The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-09-10
Tn.r.y-First Congress.-lsi session.
W,sHrNsToN, Sept. 8.


of Surveyor General in Oregon, and to grant
lands to actual settlers, was taken up aud de:
bated at length, when it was postponed till to-
morrow.
The bill to suppress the slave trade in the
District of Columbia was taken up.
Mr.. Clay explained it and urged its passage
Mr.. Foote offered his amendment authorisng
the authorities of the District of Columbia 10
pass laws on the subject Of the slave trade and
the abduction of slaves
Mr.. Denny had opposed this bill, he said, in
the committee, but he hoped the Senate would
dispose of it Instead of going into general de,
bate on subject which had already occupied
SO much time. The ordinary business OF Con-
gress ought to be attended to; aud mouthleft
for an Interval in which we could 60 home and
see our families
Mr.. Hunter said he should oppose this bill,
though with no hope of preventing its passage
He believed that it would be an entering wedge
to the abolition by Congress of the slave trade
between the States. 1t would encourage spe.
cies of sentimental legislation, which would re.
suit in disastrous consequences. ltwould lead
to the abolition of slavery in the District
The slaves in Virginia were q contented race
and their condition had been greatly improved.
For the black race he had the kindest feeling,
and he would do what he could to promote
their comfort, consistent with what he owed to
his own race
Mr.. Pearce moved to amend the bill by giv-j
ing jurisdiction to the Criminal Court of this
District over cases of violation Of this law.
Mr. Clay sustained the original bill as re-
ported from the committee of thirteen. Ihe
provisions of the amendments would be proper
in a general system of laws for the district; but
there was no time now to elaborate that sys.
tenn These amendments, if we attempted
them, wonld defeat the bill. Hereplied to the
Senator from Virginia, Mr. Huhter) and con-
tended that the rights of the South would not
be injured by breaking up the detestable slave
prisons in this District The people Of this Dis.
trict would mot nsef these pens. They never
bought slaves from them. They did not want
them.
= Mr.. Pratt took view Of the existing law of
the district, and of the law as it existed in Ma.
ryland at the time of the cession of the District
in 1900 Mr.. Pratt was opposed to the BILL
and moved postponement till Monday, as ne
wished to attend an important election at home
Mr.. Phelps moved an adjournment. Lost
Mr.. Clay replied to the Senator from Mary.
land.
The amendment of MIR. Pearce was agreed
to, so far as concerns laws to prevent persons
from the abduction Of slaves. Yeas 26, nays IL.
The other part, relative to laws concerning
freenegroes, was agreed to. Yeas "a, nays Is.
MIR. Foote withdrew his amendment, as that
Of the Senator from Maryland was preferred.
The Senate then adjourned -.-----.:-.-
In the House thA-=--ssrafng hour was pr1nci'
n,IIo oce-frsed in discussing resolution repor-
4sdhy Mr.. Strong from the committee on rules,
proposing to appoint B. b. French, Esq, for.
mer clerk, of the House, to compile digest Of
the precedents under the rules of the House
The resolution was laid on the table,
Mr.. Fuller, from the committee on printing,
reported resolution to print 5000 copies OF
the list of pensioners of the United States.-
This was uuder discussion when the hour tl2
o'clock) arrived for taking up the special order.
The House then, proceeded to consider the
Texas boundary bill and the amendment there.
to proposed by Mr.. Boyd.
Mr.. Daniel, being entitled to the floor, spoke
an nhour in opposition to the Texas boundary
bill, asserting that he would sooner vote for the
$4,000, 600 proposed by the bill to defend
Texas in all territory she claims, than to give
it to dismember her. He advocated the nom
interference policy in regard to slavery in the
territories; and introduced as substitute for
the proviso of Mr.. Root, the following in the
way of instructions to the committee of the
whole on the State of the Union, viz: with in.
structions to report with the said bills an addi.
tionai section declaring so much of any and all
sacts of Congress as prohibits African slavery IN
any territory belonging to the United States
which lies between the Mississippi river aud the
Pacific. Ocean, and is not included within the
limits of any State, null and void from and after
the passage of said bill, SO as to extend the
principle of non.ntervention to said territory"
Mr.. Mcdowell, of Virginia, obtained hefoor
and spoke an hour. He said that he should
not have addressed the House had it not have
been for the Introduction again of the Wilmot
proviso--a thing so hateful in itself and SO uni.
versailY obnoxious to the South. He maintain,
ed that it was utterly powerless for any good
purpose, and powerful for infinite mischief He
objected to any such restriction to slavery in
the territories as unconstitutional and peculiar.
" offensive to the Southern States. He view
ed the proviso as disunion project, althoug II
it might not have been introduced for any such
purpose He exhibited, in a powerful argu-
ment, the inequality and injustic Of the proviso.
= IL 1-A-