The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THvasDAy, March IS, 1850.
sENAT E.

|
| Private petitions were presented by Messrs;
JONES, WHITcoMB, COOPER, DopeE OF Iowa, and
BoRLAND "a
wooDwoRTH's PATENT.
| Mr.. HAMIIN presented remonstrance against
any further extension OF Woodworth's patent.
SLAVERY.
Mr.. HAMLIN presented large number Of petit
ions praying the prohibition of slavery in the Ter
ritories lis abolition in the District OF Columbia,
and in favor of extending 10 persons arrested as fu
| gitive slaves the trial by jury.
MIR. GREEN and Mr.. COOPER presented similar
| petitions
cHAPLAINs IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, presented petitions that
the employment of chaplains in the public service
may be discontinued.
RESOLUTIONS.
| Mr.. JONES submitted the following resolution.
which was considered by unanimous consent and
agreed to;
Rssolped, That the Committee on the Post Office
| and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the
expediency of establishing mail route from Osca
loosa, Ola Union Mills and Montczuma, to Sugar
Grove from Butler, in Keokuk county, cia Com
petine and Locust Grove, to Fairfield, in Jefferson
county, all in Iowa. Also, from Adell, in Dallas
county, by Irish Grove, to Council Bluffs; and from
Eddyvillc, in Wapello county, to Charlton Point,
in Lucas county, in said State
Mr. HAMLIN presented the following resolution,
which was considered by unanimous consent and
IesoIpsd, That the Committee on Naval Affairs
be instructed to inquire into the expediency of
granting the same pay to the clerk OF the naval
Constructor at Kittery, Maine, as is paid ~ SINH
lar clerk in the navy yard at Charlestown, Massa-
| chusetts.
CALIFORNIA CLAIMS.
Mr. BENTON submitted the following resou-
ton, which was considered by unanimous consent,
and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be in
structed to inquire into the expediency of provid
ing in the deficiency Bill" now under their
consideration, for the payment of the California
Claims
NOTICES.
Mr. BENTON gave notice that, on to- morrow,
or some subsequent day, he would ask leave to in
troduce bill to authorize the construction of a
national highway from the Mississippi, at St.
Louis, to the Pacific, at San Francisco.
Mr.. RUSK gave notice that on to- morrow, he
would ask leave to introduce bill to reduce the
rates Of postage, and for other purposes.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD gave notice that, on to-
leave to introduce joint resolution to amend the
Constitution of the United States.
Mr.. CLARKE, pursuant to notice, introduced a
bill to refund to the State of Rhode Island advances
made to volunteers and enlisted soldiers.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
Mr. BORLAND from the Committee on Print
ing, reported joint resolution in relation to the
delays, &C., in the execution of the public printing
Mr.. b. submitted substitute for the joint reso-
luton reported by the committee; the substitute
lie printing, and that certain persons be chosen to
execute the public printing in conformity with the
terms of the Joint resolution of March g. 1919. Laid
on the table and ordered to be printed
j. ROBERTSON.
Mr. DODGE, from the committee to audit and
control the contingent expenses of the Senate,
ported adversely the resolution directing that
committee to inquire into the expediency of max
ing remuneration to J. Robertson, on account of
his arrest, &c. by the sergeant at arms of the Sen
in he earlv mar a he
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The resolution heretofore submitted by Mr.. WEB
sTER granting one quarter section of the public
lands to every head Of family, ON the condition
that it be actually occupied and cultivated by the
grantee, was taken up, and made the special order
Of the day for next Monday two weeks.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of
the following resolution submitted some time since
by Mr.. CLAY, which, after some remarks by Messrs
Dickinson, CLAY, HALE, and DAVIS of Mississippi,
adopted:
Resolved, That in future, when member of
Congress dies, and has been buried in the vacation,
the Senate will not feel itself called upon extend
to the memory of the deceased the honors and GER
emonies which have been of late years usually
awarded: but will restrict itself hereafter, in the APP
preparation of those honors and ceremonies to
Of the death OF members during the session of Con-
gress.
GEN. JOHN m'NEILL's WIDOW.
Mr.. HALE, from the Committee Pensions,
reported bill granting TO Mrs McNeill, the widow
of the late General John McNeil pension of fifty
dollars a month for five years. He asked that the
bill be now considered.
Mr.. RUsK, Mr.. UNDERWOOD, and Mr. BEN
TON opposed the practice of considering the bills
reported particular cases. in preference others
Bills should take their regular course, and be
sidered in the order which they would have if placed
on the calendar.
THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE, (cALrFoRNlA.)
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of the compromise resolutions submitted by Mr..
BELL.
The motion pending was to refer them to a Sc
lect committee of thirteen Senators; to which mo-
ton there is an amendment pending, proposed by
MIR. BENTON, TO exclude from the reference the
sixth resolution, relating 10 the admission of Cali
fornia.
Mr. BALDWIN said that he was disposed to die
the measures before the Senate calmly and dis
passionately, but with candor and hrmness. He
considered the circumstances under which the
Constitution was adopted the spirit OF concord, OF
harmony, which prevailed in the convention which
framed IT, and the States which adopted 1t. He was
disposed 10 consider and act upon all the differ
emf propositions before the Senate, with due re-
gard TO the Constitution, and in accordance with
the dictates Of his own judgment. Nothing could
induce him to vote against the course which his
judgment dictated 10 be the proper one. He would
obey or regard no instructions, even Of his own
Legislature, when those instructions required him
to vote in a manner different from what his judg.
mcnt dictated.
He would support the amendment TO the motion
OF reference proposed by the Senator from Mis-
souri,. He regarded that the admission Of Califor-
mia had no connexion with any other subject, nor
was in any way to be influenced by any action Of
Congress the subject OF the Territories; had it
any connexion WITH nor should il be affected by
the action OF Congress in relation to the subject Of
slavery.
He then entered into an examination Of the cir
cumstances attending the acquisition of the terri
tory from Mexico, the circumstances attending the
negotiation and ratification of the treaty. He also
examined the provisions of the treaty itself, and
drew from il an obligation the part Of Congress
70 admit California into the Union at proper time.
He advocated that the present most auspi-
cous time 10 admit California. Her people required
a government, and had adopted one suitable to
themselves, and almost unanimously adopted. He
urged the proprety and the justice Of her immedi-
ate admission into the Union. He would oppose
any effort TO change her boundaries or to annex
any condition 10 her admission.
He examined the subject of the annexation Of
Texas, and the various interpretations placed upon
the joint resolution Of March 3, l545 He denied,
first, that these resolutions contained any oblga
ton upon Congress TO admit slave States and
secondly, If they did, the Congress that passed
them had no constitutional power thus 10 bind fu-