The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-18
THIRT Y-FIRST CONG RE 8.
SECOND SESSION.
IN Sc N A T f,
MONDAY, Feb. II, 1851.

MONDAY, Feb. IL, 1891.
The Chair laid before the Senate certain official
correspondence in reference to the seizure Of the
British ship Albion in one Of the ports of Oregon,
which was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. FELCH presented the credentials of Hon.
Lewis Cass, re- elected to the Senate for six years
from the 4th OF March next, from the State of
Michigan.
Mr.. MILLER presented the memorial Of mem
bers CT the legislature of New Jersey, for the es
Establishment of line Of steamers to the coast of
Africa Referred to the Committee Naval AT
fairs.
FUGITIVE SLAVES.
Mr.. HAMI.IN, during the business Of the
morning hour, presented memorial from citizens
of Waldo county. in the State of Malne praying
for the repeal or modification of the Fugitive slave
law, which he moved be referred to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary
Mr.. BUTLER, as member Of the Judiciary
Committee, said 1t was matter of perfect indlter-
ence to him whether the petition were referred or
not. He should have nothing further to do with
this subject of Abolition petitions, one way or the
other.
The memorial was referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. HAMLlN presented three petitions, sign
ed by thousand persons, Of the State of Maine,
praying that some naval vessels, otherwise
unemployed may be detailed to the coast Of Cali
fornia, to bring home such citizens of the States
on the Atlantic side of the continent are desti-
iute and desire to return home. Referred to the
Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. ATCHINSON moved to reconsider the
vote by which the fugitive slave petition was re-
ferred. He desired it should be laid upon the ta-
BILE, according the practice with such petitions.
A very interesting and amusing debate followed
by Messrs. HAMLIN, BUTLER, SEWARD, BADGER,
FoorE, BERRuEN, CHASE, HALE. PEARcE, RHETT,
COOPER, Bradbury, and others, full report
H. ka~oa hor fbnr-
ough discussion Of the abstract question of
agitation in reference to its good and evil effect,
AMI some incidental illusions to the operation of
the Fugitive laws in different States, the question
was taken reconsiderng the reference of Mr..
HAMLIN's memorial, and resulted IL to SO, as fol-
lows:
YEAs-Messrs. Baldwin. Bradbury, Chase,
Clarke, Cooper, Davis of Massachusetts, Dodge of
Wisconsin, Ewing, Felch, Hale, Hamlin, Miller,
Norris, Seward, Smith, Upham, Walker-E.
NAYs--Messfs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Ber-
rien, Borland, Cass, Clay. Clemens, Davis of
Mississippi, Dawson, Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa,
Douglas, Downs, Foote, Gwn, Hunter, Jones,
King, Mason, Morton, Pearce, Phelps, Pratt,
Rhett Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Spruance, Stur-
geon, Turney, Underwood, Whitcomb-33.
On motion of Mr.. BADGER, the memorial
was laid the table
Mr.. WALKER presented memorial in favor
Of free farms to actual settlers the public lands,
from citizens of New Jersey. Laid on the table.
Ma. HALE presented memorial from citizens
Of New England, for the repeal of the Fugitive
slave law. Laid on the table.
THE BOSTON CASE.
Mr.. CLAY submitted a resolution asking the
President for information in respect to the recent
Outrage in Boston in relation TO the pacific liberia
ton of recsptured fugitive slave; and so for the
opinion of the President as to the expediency of
a to iSt lat
more vigorously for the recapture Of fugitive
slaves, which lies over one day.
AN ADVERSE CASE IN NEW MEXICO.
Mr.. SEWARD submitted resolution asking
information of the President in reference to an
alleged forcib!e abducticn of citizen of New Mex
leo and his transportation to the Republic OF Mex
leo as Peon Save Lies over one day.
LOUIS KossuTH.
Mr. FOOTE, (by unanimous conseui,) sub
mitted joint resolution, providing vessel OF the
navy to bring to the United States Louis Kos
suth and his associate Hungarian exes, which
was read and ordered to second reading.
ANOTHER RAILROAD BILL.
Mr., WHITCOMB introduced bill providing
grant Of the public lands to aid in the construc-
ton Of railroad in Indiana.
Referred to the Committee on Public Lands
CHEAP rosrAGEs.
Mr.. RUSK moved to take up the House bill,
reducing the rates postage; and The amendment
offered in the Senate.
| Mr.. BERRIEN appealed for the consideration
of the bill regulating fees in the United States
Courts.
| After some discussion between Mr.. JONES and
Mr.. BEnRrEN, the motion of Mr.. Rusw prevailed
25 to 90, and the cheap postage bill was taken up
| Mr. RUSK offered substitute for the House
bil which substitute fixes the rates Of postage Mt
3 cents half ounce letters prepaid, and Ave cents
if not prepaid, and corresponding rates for letters
of greater weight. The substitute, in many other
| respects, differs from the House bill, but the
details are numerous, and as they have yet to be
acted upon by the Senate, we omit for the present
a more particular statement.
Mr.. RusK, Mr.. JOHN DAVIS and Mr.. SEWARD,
Submitted amendments to the substitute bill,
hich were debated by the movers and other SEN
ators, but without any progress in the bill, it
was
| On motion Of Mr. GwN, postponed till to-mor-
row, and the Senate adjourned,