Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20
son. Downs, Foote, Hunter King Mangum Mason No ton
Pearce Rusk Sebastian, Soue Sturgeon Turney Tn

son, Downs Foote Hunter, King, Mangum Mason No tom
Pearce Ruk Sebastian Souie Sturgeon, Turney and I'm
So the amendment was rejected.
Mr.. WALKER. move to amend the rer oIution by the
| insertion Of the words
Except such thereof relate recapture and
return OF fugitves from service or labor
MI. WALKER desire to say that there are certain mo-
ves which might well operate in Withholding that subject
from committee. II will be remembered that there has
been bill introduced here for the ecapture of slaves and
that has been deliberately considered by the committee and
reported to the Senate with recommendation that pass
and there important amendments pending to that
BILL that has been considered, and has made good
degree of progress, and question whether il the
best policy consider that subject by ITSELF Further it has
said by the honorable Senator from Kentucky that he
for one had such object to connect this bill with other
| subjects in the proposed reference.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. President there is BILL il is true be-
fore the Senate that bill will make progress if taken up be-
fore the committee report. do not think it necessary how
ever, TO give instructions to the committee this any
other subject For instance, that bill has been before us
there several amendments proposed possible that
the committee may take up this subject and consider
amendment and they report that or they may introduce
better Ii So they will instruct their chairman to
port their amendment to be offered to the bill whenever it is
taken up hope the Senator will the proprety of leav
ing the subject to the committee open and usammeled AS
any association Of it with the California Territorial BILL
venture to say it never entered the mind of any
The question being taken Mr.. WALKERS amendment,
it resulted as follows
| YEAS-Messrs Baldwin, Benton, Chase Clarke, Davis,
Of Massachusetts, Dayton Dodge: Of Wisconsin, Felsh,
NAYs-Ms.rs Aehi,on, Badger Bell Borland, Bright,
Of Iowa, Downs, Foote, Hunter, Jones, King Mangum,
Mason Morton Pearce Rusk Sebastian Spruance, Stur
geon Turney, Underwood-27.
So the amendment rejected.
The question then required the adoption Of the original
resolution of Mr. FooTE, amended, to embrace the
resolutions of Mr. BELL and Mr. CLAY, together with the
amendment of Mr. CLAY refusing to give instructions.
Mr.. HALE. Mr.. President, would respectfully suggest
the Senate that these various subjects be referred
to the committee all the petitions and circumstances received
by the Senate at this session, and lying the table
relative subjects in the resolutions proposed
REFERRED should also be referred to the committee. there
fore offer the following amendment and upon it ask for the
yeas and nays
That all petitions and received this session
the subjects mentioned the resolutions of the Senator
from Kentucky (Mr CLAIR and the Senator from Tennes
see Mr. BELL referred 10 select committee OF th.rteen
be taken from the table and referred to the committee
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. CLAY. hope the petitions will be referred. hope
the motion will prevail do not promise to read all the Pc
tons they referred suppose the committee will not
feel bound to read them ALL but perhaps two of class
Mr. KING. shall for the reference proposed by
the Senator from New Hampshire. have been opposed
reception OF these petitions being improper to be
tenanced by the Senate of the United States Sir have
frequently voted against their reception But this session
tried again; and to utter aonshment found that
rary opinion prevailed and that petitions asking for what if
granted would produce state of things in this country that
would shake the Government to its foundation, have been
received but received with the declaration that they should
lie the table, Now it is proposed to send them to
lect committee. for its taking into consideration
legitimate and proper subject that appans to the settle
ment OF the great and exciting questions before the country
but am not in favor OF taking up petitions praying for dis
solution of the Union and petitions very similar to the
rejected the other day. asking that the slaves be armed against
their owners. am not in favor of taking up petitions pray
that the slave trade between the States be prohibited
when the Supreme Court of the United States has declared
any interference whit be unconstitutional We ourselves
this day have rejected proposition made by the Senator
from Missouri that very subject
Now, sir what is the object of sending these petonr to
the committee What is to be effected by it Is to force
who believe that all such incenday publications cal
cuatcd to produce mischief in the country, to the
question, in order crafty those miserable anacsfor VIII
call them by that naewho send here time and again petit
tons of this character to keep up the excitement this
question Nor do wish to vote for the qualification of
those who hold similar sentiments this floor.
Mr.. President am sorry that my friend from Kentucky,
without reflection, conceive, minated wish that such
MORALS should be referred to any committee. Sir, South
crn man protest against it. Iproe against doing inus
their constitutional rights believing them have been invad
ed and believing tina. they will be invaded further and fur
her unless mode be devised by which aggression may
be resisted The very object have view in raising this
committee is 10 resist aggression. trust that my friend
from Kentucky will reconsider the view of the matter which
he has TAKEN trust that the Senate of the United States
will not put in position that consider to be most in
sung to Senator'S, and degrading TO feelings
| Southern men.
Mr.. HALE. wish to say that think the Senator from
Alabama is mistaken In the first place. the Senate voted
not to receive the petitions dissolve the Union that
that part Of his argument falls In the second place. the
solution the slaves taken up and disposed of
is lying The table, There is the other half of the
argument gone. And what is there left Now, let US sup
pose here sixty fhe wsest in the nation no,
will include myself will be humble but there
fifty mine such Senators. Any Of this sanhedrim
may get up and pour the light of his wise and approp
resolutions and the Senate after full consideration of the
matter have concluded they will refer these resolutions
committee Well sir, sovereigns the people, have sent
here Of their thoughts in the form of petitions, and
propose simply and solely take up the petitions which
late to the subjects that to be referred to the committee,
and nothing take them off the table and refer them
And this is insulting That is il is respectful refer
cogatons but insulting to send to the committee
the thoughts of the people, the authors of all political power
Now, if the Senator from Alabama will
ecse little of that sober reflection and calm consideration
which be commended to the Senator from Kentucky, he will
think that be spoke little unadysedly when he came out SO
eoqueny and vehementy upon the simple proposition
send these subjects, which perfectly germane the
committee What the subjects which il is proposed to
refer Why, sir the subject of the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia is and not brought here by
abotons fanatics, any body else of that Sort Sir,
introduced here by the honorable Senator from Kentucky
representative from slave State, and the honorable Sena
tor from Mississippi who has been jealous OF the constu-
tonal rights of the slavehong States. Yes sir the great
champion Of constitutional right this foor hns moved the
Senate refer the subject Of the abolition Of slavery in the
District of Columbia committee of thirteen The sixth
resolution Of the Senator from Kentucky b that it is exped
ent to prohibit the savetade in the District Of Columbia.
but that is xpeden abolish slavery within the District
Now, sir, by the introduction of the subject by Senate
from slave State and upon the motion Of another Senator