The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-23
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY.FlRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION
SENATE.
TUESDAY. May Ia. 1850.

4
Mr.. Hale presented petition from citizens Of
the District of Columbia for a reorganization oil
the Judiciary, and praying expressly that in any
reform that might be made, provision might be
| made for the venerable Chief Justice Cranch
Mr.. Hale accompanied the petition with appro-
| pirate remarks, and ii was referred to the Com
| mittee on the Judiciary.
The Senate, after dsposing of the morning
business, took up the census bill, returned from
| the House with amendments. Some amendments
were agreed to- some disagreed to. The amend
ment providing that the next census should be
taken under the provisions Of the present act I'M
less new law should be enacted, and restricting
the number of Representatives to two hundred
and thirty three, was agreed to, after motions to
substitute 1888 by 200, then by 300, then $50.
On Mr.. Chase's motion to substitute 300 for
1913, the vote stood
YEAs-Messrs. Baldwin, Chase, Clay, Dckin-
son, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Hale,
Seward and Smith,.
NAYs-Messrs. Atchison Badger, Bell, Berri-
en-, Borland Bradbury, Bright Clarke, Corwin,
Davis Of Massachusetts,, Davis of Mississippi,
Dawson, Dayton, Douglas, Downs, Elmore Foote,
Greene, Houston, Hunter, Jones, King, Mangum,
Miller, Morton, Norris, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian,
Shields, Soul6, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood,
Wales Walker, Whitcomb, and Yulee-3S.
Mr. Clay was the only Senator from slave
holding State who voted in favor of the larger
number
On the motion to strike out 1913 and insert 900,
the vote stood
YEAs-M essrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Berri-
en-, Borland, Bright Dawson, Elmore, Hunter,
Mangam, Morton, Sebastian, Shields, Underwood
Wales, Whtcomb, and Yulee--l7.
NaYs-Mesrs. Baldwin, Bradbury, Chase,
Clarke, Clay, Davis of Massachusetts,, Davis Of
Mississippi, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge Of Wis
consn, Douglas, Downs Foote, Hale, Houston,
Jones King, Miller Norris, Pratt Rusk, Seward,
Smith, Soulc, Spruance, Sturgeon, and Walk
er-27.
bright, Shields, and Whitcomb, being the only
members from the free States in favor Of the
smaller number.
After further time spent in the consideration Of
the bill, the Senate went into Executive session.
"WEDNESDAY, MAY Is, 1850
Numerous anti-slayery petitions were presented
by Messrs Seward, Cooper, Hale. and Felch,
which were laid upon the table.
A resolution submitted by Mr.. Borland was
adopted, calling upon the Secretary Of War for
information In regard TO the commerce Of the Mis-
sissippi and Ohio rivers and their tributaries.
The bill reported from the Committee of Thir-
teen, to admit California and establish Territorial
Governments for Utah and New Mexico, was
taken up.
MIR. Douglas, with a view TO test the sense OF
the Senate in regard 10 the separate consideration
Of the bill to admit California, moved TO lay the
bill reported from the Committee on the table
The vote stood
YEAs-Messrs Baldwin, Benton, Bradbary, |
Chase, Clarke, Cooper, Corwin, Davis OF Massa-
ohusests, Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Douglas, |
Felch, Greene, Hale, Miller, Norris Seward,
Shields, Smith, sprusnes, Wales, Walker, Web
stsr and Yulee-2i.
Nays-Me~~rs Aiehison, Bell Berrisn, Dor
land, Brietf, cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis at -
sissippi, Dawson, Dickipses, Dodge OF Iowa,
Downs, Eimove, Fgote, iIossioo, Hanier, Jones,
King MAngum, Morton, Prs's kssAi s.s's,
Turney, Underwood, and WA''oonb-
2s
SO the bill was not laid On the table
Benton and Yslee, sosins from totally .ssrsos
motives, were the only senasors frcs sssve ssssss
voting to lay on the table. IL will hs observed
that Cooper and Webster also voted In the Affirm
stive The members from the free SsAses Who |
voted against laying on the table we're
Bright Cas-, Dickinson, Dodge OF Iowa, Jones,
Sturgeon, and Whiicomb-7.
The old guard, with the addition Of the two
Iowa Senators
Absent from the free siaies--Iiamlin, Phelps,
Uphsm.