The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-15
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY. March u. 1850.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD presented a petition pray
ing that Paducah, in Kentucky, may be made a
port of entry.
AoRMoNs.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD presented n petition from
the President and twelve apostles Of the church oil
Latter Day Saints complaining that their poet OF.
nee rights were invaded by their brethren In De
seret.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs
WALKER, SHIELDS, and JoSEs.
TRIAL ny jury FoR FUoIrIvR SLAVES.
Mr.. SEWARD presented several petitions pray.
ing that persons arrested fugitive slaves shall
be allowed the right Of trial by jury.
Mr.. PRATT said that nc did not exactly com.
prehend the extent Of the rule or practice hereto.
fore pursued by the Senate in rejecting a certain
class OF petitions Bot Of all petitions die kind ius
presented were the most dangerous. Several Sen.
ators bad Justified the reception Of petitions ON the
ground that tho subject matter Of the petition was
under the consideration Of the Senate Ifthis were
the rule, was only necessary foe Senators 10 move
an amendment 10 bill. and then any petition, re.
ierrng TO the suhJect-mattcr Of the amendment
should be received.
The scnatorf from New York had moved % amend
the fugitive slave bill by extending 10 the slaves IA,
right Of trial BY jury. II was well known after III,
experience OF The past few years, that such inca.
the master 20 recover the slave.
MI. HALE said lie was surprised 10 hear the OBJ
jections Of the senator from Maryland IA wa,
well known that in The slave States, a slave claim
ing freedom had the right of trial bv iurv and h,
for one was unwilling dat any bin sbouII ,ass ri,
| body which deprived a man in a free state of Inc
rights secured 70 him in a slave State
Mr.. KING called the senator TO order a wa,
not IN order 70 debate petition till II received
a discussion ensued on the point Of order, ia
which Messrs. krSo, CHAsE, and CLAY partici.
pated,
Mr.. DICKINSON aid that the subject on which
tbc petition was based had already been acted on,
md n hrI N.rfFY = n.
the calendar; the proper place. therefore. for the
petition was on the table. This subject Of slavery
had occupied, IN ono shape or anofhsr. the vybol,
time Of The session now in The middle Of its fourth
month. Every day discussion had taken place
IN the Senate on the subject, 10 tho exclusion IL All
public business OF practical import. and Il va,
stii persevcrcd in till The atmosphere was a. tt;d
ss IN an abolition meeting.
AZ the appropriate place for the petition was an
the table, and in the hope that the senate roiob,
be allowed 10 proceed with the public busincss h.
moved 20 lay the petition and the whole s,bect IN
| the table, point Of order and all.
Mr.. HALE said that he had thc hoof and ,b,
motion Of the Senator from New York could NO, i,
| In order.
The VICE PRESIDENT decided tbal fbe ,oo,;or
was out OF order-tbc Senator from New Hampshire
having the floor
Mr.. HALE said that the whole question prc.er,s,
by the petition, and which 20 offensive even n
the olfactories Of tho Senator from New York wa.
nothing more than the sacred rightof trial bv Jury
| for which our fathers waged a war Of seven years'
Mr.. PRATT moved lay The motion 10 receive
| the petition on the table.
Mr.. DICKINSON said that he would repeat Tia
the middle Of the fourth month Of the session Isd
arrived, and no public business had been done. All
the great measures, the census and the financial
bills were kept back by ths discussion on slaverv
He again moved 10 lay the subject on the table
but withdrew the motion at The request Of
Mr. BADGER, who said that he considered The
object OF tho petition vac perfectly GERMAN and
appropriate 20 the subjects boa before ne senale
and he thought that the objection Of tic Senate
from Maryland 70 the reception Of such petitions
was calculated 70 Increase rather than 10 prevent
agitation he thought The prayer Of the petitioner,
was absurd, unreasonable, aud rnscbievo,p and
thought that. nj the proper time, he could denon.
strate II to the satisfaction Of every one who was
/ on etabit - -
Mr. DICKINSON said that, III was The desire Of