The republic., 1851-02-19
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1851.

SECOND SESSION.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARy is, 1851.
SENATE
Mr.. MORTON presented joint resolutions passed
by the Legislature of Florida, upon avariety oflocal
subjects, and one asking that Congress will make
q grant to Florida of all the public lands in that
State.
MopIFIcATIoS OF THE TARIFF.
Mr.. COOPER presented nine petitions from citi-
zens Of Pennsylvania praying modification of the
tariff Of 1886
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr.. COOPER presented petition from citizens
OF Pennsy ylvania praying the immediate repeal Of
the Fugitive Slave law. Laid on the table.
STEAMERS TO AFRICA.
MIR. COOPER presented the petition Of ninety
members Of the Pennsylvania Legislature in ia
vor of the establishment of q line of steamers to
Africa.
PRIVATE BILL.
MIR. NORRIS, from the Committee on Claims,
reported back the House bill for the relief of the
legal representatives of Robert s. Borroughs and
Stephen Hopkins and the same was considered
and passed.
EXPENSES OF ARMY AND NAVY.
MIR. WALKER submitted the following resolu-
ton, which lies over
Rssoiuea, That, in the opinion of the Senate, the
annual expenditures for the support Of the army
and navy have reached an enormous, extravagant
and unnecessary amount, and have become op-
pressive and burdensome to the treasury and the
people; and that il Is the duty of the President of
the United States to recommend such plan of re-
duein 81 Ss army snd
diture for the support Of both within the sum Of
twelve millions
MODE OF PAYING INDIAN ANNUITIEs.
Mr.. TURNEY submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed TO:
Resolped, That the Secretary of the Interior com.
municate to the Senate what has been and is the
practice of the Government in paying the Indian
annuities, whether to the Chiefs per capita; and
upon what authority is said practice founded; and
did not the decisions Of Mr. EwING late Secretary
of the Interior, made in the cases alluded to- divert
the Indian annuites from the per CAPITA had been
the practice.
REVISION DEBATES.
The following resolution submitted by Mr. DA.
Wis. of Mississippi, was takenup.
Res0lued, That the Secretary Of the Senate be in
structed to require the propretors of the daily pa
pers employed TO print the current debates Of the
Senate to publish the same as furnished by the
porters, without alteration being made by any
other person in their manuscript, and that so much
of the resolutions ofthe 1th ofAugust, ls4S and OF
the oath February 1876, as authorizes the pubica-
ton of speeches as revised or written out by Sena-
tors, shall be, and ia hereby, rescindcd.
Mr.. DAVIS said the object of the resolution was
to secure the publication in the daily papers re-
ports of the debates they actually took place; that
what was said and nothing else should be pub
lished in these papers. At present, after speech
ia made, Senator might strike out something
which he had said. and insert something very diff
ferent, and the consequence was that any reply to
the speech actually made appeared the next day
as reply to what had never been said Senators
would not be committed by these debates, for they
could revise their speeches for the Congregational
Globe.
Mr.. CASS was opposed to the resolution. All had
not that distinct, clear enunciation which the SEN
ator from Mississippi possessed. He, (Mr C.,) if
not allowed to revise his speeches, would either
have to be grossly msrepresented or be cut off from
speaking at all. No reporter could report him.
Other Senators were similarly situated The late
Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Sevier) could never
be correctly reported, while others could be report
ed exactly. 1t was owing to their ndistinct enun-
citation, other cause; certainly such the
fact.
Mr. HALE thought that, if this resolution would
have the effect OF cutting of some speeches, the
country would perhaps be benefited. He had la
bored under some difficulties. owing to the present
system. He had in his own way replied to some
things uttered by others, and, on reference next
day to the debate published in the paper, would find
what he had said pretty correctly stated, but the
matter to which he had replied was not there, but
something else substituted. The debates had been
reported most correctly, and in style far superior
to any thing Of the kind before.
Mr.. DAVIS. of Mississippi, replied to the Sena-
tor from Michigan and objections to the resolu-
ton.
MIR. CLAY said the resolution was one requiring
some inquiry, and he not prepared to vote upon
it now; he would be glad if it were laid over
Mr.. BADGER moved that the resolution be laid
on the table. Agreed to-ayes 26, noes l3.
REsisTANcE TO THE LAW BOSTON.
The Senate then took up the following resolution,
submitted yesterday by MIR. CLAY:
Resolred, That the Presidentof the United States
be requested to lay before the Senate if not incom
patible with the public interests, any information he
may possess in regard to alleged recent case of
aorcible resistance to the execution the laws
United States in the city of Boston, and 70 commu
nicate to the Senate, under the above condition,
what means he has adopted to meet the occur
renee; and whether, in his opinion, any additional
legislation s necessary to meet the exgency of the
case, and to more vigorously execute existing laws
Mr.. CLAY explained the object of the resolution
to be to obtain from the President any information
he may possees in regard to the recent oulrage to
obtain from him information to what measures
he has adopted to meet the occurrence, and also
whether in his opinion any additional Legislation
be necessary to more vigorous execution Of the
laws Of the land. Until that information re-
cevcd, he considered it premature TO enter into any
extended discussion of the subject. But he could
not f,rbear saying that he had been shocked and
astounded upon reading the accounts as given in the
newspapers OF such an occurrence taking place in
the third city ofthe Union. It not alone that the
laws had been resisted the officers beaten down and
driven out Of the courtroom, the person whom
they had in custody taken from them; but this was
done IN open ny IIlOD, anu IN the lace Oh
a population of one hundred and fifty thousand in
hahitants. By whom was this done: Not by peo-
Pile of own race or color. By negroes, BY AZ
ricans, and the descendants OF Africans. The ques
ton whether our laws and Government were
to be the laws and Government of white men or of
black men. At first he could not believe the
counts OF this affair, as given in the papers; but he
had heard il confirmed by high authority; by
person who had received letters from Boston. The
Senator from Mississippi (Mr. FooTE) had stated
yesterday that in an interview with the two high
est officers OF the Government assurances were
given that the law would be maintained; since
then he (Mr. CO. had had an interview with these
persons, and had received q similar assurance.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, said he had read
the accounts Of the occurrence in Boston; which
currencc the Senator had condemned. Before ar
raigning any one, before condcmning or commend
ing any one, concerning this proceeding, he desired
to have the information and facts before him, and
when he had these before him he would not hesitate
to express his condemnation or commentator, as
the facts Of the case would show who was entitled
to either II was well known that the law, whose
had beep tod