The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-01
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
FaIDAY, JANUARY 81, 1851
SENATE.


Senator \ asking the enactment of q law declaring
New Mexico one OF the United States, upon certain
conditions.
Mr.. PHELPS moved, and the communication
was referred 10 the Committee on Territories.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mr. YULEE said that important business
CURED that there should be executive session to-
day of few minutes. He moved that the Senate
now proceed TO the consideration Of executive bust
meas.
Mr.. FOOTE opposed the motion; and after some
conversation 1t was withdrawn.
TELEGRAPH TO PACIFIC.
Mr.. RUSK, from the Committee on the Post OF
nee and Post Roads, reported bill granting the
right of way for telegraph from the mississippi
river to the Pacific ocean.
vIRoIsIA MILITARY LAND wARRANTs.
Mr. MASON, pursuant TO notice, asked and OBJ
tanned leave TO introduce bill TO provide for the
further satisfaction Of Virginia military land war
rants He moved the bill be referred to select
committee.
mittee on Revolutionary Pensions; which motion
was agreed TO.
IOWA AND MISSOURI
MIR. DODGE, of Iowa, introduced bill to pay
to the States OF Iowa and Missouri the expenses of
running the boundary between them.
AIR. FELCH introduced bill to regulate the
surveying and sale Of islands belonging to the
United States.
Mr.. TURNEY introduced the following joint re-
thanks Major General Scott and the soldiers un-
der his command, and the joint resolution giving
thanks to General Taylor:
Be II resolved &C., That the said resolutions be
SO amended to request the President of the Uni
ted States to swords, with suitable devices, to
be presented to the several major generals and
brigadier generals Of the United States who served
in the various battles enumerated in said resolu
tions, in testimony of the high sense entertained
by Congress Of their galantry and good conductin
said engagements, in the same manner as was pro-
vded uy joint resolution approved March 2, lS47.
giving swords to the officers Of like grade who
served under General Taylor at the storming OF
Monterey
ResolUed, That the joint resolution approved May
9th, lS4S, entitled "Joint resolution of thanks to
Major General Taylor" be 30 amended as to re-
quest the President of the United States in SINH
lar way to cause swords, with suitable devices, to
be presented to each of the major generals and
brigadier generals OF the United States who served
in the battle of Buena Vista the 22d and 23d days
of February, 1877, under the command of Major
General Taylor, in testimony Of the high sense en-
tertaincd by Congress of their gallantry and good
conduct in that memorable engagement.
The joint resolution referred to the Commit
tee on Military Affairs.
THE AMIsTAD CASE.
The following resolution submitted yesterday by
Mr. MASON was taken up:
Rssolred, That the Committee Foreign Re-
lations be instructed to inquire into the pro-
pricty of providing by law, pursuant to the re-
commentator of President Polk in his message OF
December I, lS47, for payment of the claim there
mentioned as arising to certain Spanish claimants
in the "Amistad case.
MIR. CHASE detailed the circumstances Of the
Amistad case; and denied that the owners had any
claim whatever growing out OF the condemnation
of that vessel.
Mr.. HALE said that this claim on the part of the
owners of this vessel wholly unjust and
groundless. He was surprised that il could be
tertained for one moment. 1t was proposition to
take an immense sum from the treasury to pay
bf,h had in lfiny
unlawful trade. The proposition, however, did
not seem to alarm any one, although propositions
adverse to slavery coming from another section
were treated very differently. He did not think
that the idea of making this Government an in
for all those who engaged in the slave trade
could be entertained. This proposition revived the
discussion on slavery, Notwithstanding the power
full narcotic which was administered to il in the
great compromise of the last session. We were
told that we were now in peace-that agitators and
agitation had been put down. He was Of the opin-
carry them out, would demonstrate the contrary.
Although calm might appear on the surface, the
strong objection, the high moral feeling of large
portion of the people against the success of slavery
still existed at the bottom, and with all ts strength
That feeling would show itself if such propositions
this urged.
Mr.. CLAY said this resolution one of in
quiry only. 1t was addressed to committee to
inquire into the propriety of allowing compensa-
tion to these claims, they having been recommend
ed to the attention of Congress by President of
the United States. He was not at present favorable
10 the payment of these claims; on the contrary,
his opinion inclined the other way, though his
mind on that point was not fully made up. He
was not surprised at the opposition made to the
resolution. The Senator from New Hampshire,
and the party Of which he was leader, knew that
further agitation on the subject of domestic slavery
at an end They therefore seized upon every
proposition connected with the foreign slave trade
TO endeavor to renew agitation and get up con-
trovcrsy on the subject of domestic slavery. The
Senator spoke of his party being at the bottom.
He believed they and all others who desired agita-
ton the subject Of domestic slavery had, by the
acts OF last session, been doomed to remain there
forever. The Senator had voted with small mi
nority, few days since, in opposition 10 a resolu
ton of inquiry relating to the slave trade. The
Senator, and those who act with him, do not desire
agitation the subject of the foreign trade
less they can draw in with it the subject of do
mestic slavery.
Mr.. HALE said that he had not commenced any
agitation. He did not introduce the proposition
the other day. did he introduce this resolution
Both propositions came from another quarter. The
Senator had read to him lecture somewhat Of
personal character. He had been lectured upon
the course he ought TO pursue while he and his
friends were at the bottom He admitted that there
was no one who knew better the conduct becoming
those who at the bottom than the Senator from
Kentucky. There others, perhaps, who were
ut the bottom also; and he would not say who was
the greatest weight. He had prctensons TO
prophecy, but he would declare, his conviction,
that if any man would place himself as candidate
for popular favor, before the people of any State in
this Union, upon the ground that he the au-
thor the supporter of the Compromise of the last
session, such person would find himself in the posi-
ton of the man spoken of in the Greek fable, who,
in shipwreck, while all others seized upon some
thing upon which to float, unfortunately took hold
OF the anchor. similar fate, he believed, would
fall to the who trusted in being the author or
supporter of the Compromise of the last session.
The CHAIR said that he must arrest this debate.
The Compromise was not the subject before the
Senate.
Mr.. HALE said that he believed, by the military
law. when arrested he gave up his
sword. He yielded.
MIR. MASON followed in support of the resolu-
ton; and Mcssrs WALKER and CHASE in OPP
position.
Mr.. HALE moved that the resolution be laid on
the table.
The question being taken, the motion not
agreed to--yeas 6, nays 43-as follows:
YEAS.-hlessrs. Baldwin, Chase, Hale, Hamlin,
Upham, and Walkers.
NAYS Messrs. Badger, Bell, Benton, Berrien,
Borlsnd, Bradbury, Bright, Butler, Clay, Clemens,
Davis OF Massachusetts,. Davis Of Mssissippi, Daw-