The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-22

The Senator from Mississippi stated, on that oc-
cason, as he has stated now, that at former
period OF that session he had been specially APP
piled TO by some senators from the Northern
States among whom he instanced the Senator
from Michigan, SIR. CAS-, who had suggested
TO him TO confer with those Senators who had
charge of the bill, upon the prophecy and expe-
dency of bringing il forward and urging its
passage that he made that application TO me,
amongst others; and that 1t was declined. do
not recollect such application, though have no
doubt of the fact, as the Senator from Mssis-
sippl has said so. But have Just as little doubt
that various conversations TO k place between
the Senator and myself and other senators and
myself, upon the expedeEcy and wisdom, as
things then stood, of bringing in this fugitive
slave bill in advance of the other measures with
which it had been connected, and urging it upon
the attention of the Senate. What my reply to
him was do not know. | have no doubt, how
ever, if the Senator'S memory is accurate, that
he has reported it correctly. | shall come pre-
senlly TO that
wish TO show now from the record, because
am DESTROYS that it may 90 before the country,
what steps were taxed in reference to that fngi
tive slave bill !; how they progressed, and where
they terminated. | have had reference to the
register and fad that on the Sd Of J nuary, 1850
ia very early day after the Senate met gave
notice OF my intention TO introduce that bill
IL was Introduced January 4th, and on the same
day, on my motion, was referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary. January 10th, the chair
man OF that committee reported il To the Senate
January 22d, offered an amendment to IT, which,
at my instance, was laid on the table and printed
| should say, however, that on the 18th of Jau-
uary, the day upon which the chairman of the
committee reported the bill it was, on his motion,
made the specinl order of The day for January
23d, one week off. On the 3d. as appears from
the register, other business nterposed, and, on
the motion Of the chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, the special order was deferred until
the next day. On tie oath the bill was debated
pretty much at length by the chairman Of the
committee who reported If. The Senate on that
day adjourned until Monday, the 28th, when ZEN
gagged in the debate ard spoke at length on the
bill. On the 29ch, Ohe next day,) the very dis
tinguished Senator from Kentucky, Mr. CLAY
whose absence from the deliberations of this
body, and its cause, we all deplore, introduced
his resolutions, for the purpose of covering all
the subjects then before the Senate, arising out
of the institution Of domestic slavery, and on
his motion they were made the special order of
the day for the 9Th Of February, six days off
On that dsy, the Senator from Kentucky adj
dressed the Senate upon the subject of his reso-
lutions, and continued that address during the
next day, occupying the 9Th and 9th. The de-
bate continued on these resolutions, and on the
18th of February the honorable Senator from
Mississippi, [Mr. FooTE gave notice that he
should, at an early day, move for special CON-
mittee to which the entire subject should be re-
ferred On the 25th, the debate still continuing
on those resolutions the Senator from Missis.
sppi moved this reference. ] he debate then
continued upon the resolutions of the Senator
from Kentucky, and upon resolutions of like
character offered in the mean time by Senator
from Tennessee, Mr. BELL, in connection with
the motion made by the Senator from Mississippi
to refer them.
Now, as to the fugitive slave bill, have said
that it was made the special order of the day
for January Gath; that it was debated by the
Senator from South Carolina on that dav; that
the Senate did not again sit until the 2Sth, when
the debate continued by myself On the
same day (the 28th) the Senator from New
York Mr.. SEWARD informed the Senate that
he had been requested by the Senator from
Ohio Mr.. CHASE TO ask that the further con-
sideration of the bill be postponed The reason
assigned was, that the Senator from Ohio de-
sired to be heard upon it, but that he was called
from the city by illness in his family. 1t ap-
pears, however, that Senator from New Jersey,
no longer member Of this body, Mr. DAYTON
obtained the floor, but did not continue the
debate. Thus it was, that the law for the recla
nation of fugitive slaves, which had been in
troduced at an early day of the session, and
promptly and actively carried on through its
various stages, lay in repose, after the 2Slh of
January for reasons which am about to assign
to the Senate.
The Senator from Mississippi says, according
to his recollection or his construction, that there
was a policy on the part of the gentlemen who
had charge of the BILL in thus keeping it back
think have shown, that up to January 2Slh,
whether there was policy or not the bill was
not kept back, but was urged and pressed upon
the consideration of the Senate have shown
that on the next day Qhe 29.h) the resolutions
of the Senator from Kentucky we're introduced,
and that the debate continued upon them, to-
gether with the motion to refer, up 10 the period
to which am about to advert On the 9Th of
March, the resolutions of the Senator from
Kentucky and of the Senator from Tennessee,
in connection with the motion to refer TO n spe.
cia committee being still under debate, Sen.
ator from Connecticut, no longer member of
this body, Mr.. BALDWIN moved that all matter
in the resolutions relating to the State of Cali.
fornia, be excluded from that reference. have
no doubt that many senators, who were present
then, will recollect that there was strong and
prevailing inclination on the part of gentlemen
! opposed to the reference, TO except certain ia
vorte measures of theirs from it, This Cali
| fornia bill was one of them. Upon the propo.
sition to exclude it, Senator from Massa.
chusetts, no longer member of this body,
but at tfe head of the Department of State,
expressed himself strongly in,favor of keeping
IL separate
! The Senator from Michigan Mr.. CAssl ex.
pressed himself favorable to the plan Of refer
ence, but said, My hopes are not strong as TO
any favorable results to grow out of this CON-
mttee The chances have been much diminished
by the vote taken on yesterday, if that vote con.
tanned any indication of the feeling in this cham
Der with regard TO the committee itself, and the
benefit to result from itn The vote to which
the Senator from Michigan had reference, WIS a
vote taken the day before on the proposition of
the Senator from Mississippi to take up the res
! oution, and his motion TO refer, which PROPOSE
ton to take up was carried by majority of two
votes only, the vote being "a yeas to % nays.
/ From, this dra,.- A.