The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-25
THIRT Y-FIRsT CONG ESS
SECOND SESSION.
IN s f N AT II f.
MONDAY, February "a, L

/ 4
! A variety Of petitions were presented, ant
among them several for the repeal Of the fugi
| tive slave law.
! Mr.. HUNTER introduced bill providing
for new coinage Of copper and silver coins
| from quarter dollars down to ten cent pieces
federal currency.
appropriations for the annual support of the va
rious Indian tribes, DC, was taken up, consd
cred and passed.
On motion of Mr. GWIN, the Committee on
| Commerce We're instructed to inquire into the
lexpedency of making appropriations to i'm
prove the navigation of the several principal
rivers and harbois Of California.
! Ga motion Of Mr.. MASON, the Secretary OF
the Navy was requested to furnish the Senate
u copy Of the record Of the late court martial
upon Thomas Ap. Catesby Jones, commodore
United States navy; and also copy OF the
correspondence relating to that trial.
Other resolutions Of inquiry were adopted.
A bill for the relief OF VIM. b. Hart, Chero-
kee Indian agent, was then taken up and after
some debate, was adopted.
CHEAP HOSTAGES.
On motion of Mr.. RUSK, the bill for the re-
duclion OF postages was taken up, the question
being upon the substitute bill proposed by Mr.
RUsK, in lieu Of The bill from the House.
Ga motion Of Mr.. RUSK, several amend
ments to tie amendments were made
The general subject of cheap hostages, and
the expediency or incxpediency of the radical
reflections proposed at this time, were then de-
bated by -
MIR. HUNTER, in opposition to the system
proposed, as calculated to cast the department,
Us burthen upon the treasury, and by
Mr.. GWIN and Mr., RUSk in defence OF
cheap hostages, on the ground that the treasury
would be au ply able to meet any deficiency Of
the revenues of the department
The amendment OF Mr. r JSK was agreed to
as Il substitute for the bill of the House. by The
following vote:
YEAs-Messrs Atchison, Bell, Bcrrien, Bor-
land, Bradbury, Butler Clarke, Clay, Davis of
Massachusetts, Dawson, Downs, Ewing, FeIch,
Greene, Hunter, Jones, King, NJ son, Norris,
Pearce, Rhett, Rusk, Sebastian, Smith, Soule,
Sprulnce, Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood,
Wales, Whitcomb, and Yuee--3l
NAYs-N!essrs. Baldwin, Cass, Chase, Cooper,
Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge, of Wlscon, in
Dodge, of Iowa, Douglas, Gwin Hale Hamlin.
Miller, Rantoul, Seward Shields, Upham, and
Walker-ls.
The principal feature of Mr.. RusKs bill is
that instead of the uniform rate of three cents
for half ounce letters for any distance in the
Union, as provided for in the House bill, the
rate is changed to three cents prepaid, and FIVE
cents If not prepaid for any distance not ex-
ceeding thee thousand miles.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
The Senate then resumed the unfinished bust
ness from Saturday last, to wit the President
message in reference to the late negro mob al
Boston; and making certain suggestions for the
more efficient enforcement OF the Constitution
in the North, in regard to the delivering up OF
fugitive slaves to their masters. The question
was upon the motion of Mr.. Clay to refer the
message TO the Judiciary Committee with in
structIons IT, make as early report to the SEN
ate as practicable
The general debate from Saturday last was
resumed. Able and interesting speeches were
made by Messrs BERRIEN, RHeTT, Clay, JOHN
DAVIS, Downs, and JEFFERSON DAVIS when the
question on the reference was carricd--ayes "a,
noes 9.
And Mt a quarter past six o'clock, p. m, the
Senate adjourned