The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-04-20
TELEGRAPH DISPATCHES.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, April II.
SENATE

Mr.. T. ID. Elmore, appeared to fill the va
rancy occasiOned by the death of John G.
Calhoun. He was qualified and took his |
seat, and shortly afterwards LETT the chamber. !
The Senate then took up Mr.. Foote'S res
oIutions-the question pending being upon
Mr.. Benton's instructions to said committee, |
in substance as follows: declaring that Con-
gress has no power over slavery in the States
or internal slave trade, and that Congress
ought to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia or in the forts, arsenals, and dock
yards of the United States.
Mr.. Clay moved to amend so as to read
"Provided the Senate does not deem it nee
essary to express in advance my opinion.
or TO give any instructions either general or
specific for the guidance OF the committee"
Mr.. Benton said it would be remembered
that the first amendment pending was in fact
Mr.. Clay's own proposition. he Mr.. Benton)
having accepted it on Mr.. Clay's own sug
gestion. Mr.. Clay now desired 10 run out
and take back entirely his own proposition,
and throw himself back upon his original
proposition. 1t being thus withdrawn Mr..
Benton moved his original proposition. pro
vidng that the committee shall take into con-
sideratirn the question of slavery il the
States &c. &c.
MIR. Clay then owed to amend this amend
ment by substituting the proposition submit
ted by him in the morning.
Mr. Benton addressed the Senate in dep
reca,ion of the long delay to which the ques-
ton of admitting California had been sub
iected and urged the necessity Of securing
some action upon that subject during the
present session, and he would move us ii test
vote. thai the pending business be laid OF the
table. with Il view of taking up the bill for
the admission Of California.
Mr.. Clay charged Mr.. Benton with being
one Cf the causes Of delay, and sail, let him
cease his opposition TO the pending PROPOSE
ton, and let the select committee be appoint
ed and then let the Senate take up the Cali
lornia bill without reference TO the action of
the committee and act upon it. He would
not abandon the course he had already indi-
Gated but would move TO commit the terrific
rial bill with It,
Mr.. Benton said the pr Jpositon of the Sen
atOr was neither more nor less than that the
Ii Cry be sent out, and the gentleman remain
ing be allowed to argue the case. As 10 the
charge of obstructing the business he would
only say that conscious of the integrity and
recttude of his position. he would never be
deferred from the performance of his duty
| by such charges His position was sustain
! ed by 60 yeas He declared il as his belief
| that the committee was all cut and dried and
that the appointing by them would be ii
/ farce
Mr.. Douglass SAID he was inclined to vote
! for Mr.. Clay's amendment. He had only OPP
posed the appointment the select commit
Zee, because OF his unwillingness to make the
admission of California dependent in any
other measure. He would vote for the COM
mttee for the same reason stated by Mr. Clay.
If the appointing of said committee was a
farce, he was OF disposed to make il a TRACE
dy by factious opposition.
Wr Webster thought tie adoption o. the
amendment would preclude the propositions
( for instructions.
Mr. Hale followed in opposition, saying the
North would be defeated by Northern men,
and concluded as follows: Gentlemen of the
South, you have been put where you have
laid us out cold-don't point at u.s." Laugh
ter.
MIR Clay said the North was destined to no
defeat at the hands Of the South. The only
triumph TO he achieved was that of patriot
ism Ger ultra aboitionis!s when vacation
should be gone so soon as settlement OF the
slavery question was obtained.
MIR. Foote appealed 10 the friends of the
select committee to refrain from further de-
bate.
Mr.. Clay slightly modified his amendments
it was adopted-yeas %, nays %.
Mr.. Hamblin then moved an amendment
but il was decided out of order.
Mr.. Benton offered one previously Offered
by him, embracing fourteen different points
he SAID he would ask the yeas and nays ii
each.
A debate ensued upon the question of or
der.
Mr. Clay objected, on the ground that i
was inconsistent with the proposition by which
the Senate had declared it would not instruc
the committee.
The Vice President remarked that incon
sisTency might be good reason for rejection
but it was not the question for the chair tC
decide as TO the point Of order.
Mr. Clay appeared to the Senate.
Mr. Benton addressed the Senate in behal
of his Amendments his object was to show
by votes tnat the fears of the South had heeG
groundess.
MIR. Butler said such votes were not 'fety
valves by which to avert impending dan
gers.
Mr.. Foote said he had endeavored to aver
discussion; the time had come when patriots
should unite on the purpose of saving the Re
public from danger. H. would not conde
, sceud to notice anything coming from a, GER
t tain quarter. Denton. ifit were not that al
uniusuliable attack had been made upon tht
Southern address, which many Of them hac
: been proud to sign. That address would
live in The esteem of patriots. Who was it
d author? The Senator from S. c., owe
t whose death the nation nov mourns. Wht
S was it that attempted to impugn that address
1t was IN Individual known as the oides
n member of the Senate. MIR. Foote was pro
ceeding with some sarcastic remarks in allu
# sion to Mr.. Benton but had said nothing s.t
fcently open and offensive to justify tn
y chair in calling him TO order NoTE.-Thi
e is rather gratutous when MIR. Benton ros
e from his seat much agitaled, throwing hi
e l. L: /