The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-27
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
wrsEpspAv, FEnRuARY 20, 1851.
SENATE.
5 SECOND SESSION.


WrsEpsDAy, FEBRuARY 20, 1851.
SENATE.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
MIR. SEWARD presented petition from cru
gems Of New York praying repeal OF the ugitse
Slave law. Laid on the table.
sxARcH ron STA JOHN FRANKLIN.
Mr. SEWARD submitted the following resolu-
ton, which lies over:
Rs,olued, That the Committee on Naval A fairs be
instructed inquire into the expediency of authori
zng the Secretary Of the Navy to despatch, during
the ensuing summer, a steam propeller to aid and
assist the American vessels engaged in the
search for Sir John Franklin and his companions
in the northern seas.
AMERICANS PEos sERyITuDE.
The following resolution, heretofore submitted
by Mr.. SEWARD. was taken up and adopted
Rssolued, That the President Of the United States
be requested, if not incompatible with the public
interest, TO communicate to the Senate any inior
nation he may have received concerning the for
chile abduction Of any citizen Of the United States
or Of any person living under their protection
within the Territory of New Mexico, and OF his
conveyance to be reduced into peon servitude In
the republic of Mexico.
DREvET RANK ARMY.
The following resolution, submitted by MIR. MA
SON, taken up and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed
to communicate TO the Senate a copy Of general
order No 81, dated 9th December, 1850, by which
Brevet Colonel j. Plympton, lieutenant colonel Of
the It'll infantry, was assigned to duty accordingto
his brevet rank, whilst stationed at Jefferson bar
racks and under which he assigned to the
command at that post; and that he inform the SEN
ate whether, by virtue OF said order, officer then
in command of the post at Jefferson barracks, Of
superior rank in the line of the army to Brevet Col
onel Plymptou, superseded; and, if %, that he
further inform the Senate under what law said or
der was issued; or, if under rule or regulation OF
the army. that he communicate the same to the
Senate, together will all correspondence other
documents connected with the said order.
RAILROAD LOUISIANA.
The following resolution, submitted by Mr..
Downs, was ken up and adopted:
Resolved, That the Secretary Of War be directed
to transmit to the Senate copy of the report of
Mr.. Slidel, civil engineer on the railroad route
surveyed by him in 1850, from the Great Bend, on
Red river, to Providence, on tho Mississippi river,
in louisiana.
MEXICAN INDEMNITY.
MIR. HALE submitted resolution, which was
laid over, calling for any correspondence between
the State Department and the Mexican minister re-
lative to the payment Of the next insalment OF the
Mexican indemnity, which has taken place since
the message Of the President on the subject, COM
municated early in this month.
r. H. wEIGHrMAN.
MIR. BADGER, from the committee to audit and
control the contingent expenses of the Senate,
ported resolution directing the payment OF two
thousand dollars out of the contingent fund Of the
Senate to R. H. Weightman, as compensation
for his expenses incurred, or in lieu of mileage, in
coming to Washington, he having been elected
by New Mexico as Senator, in anticipation of the
admission of New Mexico as a State
The resolution was read, and ordered to q second
reading.
KossUrH AND COMPANIONS.
Mr.. FOOTE moved, and the Senate took up
the joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of
the Navy to send a vessel Of the United States to
bring Kessuth and his companions in exile to the
United States. II was read, and was ordered TO be
engrossed for third reading.
subsequently the joint resolution was read third
time and passed.
LAWS RELATING TO WIDOWS PENSIONS.
Mr.. HALE moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration Of the joint resolution from the
House explanatory Of the pension laws Of July 2,
1888, Of Sd March, lS43, and 18th June, 1874. The
joint resolution extends the pensions granted by
those acts TO the widows of all Revolutionary SOL
diers. whether they were widows at the time Of the
passage of those acts or not.
The joint resolution amended, and, after de-
bate, was passed.
CIVIL DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS
bllwas received from the House of Representatives
and was referred to the Committee on Finance.
RIDING HALL AT WEST POINT.
The bill making appropriations for the support
Of the Military Academy was returned from the
House. The amendment made in the Senate, APP
70 es By ns Of
Mr.. HUNTER moved that the Senate recede.
Mr.. DAVIS. of Mississippi. opposed the motion.
The Senate then, by ayes 10, noes 81, refused to
recede; and then, on motion. insisted on its amend
ment, and asked a committee OF conference.
REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of the bill from the House providing for a reduc-
ton Of postage The question being on the pas
Mr. BORLAND addressed the Senate at length
in opposition to the passage of the BILL and against
any reduction of postage.
The question then taken, and the bill
amended was passed-yeas SO, nays l5-as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchson. Badger. Baldwin,
Bradbury, Caas, Chase, Clay, Cooper, Dayi. of
consin, Dodge Of Iowa. Douglas. Downs, Ewing,
Felch. Foote, Greene, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Jones,
Miller, Norris, Pearce. Pratt. Rantoul, Rusk, Sc
wood, Upham, Wales, Walker, and Whitcomb-
NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Berrien, Borland, Butler,
Clemens, Davis of Mississippi, Dawson, Hunter,
King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Sebastian, Tur
ney, and Yuee--l5.
DUTIES COLLECTED IN CALIFORNIA.
The bill. yesterday ordered to be engrossed for
third reading, directing the payment into the Uni
ted States treasury Of the moneys collected in Cal
ifornia as duties upon imports prior to 18th Novem
Der, l849, was read third time and passed.
MILITARY ASYLUM.
The bill, yesterday ordered to be eDsrossed, to
found military asylum for the relief and support
of invalid and disabled soldiers, was taken up.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD opposed the bill; and Messrs.
DAVIS, of Mississippi, and SHIELDS, replied.
The bill was then passed-yeas 40, nays 5-as
follows
YEAs.-Messrs. Atchison, Badger Baldwin,
Bell, Berren, Borland, bradbury, Cass, Clarke,
Clay, Clemens, Cooper, Davis Of Mississippi Daw-
son, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin,
Dodge Of Iowa, Downs. Ewing, Foote, Greene,
Jones, King, Mangum, Mason, Miller, Morton,
Pearce, Pratt, Seward, Shields, Smith, Soule,
Spruance, Turney, Upham, Wales, Walker, and
Yulec-40.
NAYs.-Mesars. F elch ,Hamlin Norris, Rantoul,
and Underwood--5.
POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. HUNTER moved, and the Senate after de-
bate, took up the bill making appropriations for
the support Of the Post Office Department for the
year ending June 30, 1851.
Mr.. HUNTER moved, and the bill was amended
by adding thereto an appropriation of $4,000 for
the incidental and contingent expenses of the post
office and mail service in California. Agreed TO.
MIR. GWIN moved TO amend the bill by requir
ing that all dead letters returned to the Depart
ment shall be opened and shall be mailed again to