The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-04
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE
TUESDAY,, September 3, 1857.

ton.
. Mr.. DICKINSON made few remarks in favor
of the immediate consideration OF that bill, and II
was considered, read third time, and passed
ACCOUNTS or COL. P. NJ. BUTLER.
Mr. ATCHISON, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported a Joint resolution alnendatory OF
the Joint rtsoluton authorizing settlement oil the
accounts of the late Col Pierce Nj Butler, ana The
same was considered and passed
WIDOW or col M'cREA.
Mr. RUTLER submitted a resolution, directing
an inquiry by the Committee on Military Affairs
into the expedicncy of reporting bill granting
five years pension to the widow Of Col Ieron
MtCrea. Laid over.
SURVEYOR GENERAL ~ oREOoS,
Dir DOUGLAS moved, and the Senate proceed
cd 10 the consideration Of the bill from the House
- create the office of Surveyor General OF the Pub
lie Lands IN Oregon, and 10 provide for the survey
and make donations for the settlers Of the said
public lands
The Committee on Public Lands in the Senate
reported, an amendment, TO strike out provi.
zion cEompIing the interest which the wife should
have in the grants of land from all liability for the
debts Of the husband. This amendment was re-
jtcted-yCas II, nays q.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, submitted amend
lucnt, which, after debate; modified to read as
follows: Add 10 The bill
And that such portions of the public lands may
be- des gnatcd under the authority OF the President
OF the United States, for forts, gazines, arsenals
cock yards and ether necdfuI public uses, shall be
rCsoryed and excepted from the operation of THE
act: Prorldfd That If il shalt be deemed ne
Cc-sary in the Judgment Of the President to include
in any such reservation the improvements OF any
settler made previous TO the passage OF this act, II
stall, in such case be the duty Of the Secretary OF
War 10 cause the value OF such improvement 10 be
a.certanei, and The amount SO ascerained shall be
paid to the party cRttled thereto out Of any money
IN the treasury not otherwise appropriated
Pending this amendment,
Mr. CLAY moved, and the hill was postponed
til. 10 morrow at II o'clock
Tl.E SLAVE TRADE ~ TIE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
lir CLAY moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration OF the bill TO suppress the slave
trade in the District of Columbia.
Alr. G. said that lie had no intention to enter into
any lengthy discussion of this bill; il had already
been fully debated and considered He would con-
fine his remarks 70 a mere explanation OF the bill
The object OF the bill 10 abolish the slave trade
i'm tue District Of Columbia. 1t to suppress
that traffic which called the slave trade in this
District; 1t prevent the introduction of slaves
into this District from other slave States, and plac
ag hem IN the dcPots here for purposes OF sale
Tho slaves which were brought here were but
rarely II ever, introduced into the District for the
pgrpps2 Of finding masters for them here's such
tliug wa hardly known; but they were brought
here, and deposited IN these depots, 10 be there
tanned tili such time they could be transported
r. southern markets, or the southern cities OF Mo
bile and New Orleans. The inhabitants OF this
District have no interest or concern III this trade;
il Is carried On by gorsUns from other places. The
trade except Ia the obloquy with which it is con-
s!dcred - those who are opposed TO It.
Ihis bin dill not prohibit the owner of a slave in
the District from selling him TO another inhabtaut of
the District; did It prevent inhahitant of
this District from going beyond the District aud
ringlng in a slave for his own The bill
only tie revival OF law Of Maryland. lie said
that ne understood, from one Of the corporate
authorities II this city that there at this time
hut one 81 these GcpUt- tor slaves These depots
nothing else than priyats jai!s which were open 70
10 pubic inspection, examination, OF any Of the
other discipline which Is observed in public prI
some. This bill broke up these private jails, and
put an ,ld 70 this foreign slave trade, and eN-
cluded from this D,strlct traffic in which the IN
Eahitants have 40 interest, except perhaps in the
OGium which it attaches 60 the city.
