Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-02-19
TUJRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
First Session.

'Io reception of the petition TO dissolve
no,ccabIv the Union. Mr.. Chase advo-
l.o,cd il on the ground of the sacred right
orne,ition. Mr.. Cass reProved the pell-
toners for seeking civil war, for that is the
,mnan;ng Of dissolution. Mr.. Webster
s,;J that the petitioners asked members of
Canrross 70 break the oaths they had
swoTn 10 support the Constitution and
Government. Messrs. Cooper, Clemens
and Focte spoke in deroga,ion, and Messrs.
seward. Chase and Hale in favor Of recep-
lion. The vote was for reception 3, for
rejection 81.
Air. Claws resolutions then came up,
and Mr.. Berricn spoke to The subject in a
lone, able and decidedly Southern speech.
In the House the Revenue-Colections
bill was taken up i'll Committee OF the
Whole.
On Tuesday in the Senate Mr.. Hale
presented a petition from 400 women o.
Dover IN. Ill., against The extension OF
Slavery over the Territories. MIR. Hing
moved to lay the motion to receive on the
1abIe. lost. ayes 10, noes %. The ques-
ton Of reception was then debated by
several Senators.
Mr.. Butler denounced the miserable
minority which lives on mischief, who
daily interrupted the business of the Sen
ate by introducing this subject. He was
4 mailman or worse, VINO allowed himself
to be the tool of such persons as those
who signed these petitions.
Mr.. Hale rejoined in most indignant
manner, cOntending that all the talk was
bv the South. He was not to be intimi-
dated from the path of his duty nor from
the expression of his sentiments. New
Hampshire blood coursed through no
coward veins. The subject was then
postponed, and
Mir. Berrien resumed his remarks. He
contcnded Congress had no power over
tins subject Of slavery. He would vote
for the Missouri Compromise.
In conclusion, he SAID that he would,
in case Of the worst, abide the decision OF
his State, and whatever that decision was,
he would stand to it for veal or for woe.
The subject was then postponed I'LL
Wednesday,
In the House, the Recommendations
eypenses bill was debated, an amendment
of Mr.. King being at length adopted, fix
inc the amount at 81, 225, 900. The res
olution then passed by 10 TO rs.
The House then went into a Committee
of the Whole on the state Of the Union,
IMr. Boyd in the Chair and resumed the
consideration of the motion TO refer the
Presidents message on the subject OF Cal
ilurnia and the Territories.
Mr.. Brown, Of Mississippi, occupied
few moments only in saying, substantially,
that he differed with Gen. Cass, ANA did
no, believe that the people Of the territories
have right to exclude slavery from them.
Mr.. Inge, of Alabama, said that the
Presidents message give a new phase TO
the Wil.not Provrso. That is dead bu'
the California proviso submitted III lieu
of it.
They could de.1eat the California ProvI'
so if the Southern men stood firm. Alter
speaking an hour, the gentleman resumed
his seat.
Mr., billiard commenced, but did not
conclude his speech. Although wishing
well to the Administration, and giving to
the President the crcditof honest and patrl
otto motives, he could not approve of the
message, which left the questions which
now agitate us open. These should be
settled now, so as to give peace and repose
10 the country. 70 admit California as a
State, would be attended by the greatest
disaster to the Sou!h, as it would destroy
the political balance which has so long
existed in the Senate.
The Committee rose, and on motion
the House adjourned.
In the Senate on Wednesday, memo
rails were presented for the reduction OF
postage. The Retired Navy list bill was
taken up and read second time. The
motion to receive the petition praying the
non-cxtensiOn of Slavery to the territories
prevailed, and it was referred to the Com
mittee on the Territories.
\ copy of the California Constitution
was received from the President by the
hands of Col. Bliss. Mr.. Benton sug-
gesled TO Mr.. Clay to move its reference
TO a select Committee. Mr.. Clay would
take no lead, but would acccde if Senators
desired it. Mr.. Foote moved that the
subjectie on the table; he wanted to make
motion that would quash the whole con-
Germ. Motion lost, ayes 10, noes %.
The subject was then postponed TIL to-
morrow.
A message from the President, in reply
to a resolution Of the Senate calling for
correspondence, &c, relative 20 affairs in
Gauiamela, and about Lake Nicaragua,
was received. Ihe PrnsiLnnt siales dat