The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-23
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
FRIDAY, March %, 1850.

FRIDAY, March p, 1850
SENATE.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs.
SHE Ids BELL, JONES, WHITooMB, DopoE OF Iowa,
FETCH, Dawson, CAss, BENTON, and BALDWIN
ALIENS.
Mr. SHIELDS presented petition from sundry
citizens of illinois. praying that all aliens may be
dismissed from public ONCE.
NON sLAvERY-PRosLAvERY
Mr.. SHIELDS presented petition of sundry citi-
zens of Illinois, demonstrating against the further
extension Of slavery. Also, petition remonstrat-
ing against abolition, and urging that slavery may
be extended
Several circumstances against the employment
OF chaplans in the public service were presented by
Messrs. CHASE, WHITooMB. BRADBuRy, and UN-
DERwoop.
MRS. MAJon-GESERAL WORTH
MIR. BORLAND, from the Committee on Pen
sions, reported a bill for the relief Of Mrs Marga-
ret Nj. Worth. widow of Brevet Major General
Worth The bill grants her pension Of fifty dol
lars month"; that being the half pay of brigadier
general of the army.
Mr.. KING said that his feelings were as warm
in respect for the memory Of the deceased as those
OF any one. He was as much disposed to act kindly
and generously towards his representative. How
ever much he might be disposed to vote money as
small token Of respect, still he thought that princi
pie should be adhered to- in all these The high
est pension ever granted was an amount equal to
cral Worth was only a brigader general by brevet,
and his actual rank was only that of colonel in
the army. He reluctantly objected to the amount
provided by the bill, because he thought that the
principle should be strictly pursued
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi said that the merits
of General Worth could not be too hi ghly drawn
He was a most distinguished officer, not only dis
tinguished in the late with Mexico, but in the
war with Great Britain; in that war he received a
wound at Lundy's Lane, from which he had not
recovered at the time of his death But, while dis
posed to do every thing TO show respect to his mem
DRY and services, he agreed with the Senator from
Alabama, that the established principle should be
adhered 10 in these cases. If Gen Worth had died
on the battle field, his widow could not have
ceived pension higher than the half-pay Of lieu
tenant-colone He was in favor OF not extending
that law. He was in favor of allowing pension
only to the amount given by the present law.
Mr.. BUTLER said that he hoped no alteration
would be made in the bill as reported from the COM
mtee. Every day marble monuments were raised
TO commemorate the virtues of deceased persons.
He preferred living monuments of our respect and
sympathy, and for that he would vote for
the highest grade of pension.
Mr.. SHIELDS said that lac knew General Worth
personally, and nothing had been said that could
sufficiently display his high merits. During por-
ton of the time Of the war with Mexico, General
Worth had performed the duties of a major gene
raj, and during the rest of the time as a brgadier
general by the special assignment of the Presi-
dent Ii was true his ncal rank in the army
but that of colonel. He agreed with the Senator
from South Carolina, that the bill reported should
pass.
Mr.. KING repeated his views.
Mr.. BORLAND and MIR. DICKINSON supported
The passage of the bill as reported.
And the question being taken, the bill read
third time and passed.
THE REPORTERS.
Mr.. CASS submitted resolution nquiring into
the expectancy OF making more suitable arrange
ents for the convenience of the official reporters of
the Senate.
HUNGARY
Mr.. BELL moved, and the Senate proceeded TO
the consideration Of a resolution heretofore submit
ted by Mr.. DOUGLAS, calling for copies of all in
structions and dispatches from the special mes
senger sent to Hungary, by the President during
the recent war IN that country and the resolution
was adopted.
REMOVALS OFFICE.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
resolution on this subject, and after few words OF
debate between Messrs. SMITH, FoorE and Sew
ARD, the subject postponed till o-morrow at IL
o'clock.
THE COMPROMISE coMMIrTEE-sLAvERY
The Senate proceeded to the consideration OF the
resolutions Of Mr.. BELL, and the motion of Mr.
fooTK to refer them To committee Of thirteen
Mr.. DAYTON said that on this motion he would
as others had DONE discuss all the questions intro
doced into the Senate. The war with Mexico had
wrought the present state of affairs, and much
trouble and danger TO the country. This was early
foreseen; and not only foreseen, but acted upon.
Many Senators had opposed all acquisition of ter
rltory. The national estate too large and the
heirs were now in difficulty with the division of it.
He was one Of those who had opposed the war; and
he was one Of those who had voted to put that war
at an end by voting for that treaty; because, if the
war had continued, it would lead 10 further ac-
QUESTION OF territory further south and more adapt
ed 70 slave labor, thereby increasing the difficult
ties. This territory had been forced upon them by
the policy OF the South, and all the difficulties
isting should not be placed upon the North.
California was the fret question. short time
ago she was not considered OF as much importance
az at present. She was now State, with consti-
tuition adopted and framed in due legal form. The
question before them was, why should she not be
admitted
year ago the objection to her admission was,
tiat she was not State. That objection exists no
longer, for every one must admit that she is now a
State de fdeto. in the constitution Of this State
there was provision prohibiting slavery from her
limits, and this was the most serious objection TO
her admission by the South. But she had all the
powers and rights TO do 30, and by doing she has
pot an end 10 the excitement and controversy on
that point, which would. had she not acted for her
self, have disturbed Congress and the country.
But II was said che had acted without any pre-
yious authority from Congress. This was true, but
Congress had the power by subsequent acts TO re-
cognise the future act of the Territory The treaty
by which the Territory was acquired not framed
by any one having authority, yet Congress had
adopted IL, thereby recognising the act Of the I'M
authorized agent. The objections were, that Cali
fornia bad not a territorial government nor any
Jections existed in previous cases and other States
had been admitted without these alleged prerequi
ntes lie admitted that he thought California bad
done wrong in electing two members Of Congress.
He thought II would have been more wise and more
modest If she had sent but one representative till
after the approaching census.
lie thought that the expectation that, il the Mis-
sour compromise line extended 10 the Pacific
slave State could be formed south of that line
was wholly chimerical II would appear that
southern men in California bad no hopes expect
atoms OF such a result They seemed 10 abandon
the idea, and that when they reached the land
Of freedom their sentiments became changed II
slavery was blessing at home, southern men
seemed indisposed 10 carry il with them to the
territories.
There were southern men there in abundance.
They had been elected 20 nearly all the Offices IN
the State, while the northern men were dcvoting
their energies 10 labor in the uincs.
Mr.. FOOTE said the two representatives from
California in the House were from the North.
Mr.. DAYTON said that was true, but the two
Senators were from the South, and all the State off
GERS, with one eIception-the surveyor general
were from the South
The idea, then, of slave State on the Pacific wac
E,,gI ~. "a