The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-28
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS-FIRST SESSION.
Hon. James Duane Do'y.
SENATE.

trict of Columbia, or for the removal of the seat
of Government. 1t was referred to the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia.
Subsequently, Mr.. Mason of Virginia rose and
Nsad, that the matter had escaped his notice. and
he-gould move reconsideration of the vote by
which the petition was referred The question
was put and the vote stood, yeas Is, nays l3-no
quorum voting.
Proceedings were suspended till quorum was
found. That fact being ascertained the question
was sgain stated on the motion to reconsider
| Mr. Mason remarked, that as the Senate was
thin, he would move now to lay the whole SUBJ
ject on the table, supposing it to have the effect
TO arrest the petition on its way to the Committee.
| The motion was agreed 10.
In the proceedings Of the House, this would be
final disposition of the subject. II we mistake
not, the motion to lay upon the table motion to
reconsider any resolution lift prevail confirms the
passage of the resolution irrevOcably
nr II - -. e 49, to hours - : :.
the speech on Mr.. Clay's compromise resolutions,
commenced yesterday and, on motion Of Mr..
! Chase, their further consideration was postponed
till Tuesday next
On motion Of Mr.. Dayton, the resolutions Of
MIR Bell were postponed till Friday next, and the
message of the President relating to California,
on motion of Mr. Hunter of Virginia, till Monday
| next.
| The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the census BILL the discussion turning chiefly on
the mode Of compensating the marshals. Before
coming to any conclusion, the Senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, MARCH 81, 1850.
Numerous petitions were presented for the alb
clifton of the office of chaplain, from Georgia,
Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, New
referred to the Committee ON the Judiciary.
Jersey Virginia, and New York They were all
Mr. Foote took occasion to send an unofficial
copy of the resolutions of the Legislature Of Mis-
sissippi, concerning slavery, to the Secretary's
desk, with request that they be read, asking no
action, however, until he should receive an attest
ed copy. At his request portion of the address
issued by the Mississippi State Convention on the
same subject was read. Mr.. Foote censured the
course of the National Inteligencer in relation to
| the Nashville Convention. He had no doubt that
nearly every Southern State would be there rep
resented.
The resolution submitted some time since by
MIR. Bradbury, calling upon the President for in
| formation concerning removals from office, and
the charges made against those officers in any of
the Departments who have been removed, was
taken up, and Mr.. Truman Smith Of Connecticut
proceeded to address the Senate for two hours
and half in defence of the Administration.
Before concluding, he gave way for motion to
postpone, but no quorum voting, the Senate ad-
journed.
FRIDAY, MARCH %, 1880.
Memorials and petitions were presented in
relation to slavery, cheap postage, the abolition
ofthe mail on the Sabbath, the abolition ofthe chap
laincy free grants of public land to actual settlers,
| &c The petitions for the abolition of the office
of chaplain were referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
A bill was reported from the Committee on
Pensions, granting a pension to the widow of
Brigadier General Worth, Of $50 month AT
ter due consideration, it was passed.
The resolution in relation to removals from
Office was taken up, and postponed till Saturday
at ~ o'clock.
Mr. Bells resolutions, which Mr. Foote had
moved to refer to select committee of 10, were
then taken up, and Mr. Dayton of New Jersey
addressed the Senate for two hours and half on
the general question Of Slavery. He insisted on
the admission of California as a State, declared
his willingness to carry out the constitutional
provision in relation to fugitive slaves, severely
criticised the bill on the subject before the Sen
ate, advocated jury trial, avowed himself in ia
vor of the Presidents policy of non-action in re-
gard to New Mexico but announced his purpose,
should the South attempt to force Territorial
bill, to vote for the insertion of the Wilmot Pro-
viso.
On motion of Mr. Baldwin, the subject was then
postponed till Wednesday next, Mr.. Foote init
mating his purpose, at the close Of that Senator's
remarks to urge immediate action on his motion
for select committee.
The Senate then adjourned.
SATURDAY, MARCH 80, 1850.
The resolution in relation to the removals from
Office was again taken up, and Mr. Smith occupied
the day on the subject At the close Of his speech
the resolution was postponed till Thursday follow
ing and the Senate adjourned.
MONDAY, MARCH 25 1850.
Mr. Seward presented large number Of petit
lions, some asking the right Of trial by jury for
persons charged as fugitves from service or labor
some for the abolition OF slavery and the slave trade
in the District of Columbis, some for the prohibit
tion of slavery in the Territories &c all of which
were received, and laid upon the table.
Mr. Miller of New Jersey presented resolutions
of the Legislature Of that State, deprecatng all
attempts to ALLEVIATE one portion Of the country
from another Ordered to lie on the table and be
printed.
Mr. Clemens presented six petitions from Ala
bama for the abolition Of the office Of chaplain. He
said he regarded them as great humbug; he pre-
ferred the right Of instruction to the right OF pc
tition.
Mr.. Webster asked leave to make few remarks
personal to himself
III seems that printed slip Of paper had been
laid upon the desks Of members containing an
extract from one Of his speeches in the Senate, in
1913, in which he said
any opposition to the increase of slavery in this
country or to the increase Of slave representation
In Congress, is general and universal IL has no
reference to the lines Of latitude, or points OF the
compass. shall oppose all such extension and all
such increase, in all things, under all circumstan-
oes, even against all inducements, against all com
binations, against all compromises"
Mr.. Webster said that anybody who quoted
that speech for the purpose Of showing that there
was any discrepancy between his sentiments then
and those he held now, was either unintelligent or
uncsndid.
There Is no inconsistency. THERE'S no inconsis-
teucy whatever between anything which ever said
in the Senate and the speech which ] addressed
TO the Senate fortnight ago No man can show
any such Inconsistency.
Mr.. Hale said that he read the quotation from
the Senator's speech In the course OF his remarks
the other day, with no feeling, however, OF any
disrespect for the Senator, and without offering
any opinion rs to whether there was any discrep-
ancy between his late speech and that quotation.
He would now, however, avpw, that the position
NJ the Senator from Massachusetts, did seem TO
him TO be very different from what II had been.
Mr.. Webster remarked
Sir, | have always said and done whatever !
could TO resist the acquisition OF slave territory
| voted against the war, because that war was
made in order To obtain, by conquest slave terri
tory. | voted against the treaty, because that
treaty was made for the purpose OF bringing
slave territory into the Union. How did the
member from New Hampshire vote on the ratin-
cation Of the treaty.
MIR Hale. voted for II.