Hc moved some verbal amendments, which were
adopted, ana tie Bill was read as follows:
\ BILL 70 supprc-s the slave trade in tho District
OF Columbia.
be AZ enacted or Gt Senate and House Of Reprs
sSiiafiues Of The iTifsd Stdt6S Of -imGtca Con
gress c.sea,b,G, That from and after tho day
Il next, il shall not be lawful to bring into tn,
District Of Columbia any slayc whatever for the
IurPOsc Of being sold, or for he purpose Of being
Plzced ia depot, % De subsequently transferred t.
any other state or place 10 be sold az merchandise.
And IL any slave shall be brought into the said
District by 81 owner, or 10y the authority con
cent 81 lie owner, contrary 10 the prOyisons OF THE
act, such slave shall thcrcuPon become liberated
and free.
SIC. >. Ind BE- Il JuytLo enacted That it shall
and may D. lawful for each Of the Corporations OF
TIC ciu,s o. Washington and Georgetown, from
time 10 time, and a5 often may be necessary, 10
abtt,, break up and abolish any depot or place Of
confinement OF slaves brought into the said Dis
tr.rt a. mcrcha udisc contrary to the provisions OF
tins act, by such appropriate means a. may appear
e. either 81 The enid Corporations eXpcdient and
proper. And The samc power Is hereby vested Ia
The levy court Of Washington county, II any at
tempt shall be made within lie ictonal lnts,
O. establish depot or place of confinement for
slaves brought Into the said District "a mcrchan-
dice for snlc contrary 20 this act.
NJ FOOIE submitted a substitute for the
bn. .hc illtowlng, explaining that Il proposed to
place iu tic hant- OF the corporate authorities OF
Washington and Gcgr gctown, this whole subject,
~ ba By them disposed Of they should think ne
ce,zary ior their own welfare aud happiness
strike ont al! after uie cnacting clause and insert
tue following.
nat from and after the date Of the approval of
DIE act Zoe corporate authorities Of tie city Of
Wellington, ipr that part Of the county Of Wash.
Iu-tJu lying cast and south Of Rock Creek aud the
corporate authorities Of GcorE,t town. for that part
u. tur ru4uty ut Na.hiugtDu lying north and west
81 RICK Crc,k, shall have power, wihn thosc lin
d., respectively, 60 regulate by law the ingrcss In.
Co., and ,grcss from, tie District 81 Columbia, Of
people Oi color, whether free or slave and 10 reg,.
late thc residence ut Oh persons # color now rcid-
ing or hereafter 90 reside within the said limits re-
fpr,usciy, ord 90 prohibit the coming Of free ne
lf..- Co. reside within the sad lmits respectively
nd 90 enforce aII such regulations aud prot ihitio1-
Iy suitable pcualues, imprisonment at labor, and
cEpuison b'surd tuc Limit % said District
SIC. dHd b. AZ tIutlsr sracied That the sail
corporate auth0uti,s, within the respective limits
d,- grated iu the fret section Of THE act shnll have
power 90 make such regulations and 20 pass cue h
lave az may be- cHpedicnt and necessary 10 guard
against the kidnapping or abduction from the Dis.
tuet OF Columbia VI any slave or free negro, and
go punish by fine, not cccding
doii'rF, and by imprisonment IN the
frr.tcuuarv or roUm1n Jail, or By corporal ehas
la'mcnt, any individual ur individuals who may
Do" convicted ~ having forced or attempted to force
aealnst thc lave Di thOsc corporationa respectively
any Tree negro, or Of having Kidnapped or abduct
al, or 81 having attempted to kidnsp or abduct OF
90 cnucc or a,soy any slave from he District o.
Columbia.
Sc. g. Ind be- 4 Gf,ti,r er,4cfed. That in casc
where there is good ground 10 believe, aud Whcr,
one or more citizens shall state under oath tina
hc has reason 60 believe, that any colored person
h,s been brought into te District Of Columbia an,
held "a slave. who il entitled On freedom tina
any colored pcf-on bas been placed In custody o.
confinement through crrJr-or that any cOlore,
person j. about 90 be cent from the District Of Go
lum5ia II a slave, who is entitled to freedom then
and In either Of the said cascs, on the application
Of the party or friend Of the party interested,
other person, the privilege Of tho writ Of habea
corpus shall Dc extended ~ such PARTY with sviey
OF bringing the point az Issue and the facts Of th
before Iu.lvf Of IL (frruff n a.