The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THuRsDAY, March 2s, 1850,
SENATE

Private petitions were presented by Messrs.
JONES, WHITcoMB, COOPER, DODGE Of Iowa, and
boRLAHD. M
wooDwoRTH's PATENT.
Mr. HAMIJN presented remonstrance against
any further extension Of Woodworth's patent
| SLAVERY
! Mr. HAMLIN presented large number Of petit
tions praying the prohibition Of slavery IN the Ter
ritores, Its abolition in the District OF Columbia,
and in favor Of extending 10 persons arrested fu-
| gitive slaves the trial by jury
MIR. GREEN and MIR. COOPER presented similar
| petitions.
| cHAPLAISs IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
| Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, presented petitions that
the employment of chapains in the public service
| may be discontinued
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. JONES submitted the following resolution,
which was considered by unanimous consent and
| agreed to:
| and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the
expediency of establishing mail route from Osca-
| oosa, via Union Mills and Montczuma, to Sugar
| Grove; from Butler, in Keokuk county, via Com
petine and Locust Grove TO Fairfield, in Jefferson
county, all in Iowa. Also, from Adell, in Dallas
county, by Irish Grove, TO Council Bluffs; and from
| Eddyvillc. in Wapello county, TO Charlton Point,
| in Lucas county, in said State
| Mr.. HAMLIN presented the following resolution,
| which was considered by unanimous consent and
Rssolusd, That the Committee ON Naval Affairs
| be instructed TO inquire into the expediency Of
| granting the same pay to the clerk of the naval
Constructor at Kttery, Maine, is paid 10 a SINH
lar clerk in the navy yard at Charlestown, Massa-
| chusetts.
CALIFORNIA CLAIMS.
| Mr. BENTON submitted the following resoIu-
| ton, which was considered by unanimous consent,
and agreed to:
| Resolved That the Committee on Finance be in
structed to inquire into the expediency Of provid
ing in the deficiency Bill" now under their
consideration, for the payment OF the California
| Claims.
| Mr. BENTON gave notice that, on to- morrow,
or some subsequent day, he would ask leave to in
troduce bill to authorize the construction of a
| national highway from the Mississippi, at ST.
! Louis to the Pacific, at San Francisco.
| Mr.. RUSK gave notice that, on to morrow, he
would ask leave to introduce bill to reduce the
rates of postage, and for other purposes
Mr. UNDERWOOD gave notice that, on to-
morrow some subsequent day, he would ask
/ leave to introduce joint resolution to amend the
Constitution of the United States.
| Mr. CLARKE, pursuant to notice, introduced q
bill to refund to the State of Rhode Island advances
made to volunteers and enlisted soldiers.
| PUBLIC PRINTING.
| Mr. BORLAND, from the Committee on Print
ing reported Joint resolution in relation TO the
delays &c., in the execution of the public printing.
! luton reported by the committee; the substitute
proposes abolish the present contracts for the pub
lie printing, and that certain persons be chosen to
execute the public printing in conformity with the
terms of the Joint resolution of March g. 1919. Laid
on the table and ordered to be printed.
}. ROBERTSON.
Mr.. DODGE, from the committee to audit and
control the contingent expenses of the Senate, re-
| ported adversely on the resolution directing that
committee to inquire into the expediency OF max
| ing a remuneration to j. Robertson, on account OF
his arrest &C., by the sergeant at arms of the SEN
ate, in the early part of the session.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The resolution heretofore submitted by Mr.. WEB
| sTER, granting quarter section of the public
lands TO every head of family, on the condition
that it be actually occupied and cultivated by the
| grantee was taken up, and made the special order
| of the day for next Monday two weeks.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration OF
the following resolution submitted some time since
by Mr.. CLAY, which, after some remarks by Messrs.
DICKINSON, CLAY, HALE, and DAVIS of Mississippi,
was adopted:
Resolved, That in future, when a member OF
Congress dies and has been buried in the vacation,
the Senate will not feel itself called upon extend
to the memory of the deceased the honors and cer-
emonies which have been of late years usually
awarded: but will restrict itself hereafter, in the APP
preparation OF those honors and ceremonies TO cases
Of the death Of members during the session of Con-
| gress.
GEN. JOHN MNEiLL's WIDOW.
] Mr.. HALE, from the Committee Pensions,
reported bill granting to Mrs McNcill, the widow
dollars a month for five years. He asked that the
! bill be now considered.
Mr. RUsK, Mr.. UNDERWOOD, and MIR. BEN
TON opposed the practice of considering the bills
reported in particular cases. preference 10 others
Bills should take their regular course, and be
sidered in the order which they would have if placed
| on the calendar
THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE, (cALIFoRSlA.)
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of the compromise resolutions submitted by MIR.
BELL.
The motion pending TO refer them to a Sc
lect committee Of thirteen Senators; 10 which mo-
ton there is an amendment pending, proposed by
! Mr.. BENTON, To exclude from the reference the
sixth resolution, relating TO the admission of Cali
| fornia.
| Mr. BALDWIN said that he was disposed TO dis
the measures before the Senate calmly and dis
| passionately, but with candor and hrmness. lie
| considered the circumstances under which the
Constitution was adopted the spirit OF concord, OF
| harmony, which prevailed in the convention which
framed It, and the States which adopted it. He was
disposed TO consider and act upon all the differ
| ent propositions before the Senate, with due re-
gard 10 the Constitution, and in accordance with
the dictates Of his own judgment. Nothing could
| induce him 10 vote against the course which his
| judgment dictated TO be the proper one. He would
| obey or regard no instructions, Of his own
Legislature, when those instructions required him
to vote in a manner different from what his judg-
mcnt dictated.
lie would support the amendment TO the motion
| Of reference proposed by the Senator from Mis-
souri, He regarded that the admission Of Califor-
mia had connexion with any other subject, nor
| was in any way 10 be influenced by any action o
Congress the subject OF the Territories; had il
any connexion with, should it be affected by
the action Of Congress in relation TO the subject Of
| slavery.
| He then entered into an examination Of the cir.
cumstances attending the acquisition Of the terri
tory from Mexico, the circumstances attending the
negotiation and ratification of the treaty. He also
examined the provisions Of the treaty itself, and
drew from il an obligation the part of Congress
70 admit California into the Union at proper time
He advocated that the present was most auspi
cious time 70 admit California. Her people required
government, and had adopted one suitable &c
themselves, and almost unanimously adopted. He
urged the propriey and the justice OF her immcdi-
ate admission into the Union. He would oppose
any effort TO change her boundaries or 10 annex
any condition 70 her admission.
He examined the subject Of the annexation Of
Texas and the various interpretations placed upon
the joint resolution Of March 3. is45 lie denied,
first, that these resolutions contained any obliga-
ton upon Congress 10 admit slave States; and
secondly, If they did, the Congress that passed
them had no constitutional power thus to bind fu.