The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-02-26
Fhtrty-First Congress.
Second Session.
WASHINGTON; Feb. 9Th, 1881.
GNsN,hSN .1# L

Mr.. Fitch presented the credentials OF
MIR. C'ass, reelected for ak years from
March next.
Petitions wero presented for and against
the amendments Of the patent laws.
Mf. Miller presented a petition that naval
vcsselahe sent to California to bring home
semo Americans now there.
Mr.. Ilamlin presented a petition from
Maine, praying for a repeal or lnnditic alton
OF thu Fugitive Slave Law. lie mnved
that il, be referred to tho Judiciary Com.
mittec. No objection being made, it was
referred.
MIR. Bu;lor slid he did not care whether
the petition was referred or not, he would
have nothing to do with the subject. The
law might be repealed or not.
z Mr.. Atclinson moved that tho vote
referring The petition be reconsidercL.
There was no reason why the petition
presented by Tho Senator from Maine,
should be referred, and the same petitions,
presented by the Senator from New York,
should be laid on the table.
b.; Mr.. f1a,nlin said the Judiciary Committee
had the subject Of a modification of the
Fugitive Slave Law before it, a bill to that
effect introduced by Mr.. Bright having
already bccn referred to it.
MI. Berr:en pointed out tho difference
between this petition and Mr.. Bright's bill.
Tie latter was to declare tho law of93 not
repealed. The petition was to ropcal the
law. &
Mr.. Seward said the Senate records
showed that petitions 10 make the slavery
avs more stringent arc received. a bill
to make the Fugitive Laws morc rigorous
Is also referred. Petitions for a modification
OF ttc Law, and to make it less rigorous
are refused a reference; when Senators
from Pennsylvania present such petitions
they are received and referred, while
petitions of tho Senator from New York
are laid on the Table. He would vote
lgains: tho reconsideration because he vas
in, favor Of exact justice to all alike.
The motion was further discussed ut
grca. length by Messrs. Badger, Bradbury.
benton, Hale. Footc, and others, when Mr..
Bradbury moved to lay the motion to re-
consider on the Table. Rejected. Yeas
Tl6-Nays 33. The reference was then re.
considered and the petition laid on tho table.
~ Mr.. Clay offered the following resolution.
Resolved, That the President be rcqucst-
ed to lay before the Senate, it compatible
with public interest, any information he
may pnsscss in regard to the alleged rcccn,
case of torciblc resistance to the execution
of the laws of the United States in the city
o. Boston, and to communicate to tho Sennte
what measures he has adopted 10 meet the
occurrence, and whether, in his opinion,
my additional Legislation is necessary to
meet the enforcing Of tic case, and to more
vigorously execute the existing Laws.
Mr.. Seward offered the following res.
'olution Resolved, That the President he
requested, if compatible with the public in.
|terest to scommunicate any information he
may possess concerning the Torcible ai1duc-
ton OF any citizen Of the u. =, or of an;
persons living Under their prot ,ction within
tho Territory Of New Mexico, and Of mis-
conveyance to be reduced into Peun seryi.
tude in the Republic Of Mexico,
Both were laid over
Mr. Hale presented n petition from New
Jersey 9 rtlie repeat vi the Fugitive Slave
5Iaw. Tablet.
4H Mr.. Fnnte &StYfsSi ;ss. SSs',ar,
sasathurlzing Naval vesaeis 10 receive and
bring TO this country Kossush and cnnpan-
ions.
Mr.. Rusk moved to take up the Postage
bill, and after debate it was agreed to.
go AR. Rusk offered a substitute for the bill.
ts Mr.. Seward moved to amend SO az to
make Tho uniform rate OF two cents on
letters 10 be prepaid in every instance.
~ Mr.. Rusk advocated 3 cents prepaid s
cents other.
Mr.. John Davis advocated 3 cents.
Mr.. Drayton agreed with Mr.. Rusk.
Mr.. IIamlin was in favor Of Mr. Stewards
amendment. Add.