The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-25
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY.FTRST CONGRESS-FIRS SESSION
SENATE.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1850.


moved that il be referred to the committee OF
thirteen Mr.. Aichison moved TO lay the ques.
ton of reception on the table, and this motion
prevailed as follows
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor-
land, Butler, Clemens, Davis of Mississippi.
Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa. Foote, Jones, King,
Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pearce, Rusk, Sebas-
tan, Sturgeon, Turney, Underworld.
NAYs-Messrs Baldwin, Bright, Chase, Clarke,
Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dodge
of Wisconsin, Greene, Hale, Hsmlin, Miller,
Norris Phelps, Seward, Smith, Walker, Whit
comb-tS
The Senate, on motion of MIR. Douglas, took up
the California bill, and made it the special order
Immediately after the election of the committee of
thirteen should have taken place
The Senate then proceeded to ballot for the
Chairman of the committee Of thirteen Mr..
Clay received 81 votes, Messrs. Bell, Maneum,
and Benton, each land there were blanks
The blanks not being counted, the Vice Pres-
dent announced that there was no election, as a
quorum had not voted Messrs Webster and
Benton rose simultaneously, to offer their votes,
for the sake OF relieving the Senate Of its embar-
rassment Mr. Webster voted for Mr. Clay.
making quorum MIR. Benton then did not vote ;
Mr.. Clay was declared to be elected.
The Senate proceeded to ballot for the members
Of the committee, who were elected on the first
ballot, as follows
Messrs Cass, Dickinson, Bright, Webster,
Phelps, Cooper, King, Mason, Downs Mangum,
Bell, aud Berrien-those gentlemen having re-
ceived majority of all the votes cast.
MIR Phelps asked to be excused lie said
have considered from the outset that the APP
pointment of this committee would result 10 moth
ing more nor less than the expression Of opinion
on the pne side and the other, and probably we
shall get nothing new upon the subject-nothipg
except what Senators have already expressed in
their place on this floor. But, sir, this question
has assumed an Importance in the country which
will render it necessary for every man on this
committee to be prepared to vindicate his course
And may be permitted to say that | think, in
all human probability, to say nothing more, that
the result of the whole proceeding will be unsat-
isfactory to my constituents and to myself. Un-
der these circumstances, | should feel myself
compelled, if assigned to the committee, to pre-
pare my own opinions for my own vindicaton, to
bespread before the country, which is more than
therefore, that | shall be excused
Mr. Mangum and Mr.. Webster both appealed
to him, earnestly, to withdraw his request
Mr.. Phelps. A word more. | cannot, in Jus.
tice to myself, withdraw this application. Tn,
subject is with the Senate and II they do not sc,
fit to crafty me in this particular, why Of corTse
l must make the best of my position
The Senate then refused to excuse him.
Mr.. Benton. The day Is yet before us am
there is plenty Of time left. | propose the fol
lowing:
"That the said committee be instructed to re
port separately upon each different subject re
ferrei to it, and that said committee tack no tw
bills of different natures together, nor Join in tn
same bill any two or more subjects which are il
their nature foreign, incoherent, or incongruou
to each other"
Its consideration was objected to, and it wen
over one day under the rule.
Mr. Hale made an Intellectual attempt to hav
the anti-slavery petitions taken up and referre,
to the committee of thirteen.
The California bill was then taken up, but
Mr. Mason strongly protesting against its con
sideration during the absence Of the committee
appointed to attend the remains Of John C.. Cal
houn to South Carolina, it was postponed till
| Monday two weeks
Mr. Butler Of South Carolina, during the con
versation about postponement, remarked that al
seemed to take for granted that the bill was to be
taken up and considered as a separate measure
Mr. Clay said My friend from South Carolina
is mistaken IL he supposcs that that bill, standing
by itself and alone, is to pass this Senate without
u
got amendments now in my hand, attaching TO it
the Territorial bills whenever the proper time
may arise to present them. have also prepared
amendments providing for the settlement Of the
Texas boundary question, which | may, or may
not think proper to offer. But, beyond all
doubt shall move TO amend the bill by adding
to it the Territorial bills. And hope, from
all the demonstrations that have been made that
there be but little doubt that the majority of
the Senate favor such proposition.
Mr.. Benton. The Senator from kentucky has
amendments in his hand to offer to the bill, and
have got the parliamentary law in my hands to
show that he will undertake to do thing which
is hagrsntly illegal, and violative Of parliamen-
tary law
Mr.. Clay One word, sir. know the cbarac-
ter and eminence Of the Senator from Missouri
for dwelling ON parliamentary law; but ] will
take issue with him on his parliamentary law,
and will show that no such parliamentary law
exists In any parliament on earth.
Mr.. Benton. will meet the Senator on that
point, then. And If | can show him four good
large volumes, will show him that there Is such
a law, and will make IL case of yrofsn in open
court. He is to 20 out denying the laws when
four ouarto volumes which contain IL are pro-
duced and read We will see about it.
MIR. Hale now moved to take up the petition on
the table, relating to the subject referred TO the
committee of thirteen and refer them also to
said committee
Mr.. Atchison Of Missouri rose to move to lay
the motion upon the table and the question being
taken, the vote stood
YRAs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor-
land, Butler, Clay, Davis of Mississippi, Dickin-
son, Dodge Of Iowa, Downs Foote, Hunter,
Jones, King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pearce,
Rusk, Sebastian, Soult, Sturgeon, Turney, Yu-
lee-2f.
NAYs-Messrs Baldwin, Bradbury, Bright,
Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts,,
Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Douglas, Greene,
Hale, Hamln, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Seward,
Shields Smith, Spruance, Underwood, Walker,
Whitcomb--23.
So the motion to lay upon the table was agreed
to.
Andthen, on motion, the Senate adjourned till
Monday.
Mr.. CLAY, with all his apparent liberality,
voted, 1t will be remarked, against sending the
petitions Of the People to the Committee to which
he lad his own resolutions referred, although
the petitions related to the subjects treated Of In
the resolutions. His respect for himself is far
greater than his respect for the People. Jones
and Dodge Of Iowa, and Sturgeon of Pennsylva-
MIA, concurred with him in opinion and policy.
MONDAY, Arm. %, 1850.
Several anti slavery petitions were presented.
Mr.. Benton called up his resolution instructing
the committee Of thirteen to make separate re-
port on each subject referred TO them.
The resolution being taken up, Mr.. Benton at
great length, contended that II WAS unparliament-
airy 10 combine In the same bill Homogeneous
measures He gave notice that a fortnight hence,
when the war had begun In earnest, he should
resort to every parli mentsry mode Of resisting
the combination Of any other measure with Cali
foruia.
Mr. Clay spoke briefly In reply to Mr.. Benton.
On motion, the subject was laid on the table