The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-11
no PROGRESS.

NJ IhOuhBSNs
Congress made no progress last week in the
real business Of the session.
MIR Bell of Tennessee occupied three days in
the Senate in the delivery of a speech the Sls-
very Question generally. 1t contained many
strong points, was characterized by good temper,
but was dreadfully prolix, verbose, and immeth-
Odical Had it been compressed within M hour,
II would have been one of the best speeches of
~. .ssi-L., \ - -z'JstsS, -1.fssSsr. % btankk
the first elaborate vindication by Southern
Wing, in the Senate, of the policy of the Presi-
dent and as protest against the despotsm 80 long
exercised by Mr.. Clay over the Wing party
Mr. Smith Of Connecticut followed him ia
long dissertation upon matters and things 10 gen.
eral connected with the anti-slavery movement
administering rebukes to all ultras," especially
on the Northern side of the line. He is cousti-
tutionally a partisan, and looks at all subjects
through party-spectaces. Still, he did find time
to vindicate the North against some of the accu-
sations brought against her, and there were few
good things mixed up in his speech with indifer-
ent ones
The most noteworthy event of the proceedings
last week, was the attempt of MIR. Clay to teach
the Senators from Delaware to know their places
That distinguished gentleman labors under
strange hsllucination in regard to the Public Sem
timent Of the country claiming continually that
it is strongly on the side of his favorite Compro-
mise. The presentation of the proceedings of a
public meeting in favor of that measure he halls
as an evidence that he is right but the resolutions
of adverse meetings awaken his ire, and he cam
not always permit them to pass without severe
comment When Mr.. Wales submitted the re-
port Of the proceedings of q meeting of the citi-
zens of Wilmington, Delaware, against the Com
promise and in favor of the Presidents policy,
| sPectsbi1ity, Mr.. Clay seemed to think that the
State of Delaware was not properly represented,
and that he knew a great deal more of Public
Opinion there than its own Senators He kindly
informed the Senate that the meeting was equally
divided on the question--intimated that the reso-
lutions smelt Of the Cabinet, and had been pre-
pared by one Of the editors Of the North Ameri
can-ssid that Wilmington, though very re-
spectacle town, contained only about fifteen thou
III.
Senate to catecbise the Delaware Senator, de-
handing of him who wrote the resolution, &c.
Order orderH exclaimed many Senators,
aroused by such an act of discourtesy and the
Senator seemed suddenly recalled to himself.
Whether Messrs. Spruance and Wales can be
won to the support of such bill, as the Compro-
mise, by the efforts Of MIR Clay to show that he
knows more of the people of their State than
they do themselves, We have yet to learn.
In the House, time is murdered A more ia.
efficient body of legislators never assembled in
Washington. From Monday morning till Satur-
day afternoon, there was a succession of fat. un
profitable speeches upon an affair that should
have been disposed of at one stting-we mean
the Gaphin case. 1t is difficult to explain why
time should thus be wasted in discussions that no.
body reads, unless for the purpose of delaying
and ultimately defeating all action in relation to
California Saturday, after voting had been rem
dered necessary, by the force of the Previous
Question, there was a series Of maneavres, tend,
ing to throw the question over till Monday, when
lit being resolution day. it was understood that
a movement would probably be made to bring in
California. Had certain Wings from the free
States been intent on battling such design,
they could not have played the game of obstruc-
ton to better purpose. One of them moved an
adjournment before two o'clock. Such motions
with calls for the yeas and nays, were common all
through the session Mr.. Schenck moved call
Of the House, and demanded the yeas and nays
The double operation would have exhausted the
patience of the House. Subsequently, when the
yeas and nays were about to be called, he asked
to be excused from voting, and on this he demand
ed the yeas and nays Had he forgotten it was
by such miserable devices that the Slavery Prop
sgandists had defeated action on Mr.. Doty's first
movement for the admission of California, and
were now hsrboring the design Of setting at def
ance the will Of the majority How could he
condemn them, after initiating their example
The House and the country ought to set their
faces against all fsclious proceedings upon any
subject A minority has right, by every parla-
mentary expedient, TO prevent advantage being
taken Of the absence of members, to pass q meas
ure, or to prevent precipitate action by major
ity. But in a full House, after on important
measure has been thoroughly discussed and is
well understood, where all the forms Of delibera-
tive action have been observed, when argument
has been exhausted and the hour comes for test
ing the strength Of the measure by votes then, IL
a number Of members, sufficient to call the yeas
and nays, undertake to prevent fair constitu-
tional, decisive expression Of the will Of the
House, by eIpedients Designed to secure the
rights Of mnorities but not to give them the con-
troll of majorities, they may be properly styled a
Faction, iuimical to the peace Of the county, and
revolutionary,
Mr.. Schenck and his friends succeeded in wea-
rying the patience Of the House; and without
coming to any conclusion, it adjourned till Mon
day, when the subject came up again.
The resolutions of the Committee, as origin
any reported, were adopted. They deny the JUS
tice OF the Gslphin claim, justify the Secretary
oil the Treasury under the late Administration,
for paying the principal in accordance with law,
and sffrm that the present Secretary Of the
Treasury was not authorized to pay interest on |
said claim.
A motion was made 10 reconsider, for the pur.