The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-06
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
FRIDAY. April 5, 1850.
S SENATE.

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate
a communication from the Department OF inc IN
terror in response 10 resolution oil the senate re-
lating 10 the public lands in Iowa.
sLAvrRy. SLAVE STATES, AND FUGITIVE SLAVES.
Mr.. SEWARD and Mr.. CHASE presented me-
MORALS from several parts OF the State OF New ork
praying that Congress may repeal all laws recog'
nising slavery in the District OF Columbia; that no
new slave State may be admitted into the Union that
the trial by jury be extended to fugitive slaves, and
that slavery may be prohibited in'the Territories
RALPH BuLKLEy's IsvENTIoN.
MIR. CLAY presented the petition of Ralph Bulk
ley, asking that Congress would direct that his
invention Tor the extingushment of fires be tested
Of the navy.
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
Mr.. CLAY presented the petition of Henry Grin
nell, of New York, and others, praying detach-
ment of sailors from the naval service 70 aid In an
expedition fitting out in New York for the dlscoy-
cry of Sir John Franklin
Private petitions presented by Messrs'
SHIELDS, HAMLIS, PEARcE, NoRRIs, and WHIT
COMB.
COMMITTEE on FOREIGN RELATIONS
Mr.. ATCHISON asked 10 be excused from serv-
ing on the Committee on Foreign Relations, on
which committee he had been appointed yesterday
20 fill a vacancy. He said that his reason Tor max
ing this request was, that he had as much business
as he could attend to, as member OF the Commit
Tee on Indian Affairs.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
Mr.. DICKINSON, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported back the bill from the House of
Representatives, commonly known as the ''Defl-
cheney BILL with amendments. And then, on his
motion, the bill made the special order OF the
day for Monday next.
THE CENSUS
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, moved, and this
bill was taken up, and made the special order OF
the day for Tuesday next.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
The oint resolution uron tbs subject WAS taken
up, and postponed till Wednesday next.
motion was made and adopted, that when the
Senate adjourn il would adjourn till Monday.
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF WASHINGTON
MIR. YULEE asked and obtained leave to intro
duce bill to incorporate the Mutual Insurance
Company Of Washington city, ID. c.; and the bill
was referred to the Committee on the District OF
Columbia
J. ROBERTSON.
Mr.. DICKINSON submitted the following reso-
luton
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to pay
TO j. Robertson, out of the contingent fund OF the
Senate, forty dollars, as remuneration for his
imprisonment, &c.
Mr.. MANGUM suggested that the sum be one
hundred dollars, and
Mr.. DICKINSON modified his resolution SO as
that 1t read follows:
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate be
directed to pay to j. Robertson, out of the contln-
gent fund of the Senate 100, in full compensation
for the matters set forth in his petition to the Sem
ate.
debate ensued, in which Messrs BurLEn,
DICKINSON, MAN6UM, CooPER, DoDeE OF Iowa,
FooTE, BRADBURY, CLAY, HALE, and WALKER
participated.
MIR. COOPER offered the following as a subst-
tute, and il was adopted:
Resolved That there be paid to James Robertson
by the Secretary of the Senate, out of the contn-
gent fund, the sum of S 100, in consideration oil his
imprisonment on a mistaken charge Of an Intention
to commit violence upon member Of the United
States Senate.
The question being taken on ordering the reso-
luton to third reading, it was decided In the
affirmative, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Badger Berrien Borland, Clay,
Cooper, Davis of Massachusetts, Dickinson, Dodge
oflowa, Dodge of Wisconsin, Downs, Foote, Greene,
King, Mangum, Miller, Pearce, Rusk, Seward,
Shields, Spruance, Wales, and Webster-22
NAYS-Messrs Atchison, Bright Butler Chase
Clemens, Corwin, Fech, Hale, Hamlin, Mason
Morton, Norris, Sebastian, Soule, Turney, Under
wood, Walker, and Whitcomb-lS
Mr.. DODGE, of Wisconsin, gave notice that he
would hereafter ask leave to introduce bill TO di-
vide the State Of Wisconsin into two judicial dis
tricts.
Mr.. BRIGH HIT gave notice ola bill to aid the State
OF Indiana IN the Improvement of the slack water
navigation OF the lroquois and Kankakee rivers.
THE COMPROMISE coMMrrrEE-cALFoRSIA
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of the motion made by Mr.. FoorE TO refer the res
oiutions OF Mr. BELL TO a select committee of thir
teen Senators; and the motion pending was one
made by MIR. BALDWIN, and modified by Mr. Ben.
ros to except from the reference the subject of III,
admission of California.
Mr. SHIELDS said that it had been his intention
TO have taken no part in this discussion; he was
satisfied that he could do no good and thought il
best TO abstain from doing evil. But the debate
was 30 general, that his silence mi ght be miscon
strued, and he conceived il 10 be his duty 10 the
Senate and his constituents, that he should briefly
explain his views.
He alluded to the recent bereavement sustained
By the Senate in the death Of one of the most illus.
lrlo sta 4 al
He bad been instructed by bis State 20 vote for
the application Of the Wimot provso TO all the ter
ritories acquired from Mexico. Those instructions
he was bound TO obey
He believed that Congress had the sole and ex
elusive power to legslae the subject Of slavery
In all the Territories, in the District of Columbia
and every where, except where it was expressly
limited by the Constitution. The power over the
subject, in Congress, extended TO every plaoe ex.
cept the States.
lie could not understand the argumen [ that Con.
gress had the power TO regulate the Territores-tc
regulate the so-to regulate the government-tor re.
guiate the inhabitants-but not 10 govern the Ter.
ritories themselves. He could not understand no,
adopt this argument, let il come from what sourc,
II may.
Acting under the instructions Of bis Legislature
and he fully recognised the doctrine ofnstructons-
he was compelled 20 vote against the present mo.
ton for a compromise committee.
But, while he could not vote for any of the com.
promises, he did not think he was called upon bv
his instructions, by the feelings Of the people o
his State, TO wage any war upon any of the patri.
otic eforis OF gentlemen in their several PROPOSE
ties. ~
He was opposed TO all sectional agitation. He
bad mingled with southern and northern men on
the common battle field, and saw them march 10
common victories. He had no sympathy with those
men who endcavorcd to excite one portion Of the
country against the other.
He regarded recent events az omnous of great
danger TO the country. The recent scenes Of ex.
element IN the Senate, the excitement Of the peo.
pie Of the South-the apathy at the North; all
seemed TO him az ominous Of great danger. The
north, In the utmost apathy and Indifference, are
gloriiying the Wilmot proviso; the South are in Ct
citement and taking measures for a southern con-
vention For what is the southern convention q
De heldf III II be not 20 take steps for extreme
measures, such convention should not be held
Tic considered the present question az one not er
closiyely confined 10 this Government II was a
mundane question. The liberty Of the world was
involved in the issue; for IL the principle Of self
government failed here then il Is determined for.
ever.
He alluded to the high character Of the Senate
ana It's capacity TO settle every question ofdfcultv
He alluded 70 the patriotic efforts of Mr. Cay
IN effe