Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-13


resolutions of the honorable Senator from Tennessee IN con-
junction with those Of the honorable Senator from Kentucky
this committee Of thirteen leaving them in the exercise OF
Se discretion make such report as they may deem oes.
"a willing TO accept the modification; il appears to be APP
all sides and, If will move that me resou-
ons Senator from Tennessee, and those oil the Sena
.oi rom h1tucky, should be referred to committee OF
The VICE RESIDENT. 1t can only be done by unan-
imous consent of ne Senate
MI. FooIE i-lppose there can be no objection 'ha'
should modify my own action.
Mr.. MANGUM. win move, with the permission OF the
honorable Senator from Mississippi an amendment his
ton that the resolutions offered by the honorable Senator
from Kentucky Mr CLAr) likewise go to the committee
Mr.. FooTE. accept that amendment with great
pleasure.
Mr.. BELL. Every member proposing an amendment or
resolution, has il in his discron before is amended by vote
Of the Senate, and modify withdraw it. But after be-
ing amended once, be Withdrawn. II to me
there no difficulty in this matter If the Senator from Mis-
sispp thinks proper withdraw his motion, the amendment
OF the Senator from Connecticut falls Of course.
Mr.. FOOTE withdrew the instructions.
Mr.. FoOTE. beg leave to state that accept the
amendment OF the honorable Senator from Nerh carolina,
and move that the resolutions OF the Senator from Tennessee
and those of the Senator from Kentucky, be referred TO
committee of thiIteen
Mr.. BENTON. / move the same identical amendment
10 that, sir.
A SENATOR. What amendment
Mr.. BENTON The amendment offered by the Senator
from Connecticut.
A SENATOR. Let the amendment be read.
The amendment read by the Secretary, as follows
But nothing this resolution shall be construed
horze the said take into consideration
thing that relates to the admission of the State of California
into the Union.o .M
question.
The yeas and nays ordered, and there Yeas
26, nays %.
So the amendment not agreed to-
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question recurs the
motion to REFER
Mr. BENTON. I beg that the amendments that sentt
the table may now be offered. y
The amendments were again read, as given above
Mr. MANGUM. was about to remark, not having par
cpaed any portion Of this discussions that there not
individual with whom voted upon the last call for the yeas
and who does not perfectly in the proposition
enuncaed by the proposed amendment and call every
gentleman nasmuch this has produced practical result
toward the ultimate settlement of this question: which de-
sire settled satisfactorily to all parts of the country,
North and South, and East and Vest call upon each and
every those admitting perfect coincidence of opinion
to vote them down. they only calculated to embarass
do not wish to extend remarks but hope that we shall
vote them down.
Mr. CLAY. was about propose amendment to
the amendment which trust may meet with the
Of the Senate and unanimous vote, obtained
yesterday when similar proposition made move to
amend the amendment in the following manner:
provided that by nothing herein contained shall the
mittee be authorized to take into consideration the follow
ing points, #"-. n. .-.
I think it now reads
Provided that nothing the motion contained shall
taken into consideration affirm the existence of any
power in Congress on the four following points"
Then it will read that Congress has power touch
slavery exists in the States power the
slave trade between the States and the third and fourth
points which the Senator has named believe the Senate has
but one opinion. move this amendment to his amendments
and want Senators affirm that there exists in Congress
power abolish slavery any Of the States of the Union
to stop the slave trade between them and when
the latter clauses shall propose two other amendments.
Mr. CASS. Allow me to request the honorable Senator
from Kentucky to withdraw his notion. have obec
linn IN had "a MIS- Vha.a al
abstract speculaons and not be determined by any
committee
Mr. CLAY. am not going to give any opinion in any
FORM but it struck that gentlemen, who against the
instructions proposed by the Sepator from Missouri would
be placed in this embarrassing condition that they
have the committee take them into consideration would be
implication that Congress has the power to act them
but by the adoption OF amendment 1t will be conceded
that Congress has power abolish slavery the States
the slave trade between the States However, will with
draw the amendment.
Mr.. KING think the Senator from Missouri will see
that his amendment proposed is not applicable the
subject There instructions to the committee,
whatever The proposition is to refer the resolutions Of the
Senator from Tennessee, and those offered by the Senator
from kentucky, TO select committee OF thirteen to take into
consideration the subjects of which these resolutions treat
Now, there instructions that they should take into
consideration any thing else and, although entirely
in the view of the Senator from Missouri that Congress has
power whatever egslate the subject Of which these
amendments treat yet suppose there those who have
ertaned and eneran the opinion that they have power
one Of the Subjects and perhaps two could
myself vote against them, they relevant to the subject
but do not consider them relevant to the subject No
object be accomplished by pressing these amend
ments for, though think there is decided majority
gard to the two subjects, the others would lead DIVISION
and probably much debate If the Senator in
his amendments shall certainly call for the each
subject and give my vote in favor Of the whole of them AT
the times know that there will be division in relation to
the other two points, But why send committee deter
mine what all believe and know is literally in violation Of
the constitution Of the United States if they should attempt
to take jurisdiction of The prohibiting Of the slave
trade between the States is question which has been
decided by the highest tribunal in the land that Congress has
power. As regards the abolition of slavery within the
FORTS dokyards and arsena that also under the
rule and think therefore, that under all the circumstances
is scarcely germane to the subject and perhaps strictly speak
ing, is not in order.
Mr.. BENTON. ask the clerk to strike out the word
" instructions" and insert the word I" reference
The amendment, thus modified by Mr.. BENTON, was
then read.
Mr.. BENTON. wish to say to the honorable Senator
from Alabama that il with view Of embarrassing the
Senate any member that introduced this proposition. 1t
with precisely the opposite view, and in accordance with
opinion that the speeches OF individual Senators will go
further quiet the country than any thing the world which
committee do and it with view Of having the
question presented that the might be taken on each
these points, and for the express purpose of letting the people
OF The United States that they have been alarmed without
and against that there the least founda
ton in the world for supposng that the Senate is going
erere with the subject about which they alarmed, and
that there necessity for any scheme continuance be
Matched up to settle these questions II is in the bosom Of
every Senator TO speak out in way silence the