The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-13


Mr. THOMPSON. of Pennsy lvania asked the unan
imous consent OF the House move the reference hack
TO The Judiciary Committee Of the bill in relation TO be
judiciary OF FLORIDA, before the Committee OF the
Whole on the state Of the Union agreed TO.
Mr.. STANTON, OF Tennessee, asked leave to move
to discharge the Committee of the Whole the state
Tor the establishment of steam maii-line from the Al
iantic coast OF the United States 10 the coast OF
Africa and that the said bill be referred back to the Com
inltee on Naval Affairs but,
MIR THOMPSON, of Mississippi, calling for the reg
u'ar order Of business, leave was not granted
The SPEAKER announced The hrst business in order
70 be tue further consideration OF the report OF Mr.
RICHARDSON, from the Ewing Investigation select COM
lnee; whtreupon,
Mr. MILLSoN. who entitled 10 the floor, address.
ca the House ~ defence OF the course OF The members
OF the Virginia delegation. and OF that Of certain OF his
immediate constituents who had been called in question
in NJ NE s ssyi q this discussion e o,,s.
hon oil his resolutions which, being read IRON the Clerks
desk was duly accepted.
Mr. MlLLSON called The previous question, and it
was seconded bs the House; whereupon,
Mr. RICHARDSON, Che gentleman making the ma
ior'y epor who entitled 10 The hoer, commenced
70 address the House. il reply to the speeches OF Messrs
MIR. SANlON, VI Tennessee, (the morning hour hay.
ing exped moved TO proceed TO business on the Speak
ers table which n va asrsed iosyes a.. noes So
Senate bills, nc, which were considered and appropr'
aiely Disposed OF.
Among these was The Senate bin granting alternate Sec
Memphis To ST. Francis, In Arkansas.
The said bill having been read twice. the question was
next on lis third reading.
Alter a lie w remarks from Messrs. JOHNSON, oil Ar
kansas. and MARSHALL,
Mr.. JOHNSON addressed the House at length,
urging the importance OF the work 10 the requirements
oil the military department OF the government and for The
accommodation OF the emigration to Arkansas.
Mr., STANTON, OF Tennessee, next advocated the en-
acment OF the bill.
Mr.. While moved it's reference 10 the Committee on
Public Lands Mr.. w. then demanded The previous
Mr. BONLlN urged that would be useless 10 give
this bill that direction, as that committee had reported
generally upon the principle OF making precisely such
donations as the bill proposed.
The question being on the previous question, il was
Mr. BURT suggested that the proper reference OF tue
bill would be 10 Inc Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Arkansas, protested against that
reference.
The main question being next ordered. the said bill
referred 10 tie Committee ON Public Lands.
The Senate bill to extend the port Of New Orleans
having been reported from The Speakers table. 1t was
read twice; when,
On motion oi Mr. La SERE, the said bill was read the
third line, ard passed
The Senate fugitive slave bill having been reported
from The Speakers table, il was read twice.
The question being on its third reading,
Mr.. THOMPSON, OF Pennsylvania, demanded that il
should be read al length.
And lhe said bill being so read at the Clerks desk,
hf. THOMPSON, OF ennsylvania, said that gene
rally such bills required reference committee but
ence needless He conceived this to be such an occa
sion.
The House and country knew well the character and
details oil that bill which bad aready-as measure Of
The general plan OF pacihcailon--gone exlensveylnlo
the newspapers
TIE act oil 1895 The was understood to say) provided
that ag slraes should Issue warrants for the appr,hen
fugitive slaves. 10 States II being believed
that the magistrates had authority execute this gen.
era government law i had been decided that they were
at liberty 10 not In other States statutes against
lie attempts Of magistrates carry out this law had
been passed The result had been that TOO often the per
pursuing his fugitive finds the constitutional guaran
tees dead letter This bill proposed TO grant him
the relief and protection promised III the constitution,
which was now denied 10 him.
Mr. L. here reviewed in detail the various provisions
OF this proposed law, which, he held. were appropriate
Tor The end IN view.
Asre.arded the objection batih trial by jury was denied
to the fugitive slave, he held that the bill gave them all
The privileges HAT were compatible with the consu.
upna provision There grave obstacles IN The way
Of il heTe-such objections as ineIposed between the
fugitive iron justice IN Pennsylvania and tra oy Jury
OHIO, il taken ia thai Sale The existence OF slavery
this county was "a dsaseiul hGn 10 any other
members but there stood the obligations Of the consu
ton, requiring all respect the right Of the master TO The
slave which would he sci at naaght b. granting the tug
tive jury trial IN the place where taken, as MI L.
argued 10 show -
Here followed Interruptions from Messrs. CARTIER,
STEVENS, and MANN, OF Massachusetts, not heard BY
the Reporter]
Mr.. II. went on 10 show that the 9th section OF
the bill pIoved how the appointment of the agent of the
owner should be verified Tue plan therein provided for
would completely stop the cusiom OF kidnapping free
negroes, on he preence thai they were slaves. One
section oil the bill muicied the marshal IN 81 600 dam
ages IN case tie fugitive slave custody effected hls
escape
TIE 10Th section provided, among other ihings how
Tue master, the escape OF his tiave shall give deserp
ton oil hun before court OF record-such description
as would prevent any mistake TO the identity Of the
iugiive
Mir BURT Gnterrupdng Mr. IT, asked him 10 point
out tue clause in the bill authorizing the Judge 10 issue
his Tor the arrest OF the fugitive complaint
Mr.. THOMPSON replied in the Sd, 4lh, and 9th sec
tions.
Mr.. BURT called for the reading Of those sections.
And the said sections having been read
MIR. THOMPSON went on 10 urge that party having
the power sf attorney, or the HIMSELF might, with
out warrant take the slave before magistrate, who
was authorized 10 arm or deny the rght TO the slave
with or without warrant TO that end.
The bill provided Tor the appointment OF such Off
GERS 10 execute these warrants occasion might require
The bill further provided for the establishment oil
mssoDers 10 grant such warrants and TO adJudcae upon
them, where sucn were necessary
lie acknowledged the constitution 10 be his highest
authority. Heacknowledged higher than that, even
upon toe requirement OF The spirit OF the age and while
the constitution remained II must be observed and exc
cuied.
Mr.. GIDDlNGS (nterrupting Mr. tt asked whether
be believed that the constitution provided that the citizens
OF the non States should after, catch,
and deliver up the fugitive slavei
MIR. THOMPSON (conunuing) held that the constitu.
ton clearly provided that civil authorities IN non
slavehodng States should take and deliver the fugitive
slave Mr. T. read the clause OF the constitution IN qaes-
ton, and urged that the obligation deliver up the uIi
tive slave was full, and should be binding IL was in
niiey stronger than tue obligation 10 deliver up Toe iu-
give justice, who could only be delivered up the
fnt nrttau usi.arAu thaa al