which
proved to be number 3, good for the term ending
4th March 1855. Col. FRFMoNT drew No. l,
which is good for one Congress. His term, there
fore, expires on the 4th March, 1851.
The two new Senators having taken their seats,
the Senators of all sides came up and extended to
them their congratulations.
NEW MEXICAN CONSTITUTION.
On motion Of Mr.. JOHN DAVIS, the consti-
or the territorial Vi !NeW was
ordered to be printed.
NOTICES CALIFORNIA BILLS.
Mr.. FREMONT gave notice of his intention to
introduce at an early day, into the Senate a series
Of bills relating to California-proposng sur
yevor general for California; for land receivers
and registers for the working of the gold placers;
for the appointment of recorder of land titles;
for grants Of land to old settlers, and for pre-
empton rights to recent and future Settlers for
the adjustment Of land titles; for the refundmg Of
certain moneys said State; for lands to Culifor
MIA for internal Improvements, schools, &c; for
the REIMBURSEMENT to San Francisco of certain
lands within her limits; for the opening of roads,
post routes &C. for the grant of twelve salt springs
to said State; for the preservation Of order among
the Indian tribes, &C., &c.
The Senate passed number Of local and prl-
waite bills.
SOLDIERS LAND BouNTIEs
The bill Of the House, granting bounty lands
to the officers and soldiers Of the United States
wars with the Indians, beginning withstne war Of
1890 and to the officers and soldiers OF the war of
1912, and t. the commissioned officers, not here
tofore provided for Of the war with Mexico, was
resumed as the regular order of the day.
An amendment by Mr.. WALKER, making
further extension of the grants of land Of the bill,
was debated and rejected, 16 to 81
Mr. MASON proposed an amendment provl-
ding further guarantees to the soldiers, &c, enl.
tied to the benefits of the Virginia military land
warrants. "
Mr.. MASON, Mr.. UNDERWOOD and others
debated the bill, when with the pending amend
ments, it was laid aside for the day.
DISTRICT SLAVE TRADE.
On motion Of Mr.. CLAY, the Senate resumed
the consideration of the bill for the abolition of
the slave trade in the District of Columbia.
Mr. MASON moved to strike out from the bill
all that relates the slave trade as to leave 1t
simply bill for the punishment or kidnappers OF
slaves from the District.
Mr.. CLAY objected to the amendment. 1t
would destroy the main object Of the bill, which
was the suppression Of tho slave trade IN this Dis
tric, including thesuppresslon of the slave depos,
from which markets outside OF the District are
supplied with slaves.
Mr. PEARCE proposed an amendment. AS
the bill stands provides that if any person shall
bring slave into the District to be sold out of it,
such person on conviction, shall forfeit such
slave, who shall become liberated and free.
The amendment of Mr. PEARCE provides that
instead of the liberation Of the slave the person
guilty ofthe aforesaid offence, shall be amenable to
a ine OF not less than 500, nor exceeding $500.
Mr.. CLAY opposed the amendment.
Mr.. BADGER and MIR. UNDERWOOD took
issue with Mr.. CLAY.
Mr. PEARCE modified his amendment as
to provide that any person who shall be guilty of
introducing a slave into the District, or of buying
one, for the purpose of selling HIM for transporta-
ton out Of the District, shall be amenable to
1lne OF S0Uu, OnenaII 10 otiei
half to the corporation within whose limits the
offence may have been committed.
Mr.. BERRlEN opposed to the bill as it
stood. In providing for the Liberation ofthe sIavet
involved assertion of the power to abolish sla-
very in the District, power which he wholly de-
MED; and Mr.. BERRIEN briefly argued that the
cession by the States of Virginia and Maryland,
OF the soil and jurisdiction Of this District, did
not involve the power by Congress to abolish s!a-
very in the District.
Mr. BALDWIN and Mr. BADGER continued
the discussion.
Mr. JEFFERSON DAVIS was opposed, both
to the fine and the liberation of the slave. He
could consent to fine citizen for passing through
any part Of the Union with his property, or for
such an offence take his property away-least of
all, would he consent to the imposition Of such
penalties in this District. Admit the power, and
you may impose the same penalties, in the forts,
arsenals, and dock-yards Of the United States.
Mr.. PRATT explained that the bill did not
inhibit the citizen from passing the District with