The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-25
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1911.
SENATE


THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
p.,;,;ons craving a repeal of the Fugitive Slave
law were presented by Messrs. CHASE, HAMLiN,
SEWARD, and DAYTON
SILVER COIN
Mr. HUNTER. from the Committee on Finance,
renorted a bill amendaory OF the existing laws In
relation TO half and quarter dollars, dimes, ana
INpIAs APPROPRIATIONS.
Mr. HUNTER from the same committee, re-
ported back House bill making appropriations for
the annual and contingent expenses OF the Indian
Department for the year ending June 80, 1852; and
the same was considered and passed.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. CHASE submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed to-
Resolued, That the Secretary OF the Treasury be
instructed to communcate to the Senate a copy OF
any proxy or proxies, given to any person o,
persons, TO represent the stock oil the Ohiteu
States in the Louisville and Portland canal, and
of any instruc tons given in reference to SAID STOCK
and also that he obtain and communicate 70 'he
Senate list of the stockholders In SAID canal ana
the amount of stock held by them respectively.
Mr. GwIN offered resolution, which was
agreed to, directing an inquiry by the COMMITTEE
Commerce into the propriety OF providing LOT
the improvement OF various rivers and haroors IN
California
Mr. MASON offered a resolution, requesting the
Secretary of the Navy to communicate to the Sem
ate copies of the proceedings OF the court martial
convened for the trial of Commodore Jones, and
all correspondence relating thereto; which was
agreed to.
PRIVATE BILL.
Mr.. BELL moved that the Senate take up the
bill for the relief of VIM D. Hart, and the motion was
agreed to. The bill then considered, and after
debate it was ordered to third reading
CHEAP POSTAGE
The Senate then resumed tho consideration OF
the bill to reduce and modify the rates OF post
age, sc.
The question pending was on an amendment BY
Mr.. DIcKIssos, providing for the coinage of cop
per coin, composed of better metal than the pre-
sent coin; and after some debate the amendment
was Withdrawn.
Mr.. RUSK moved some amendments increasing
the distances within which papers may be carried
at the tariff of prices fixed in the bill.
MIR. RUSK moved to strike out the third section
of the bill providing for the coinage OF three cent
piece; and the motion was agreed to.
The question then taken, and MIR. RusK's
substitute adopted in lieu of the House bill.
Mr.. GWIN moved to amend the bill by striking
the provision that the postage letters shall be
double the rates fixed in the bill when the distance
shall exceed three thousand miles.
And after debate the amendment was rejected.
The bill as amended was then reported to the
Senate.
Mr.. DICKINSON moved to amend it by provid-
ing that weekly papers shall circulate through the
may be published.
And the amendment was agreed to-ayes 90,
noes l9.
Mr.. SEWARD moved to amend the bill by add
ing thereto section corresponding with section
seven of the House bill, providing for post routes
within the cities for the conveyance Of letters drop
ped in places of deposit, to be established by the
Postmaster General. Adopted.
Mr.. UPHAM moved amendment providing
that weekly papersshall circulate free Of postage
within thirty mileSfrom the place Of publication
Lost.
MIR. CHASE moved to strike out three ounces. as
the maximum weight OF newspapers, and insert
two ounces. Lost.
MIR. SMITH then advocated the bill of the Sena-
tor from Texas, and opposed The House bill
Mr.. GWIN supported the House bill. If the
Senate bill passed there would be cheap postage
this aession, for the House would never adopt it.
Mr.. HUNTER replied, contending that any re-
duction Of postage was hazardous but, of the two.
the House bill was the most dangerous.
The question then taken on concurring with
the amendment made in Committee OF the Whole,
that ia on substituting for the House bill the bill in
troduced by Mr.. RUsK; and it was decided in the
affrmative-yeas 81 nays lS-as follows
YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Berrien, Borland, Brad
bury, Butler, Clarke, Clay, Davis Of Massachu-
sets, Dawson. Downs, Ewing. Fetch, Greene,
Rusk, Sebastian. Smith, Soue, Spruance, Stur-
geon; Turney. Underwood, Wales, whitcomb,
NAYS-Messrs Baldwin, Cas-, Chase, Cooper.
Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin. Dodge of
Iowa, Douglas. Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, RAN
tout, Seward, Shields, Upham. and Walker-ls
The Senate amendments were then ordered to be
engrossed for third reading of the bill
Mr.. BORLAND expressed desire to speak on
the bill, and it was postponed.
RESISTANCE TO THE LAW IN BOSTON.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
ton to refer to the Committee the Judiciary the
message from the President Of the United States in
relation TO the late resistance to the law in Boston.
Mr. BERRIEN addressed the Senate upon the
outrageous proceeding in Boston, and condemned
tas no trivial matter, sudden ARRAY, but the
result of a combination by blacks and whites to re-
sist the law. He alluded to the convention held in
Georgia. and to the address and resolutions adopted
by that body, and he took the same views expressed
therein upon the slavery agitation. He referred to
the abolition societies in the free States; these socc
ties were formed for the purpose cooperating on an
institution which had existence within the free
States. Slavery therefore legitimate sub
ject for action by States, or by bodies of men in
States where it did not exist It was, then, an un
warrantabe interference the part Of those socie
ties to NEEDLE with institutions in other States,
interference strictly and positively forbidden by the
laws of nations, and if committed by foreign
State would be cause of complaint and if persisted
in would be sufficient ground for hostilties
Every government had laws prohibiting its citi-
zens from interfering with disturbing the politi-
cal relations and institutions Of other governments.
Our Government, by its proclamation at the time
Of the revolution in Canada and the struggle in
Texas, had carried out that principle, by the Pres-
dent issuing his proclamation forbidding any such
interference. And there were now persons on trial
for an alleged violation Of that law. II it were,
then, cause sufficient to produce hostiies between
foreign States, how much stronger was the reason
why it should not be permitted between States
which were united in the bonds of a common union
He read from message by the Governor of New
York to the Legislature of that State in 1886,
in which it was recommended that the State should
legisate on this subject. He earnestly suggested
that il the duty of the northern States to egis
late and prevent these unwarrantabe interferences
with southern institutions. He rejoced that the
Fugitive Slave law had been executed, except in
Boston. On the execution of this law, and on the
cessation through State legislation OF hostile inter
ferences with southern institutions, he considered
rested the peace and harmony Of the Union.
Mr.. DICKINSON believed it was the duty Of the
northern States TO legslac in aid Of the execution
Of this law. He believed, further, that it was their
tn I'll thn
tempt to resist its execution.
MIR. RHETT one of those who could not
agree with gentlemen who said this law could be
executed. or that it could be carried out in man
eficacious as to be a guaranty to the South
From the remarks of the Senator from Georgia, he
did not think that that Senator believed the law
could ever be executed.
MIR. BERRIEN begged the Senator to draw no
pcb ,ofcv fror Nm h.a