The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-04-27
WASHINGTON, April II.

SENATE Mr., Butler presented the creden-
Of FrunkIio D. Gilmore, appointed a SEN
ator from South Carolina, to fill the vacancy
Occasloned by The death OF Mr.. Calhoun. The
credentials were read and ordered on file. Mr..
Fillmore was not present.
After the transaction Of the morning bust
ness, the Senate proceeded to the considera-
lion Of Mr.. Foot's motion to refer Mr.. Bell's
resolution to a select committee of thirteen.
The pending question be ling upon Mr.. Ben
TOMS instructions to the committee, which de-
clare that Congress has no power over slavery
in the States or over the inlernalslave trade, and
that Congress ought to abolish slavery in the.
District Of Columbia, and in the forts, arse-
nails, and dockyards Of the United States.
Mr.. Clay moved a proviso to Mr.. Benton's
amendment, Wig: That the Senate does not
deem it necessary to express in advance any
opinion, or to give any instructions, either gen
eral or specific, for the guidance Of the COM
mittee,
Mr.. Benton said it would be remembered
that the first amendment pending was in fact
Clay's own proposition, he (BentoB) having
accepted it on Clay's suggestion.
Mr., Clay now desired to take back entirely
his own proposition. He (Benton) would with
draw the proposition, and throw himself back
upon his original proposition. 1t being thus
withdrawn, Mr.. Clay's amendment is also with
drawn, arh'
Benton then moved his original proposition
providing that the select committee shall not
take into consideration the question Of slavery
in the States, the internal slave trade, slavery
in the District Of Columbia, and in the Dock
yards, nayy'yards, arsenals Of the United
States. ...... ~ "..-
Mr.. Clay then moved to amend this amendc
ment BY substituting the proposition submitted
by him this morning.
Mr.. Benton addressed the Senate in depre-
cation Of the long delay to which the question
of the admission Of California has been SUBJ
jected and urging the necessity Of securing
some action upon the subject during the pres
ent session. He moved, as a test vote, thai
the pending business be laid on the table, with
a view to taking up the bill for the admission
of Califor MIA. Vo
Mr.. Clay, in reply, charged Mr. Benton with
being one of the causes of the delay to which
the California bill was being subjected
Let him cease the useless opposition to thu
pending question-let the select committee
be appointed and let the Senate then take uE
the California bill, without reference to III,
action of the committee, and act upon i
when that bill shall come up. He would no
abandon the course which he had already in
dictated, but would move to- connect thu
territorial bill with it.
Mr.. Benton said that the proposition Of the
Senator was neither more nor less than a pro
position in a court of justice that the jury b
sent out, and the gentlemen then remaining
be allowed to argue the case, As to the Charg
Of obstructing the public business. lie ha
only TO say that, conscious Of the integrit
and rectitude of his position, that he woul,
never be deferred from tho performance @
his duty by such charges. His position wa
sustained by sixty years uuvarying legislatio
He declared his belief that the committee wa
all cut and dried, and that the appointing thel
was altogether a farce.
Mr.. Douglass arose and said that he was in
clined to vote for Mr.. Clay's amendment :
He had only opposed the appointment Of Ii
select committee because of his unwillingnel
to make the admission Of California depenI
ent on any othcr measure. He would vote #
the amendment for the precise reason state
by Mr.. Clay II the committee was q faiC
he was not disposed 10 make it q tragedy |
%factious oppo si,ion.
Mr.. Webster thought the adoption Of Il
amendment would not preclude propositions
; instructions.
Mr.. Hale followed at some length in oppo
lion to the amendment and proposed refc
> ence. He said the North would be defeate
and by Northern men. He concluded as Il
lows: "Gentlemen Of the South-you ha
been put where you have laid US all cold
DOM point at us. (Laughter)
Mr.. Clay said the north was destined to
defeat at the hands Of the south. The OF
triumph to be achieved was a triumph Of pa,
olism over ultra aboIitionists, whose vocati
would be gone as soon as a settlement Of 4
question was obtained. Great appladse.O
Mr. Foote appealed to the friends Of tho
lect committee to refrain from all further
= bate, stsa er4gs1 etal.
u Mr. Clay slightly modified his amendme
and il wa'adopted-yeas Is, nays q.
Mr.. Hamblen moved an amendment bur
G. was ruled out OF order.
% Mr.. Beaton then moved that the amendm,
previously submitted by him, covering fourte