The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-28
JUDGES ron OREGON AND mINNEsorA.

Mr.. BUTLER, from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, reported back the bill to amend the acts
providing territorial governments for Minnesota
and Oregon, with a recommendation that il do moi
pass. This bill provided for the election of the
judges of these territories by the people.l
OWEN CONNOLLY.
MIR. SHIELDS, from the Committee on the Dis
trict OF Columbia reported resolution directing
that Owen Connolly be paid out of the contingent
iund a sum equa. To his pay as Waterman to this
day, from the time OF the accident whereby he was
disabled for life, while in the discharge of his public
duties.
MIR. DODGE, of Wisconsin, reported bill es-
tablishing certain ports of entry and depose in the
! State of Wisconsin.
| MIR. BRIG HIT introduced bill directing the sale
OF marsh lands in Adams and Jay counties, in the
State OF Indiana; and bill to reduce the price Of
the public lands in the great Miami reservation in
! the State of Indiana.
| MIR. DOUGLAS gave notice Of bill to reduce
and define the limits OF the military reservation Mt
the mouth of the ST. Peters in the territory of Min
nesota.
Mr.. KING offered the following resolution,
which, after some explanations between Mr. KING
| and Mr.. Downs, adopted:
Resoiued That the Committee ON Commerce be
instructed TO inquire into the expedency of making
an appropriation for the removal Of the obstruc-
| tons to the navigation of Pass Mauchac, which
were placed there by order of General jackson in
| 1914,
Mr.. BRIGHT submitted the following resolu-
I ton, which lies over one day:
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Interior be
! directed to report to the Senate the number and
names Of the respective clerks, messengers, and all
other officers, and the compensation of each, who
have been employed in his office, (stating also
during what period each has been employed,)
since the 4th Of March, 1919. Also, the laws by
authority of which they respectively have been 50
employed; also, the names and compensation of
each clerk other officer who has been transferred
To his office from another department or Office of
the Government; when SO transferred, and by what
authority. Also, whether any clerks or other Of
hcers are or have been employed in his Office who
are now receiving or have received compensation
(whist employed in his office) clerks officers
OF any OF the bureaus subordinate to said Secre-
tary, and by what authority of Congress or other
wise such clerks officers have been SO en-
ployed in his office. A
Mr.. BELL submitted the following resolution,
which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions in
qure into the justice and propriety of allowing Caty
Blevns, wife of Henry Bievns, deceased, who was
soldier of the revolution, u pension.
Mr.. BRADBURY submitted the following, which
adopted
Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be in
structed to inquire into the expedency of reporting
bill granting TO the widow or heirs OF David Linn
soldier in the war of 1912, five years. half pay in
lieu of the pension to which he would have BEEN en-
titled.
Mr.. COOPER submitted the following, which was
adopted:
Resolped That the Secretary of the Navy be d.
Fected to communicate to the Senate the number of
ieaths occurring annually in the United States
bquadron on the coast of Africa the number of men
composing the same, together with the annual cost
pf maintaining 1t. Also an estimate of the deaths
n this squadron compared with the deaths in other
liquadrons on foreign stations.
messageo OF an Executive character was received
rom the President.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of
| IT. CLAy's
COMPROMISE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. BENTON said that before the Senator from
'ayaz nrOc dei with hal ae, a.
rad the Spanish laws upon the subject of slavery.
he resolutions contained point which had been
cntroverted by several Senators; il was that sa-
vry was abolished in Mexico. He was one of those
wio believed that slavery abolished in Mexico
he Mexican laws had been collected for him, and.
desired to read all of them bearing the point.
i MIR. Il. then read the acts of the extraordinary
government in existence in Mexico in 1929, includ-
g the DEGREES OF Guerrero, the of Congress of
tn year 1881, and of 1897, (which recognised and
affirmed the decree of Guerrero abolishng slavery
in Mexico. He also read from authentic copy
OF he Mexican Constitution published in lS43, that
p is slave in the territories of the Republic
Tbs clause does not abolish slavery, but recognises
as settled fact that in the territories at that
TIM was slave. He also read, confirmatory of
| thii view, from Spanish and Mexican edition of
a Law dictionary.
II also read authorities to show that even if the
law of Mexico recognising slavery were in full
fore and operation Ia California and New Mexico,
no han residing III the United States would carry
his saves there. One of the authorities stated that
IN Mexico the condition of the slave very diff
ieren from any other country. A slave, under
the iws there, could compel his master TO liberate
MN IN the payment OF sum equal to three or four
hunGed dollars. The policy Of the Spanish laws
was favor of emancipation, the policy OF the laws
OF tn United States the He also read that,
undo the laws OF Spain slave was entitled TO his
freedom in the four following First, If he in
iormupon counerfcitcr second, If he inform upon
| a military chieftain who shall abandon his post;
third II he shall convict the murderer of his
/ nd h.. Kill
the ling or queen. In all these cases, the master
loscs all claim or right to the slave. He read these
extracts with the sole purpose show, first, that
slavery was abolished in Mexico; but, If not abol- |
ishee, slavery was recognised there BY such laws |
that no man could carry his slaves tn rs and that
IN either case therr nothing TO be gained or lost
by pressing the Wilmot proviso.
He read, also, the Spanish legal definition of the
| term slavery. Slavery IL the state Of man, held
as the property OF another, against natural right"
He said that he read this definition for the purpose
OF showing that, as far as the Spanish law was
cerncd, there nothing TO DC gained or lost by
pressing the existence Of law abolishing or re-or-
| ganzing slavery in the Territories.
Mr. RUSk said, that from the earliest time since
ne had been IN the Senate, he had been struck with
the apathy and indifference with which the qucs-
tons shortly 10 be decided were considered They
required prompt action, they would coon lead the
country to ruin He glad to hear the Senator
from kentucky speak upon the importance Of the
matter, and lending his great influence TO procure
settlement OF the difficulties now agitating the
country. He thought IL was the duty OF every man
TO do all in his power to effect that settlement One
Of that Senator'S resolutions was Objectionable TO
him in its present shape; this the resolution
| relating TO the boundaries Of Texas and New Mex
/ leo.
MIR. X. proceeded then 10 the examination Of
the boundary Of Texas. lie claimed the western
boundary Of Texas to be the Rio Grande; reading
from the treaty between Texas and General Santa
Anna and his officers, after the battle Of San ia
cinto, and from several dispatches, messages or
ders, and laws, both by the Mexican and Texan
authorities. Also from a speech made in 1920, by
Mr. CLAY, in which that Senator was understood TO
say, that the boundary Of Texas was the Rio
Grande
He denied that Congress had any right or author
ity to dismembcr Texas, and take one half Of her
territory for any purpose or TO promote any end.
The question Of Texan boundary had no connection
in any way with the subject of slavery and he APP
pealed 70 the sense Of justice Of honorable TO
decide the subject independently Of any considera-
ton Of the question of slavery.
This branch Of the subject was continued by Mr.
r. until about three O'Clock, when, without con-
GLIDING, he gave way TO a motion TO adjourn, and
then