The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-19
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, April Is, 1850
SENATE,
FIRST SESSION

SENATE.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs. HA LIZ
STURGEON, SHIELDS, BRIGHT, Norris, and KING.
message was received from the House Of Rep
resentatiyes announcing that that House had beer
organized by the election of Clerk, in the place
L. J. Campbell, deceased.
THE COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION.
In the journal Of this morning, the following Sen
ators were designated appointed by the Vice
President to compose the committee under the fol
lowing resolution adopted yesterday: q
"Res0lued, That a committee of seven be appointed
to investigate the disorder of to-day in the Senate
and that they report the result TO this body
The committee are: Messrs DODGE of Wisconsin
WEBSTER, KING, PHELps, RusK, BELL, and SHIELDS
MIR. DODGE, OF Wisconsin, said that from pri
vate and personal reasons, from delicacy Of rea-
tion towards of the Senator'S he asked to be ex
cused from serving on the committee.
Mr.. FOOTE stated that the relations said by the
Senator from Wisconsin to exist between him and
one Of the other Senators was meant for another
than himself, (Mr. F) He would say to the Sen.
ator from Wisconsin, that he (Mr. F } would ra-
ther have that Senator on the committee than any
other man in the United States.
The question being taken, Mr.. DODGE ex-
cused. :.
Mr.. SHIELDS and Mr.. RUSK respectively asked
TO be excused from serving on the committee; and
the question being taken, the Senate refused to ex-
cuse either Of them.
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
Mr.. STURGEON, from the Committee on Agri-
culture reported bill to establish an Agricultural
Bureau in the Department of the Interior.
WATER RoTTED HEMP IN THE NAVY.
MIR. BENTON, pursuant to notice, introduced a
joint resolution concerning American water rotted
hemp; and it was referred to the Committee on
Naval Affairs.
PUBLIC LANDS IN OREGON.
Mr.. FELCH, pursuant TO notice, introduced a
bill to create the office of surveyor general of pub.
lie lands in Oregon to provide for the survey OF
hos lar and N, alraH fot
thereon
MAIL ROUTE III ARKANSAS.
MIR. BORLAND submitted a resolution, which
was adopted, directing inquiry into the proprie-
ty of establishing certain mail route in Arkansas.
INDEX TO LAWS OF UNITED STATES
Mr.. BENTON moved, and the Senate proceeded
to the consideration Of resolution directing that
the secretary Of the Senate contract with Messrs.
Little and Brown for the printing Of twelve hun
dred and fifty copies of the synoptcal index to the
laws Of the United States
Mr.. DOWNS objected to the resolution, and on
his notion il was referred to the Committee the
Judiciary.
Mr. BENTON moved that all the prior orders be
postponed, and that the Senate proceed to the con-
sideration of the bill providing for the admission OF
the State of California.
Mr.. FOOTE said that there were several Sena-
tors absent at this moment who would have been
present they not satisfied that the unfinished
business of yesterday would be resumed this morn
ing. He thought it was improper to take up this
bill at this time.
Mr.. YULEE made point Of order that the un-
finished business of yesterday was in order.
At the adjournment yesterday, Senator had the
floor.
Mr. HALE said that the Senator from Mississippi
had the floor yesterday in an appeal from the deci-
sion Of the Chair. The appeal was subsequently
withdrawn, and hence the Senator not entitled
to the floor.
The VICE PRESIDENT said that the Senator
from Kentucky could not withdrawn his appeal
yesterday, the Senator from Mississippi being
entitled to the floor.
Mr.. CLAY suggested that the unfinished bust
ness of yesterday had priority of any other mo-
The VICE PRESIDENT said that the unfinished
business had priority, but was not yet reached in
the order of proceedings A motion to POSTPONE il
was not in order. Nothing could be postponed till
il was first before the Senate
A debate on the point of order took place between
Messrs YULEE. CLAY. and KING.
The VICE PRESIDENT ruled the motion of Mr.
BENTON to be out of order.
Mr.. BENTON moved to take up the California
bill.
Mr.. FooTE said that he gave way yesterday to
a motion to adjourn, on the express promise and
pledge that he would be allowed to conclude his re-
marks to-day. He felt sure that the American
Senate would not violate that pledge
Mr.. CLAY moved that the motion of Mr.. BEN
TON be laid on the table; and the question, being
<,
alive as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor-
land, Bright, Butler, Cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis
Of Mississippi, Dickinson, Downs, Foote, Hunter,
King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pearce Rusk
Sebastian, Soule, Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood
Whitcomb, and Yulee-27.
NAYS.-Messrs. Baldwin, Benton, Chase, Clarke
Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dodge Of
Iowa, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Douglas, Fetch, Greene,
Hale, Hamlin, Jones, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Sc
ward, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Walker, and Web
ster-24.
COMPROMISE COMMITTEE
Mr.. CLAY moved, and the Senate resumed the
consideration of the unfnished business being the
motion by Mr. FooTE 10 refer the compromise re-
solutions of MIR. BELL and Mr. CLAY TO a select
committee of thirteen Senators.
The question pending a motion by Mr.
HAMLIS to except from the reference every thingre
lating to the admission Of California, to which Mr.
BENTON had moved as an amendment instructions
to said committee fourteen different points
(Given in a subsequent portion of the proceedngs)
On yesterday Mr.. CLAY appealed from a decision
OF the Chair that these amendments were In order
Mr.. F0OTE said, that desiring speedy action he
would abstain from taking up the time of the SEN
ate by any extended remarks.
Mr.. CLAY withdrew the appeal from the decision
OF the Chair taken by him yesterday.
MIR. MANGUM said that he hoped the friends OF
the committee would withdraw an points of order,
and objection to the course of opposition and would
confine their action TO voting "No" every propo-
sltion MADE 10 emDarrass the action OF the Senate
He hoped they would not allow themselves 10 be
provoked into discussion, but remain silent. Let
the other side enjoy the utmost latitude Of debate
and action.
Mr. CLAY said that he concurred with all that
had been said by his friend from North Carolina.
Mr. BENTON said that the present occupant OF
the chair (Mr ATcHsoS) not being the presiding
officer Of the Senate during the session of yestcr.
day he would state the exact position Of the ques-
ton.
The CHAIR said the amendment pronosed nv the
Senator from Missouri (Mr. BENToN) was now the
question before the Senate.
MIR. BENTON. That is the question, sir.
MIR. KING urged the friends of the committee 10
remain silent during this proceeding.
MIR. BENTON said that he was glad TO see the
Senate 90 harmonious. The disposition expressed
by Senators that they should remain silent remind
ed him of n remark made TO the Able Sieyes. The
Able was great constitutions maker during the
time OF the French revolution. And the wits or
witlngs-as the case might bc-of The day, said that
he kept whole pigeon holes OF constitutions on hand
TO suit every condition Of affairs. The Able showed
one OF these constitutions-provi for a dumb
legisature-to visiter, and when il was read he
exclaimed, "Ah, Monsieur Able, that dumb legis-
laturc will mmOrtalize Won III thia was 10 ne the