The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-02
NEWS BY THE NAILS:


<d~ fwt6esttSS Lay ~ me Ce"dts-d cUd1 OfeeSS
on the Negro Qusstio~-Mr. Hale makes Pre-
phecy on the Preside~tial MorHi~s
B~siwsss-Bfr SoSie thro1s considerable LlsAf
on the Subject of California La~d Titles, but 10
gs-Obsti~acy of Old Bullion.
Brilliant winters morning. Sky clear as bell.
Bracing breeze from the northwest The meeting
Of the Senate is sgnalized by the largest gathering
of spe GATORS the most numerous, intel gent and
elegant audience Of the session-in the galleries
above, and in the Hobbies on the floor below. Con-
spcuous within the bar of the Senate is Mr. Dallas,
with his venerable head as white as snow, and tho
dignifed Mr.. Buchanan is shaking hands with him
as we write. The cause of this unusual gathering
Is the anticipated speech from Mr. Soule, of Louis
Jana, who, from his first speech In the Senate,
during the Mexican war, established his reputation
as one of the most learned, powerful eloquent, and
fascinating debaters in the United States; in tho
estimation Of many, ranking in felicitous language
with Henry Clay, in legal profundity with Daniel
Webster, and in solid compact argument with
Thomas H. Benton, and with q gracefulness Of
action, manner, and expression peculiarly Partisan
in Its elegance. A slight French accent upon the
hard eutterals and the kissing consonants of the
English language, If anything, go far from deiract-
ing, actually embelishes his distinct and emphatic
articulation of every syllable. Add to these ad
vantages, fine person, highly intelectu Al coun-
tenance, dark but brilliant complexion, eyes az
black as midnight, but luminous from the en,ha-
heavy suit of black and flowing hair--a ST. e Of
dress of elegant and tasteful simplicity, and we
have the elements OF an orator competent 70 COM
mand a commanding position even in the Senate
OF the United States. The expected speech from
Mr.. Soule, therefore, even on the dry subject OF
California land titles, is sufficient cause for The
auditory of the Senate TO day The resul. will
show that Mr.. Soule attempted no display tor the
galleries, but contented himself with brief, close,
argumenatvc appeal in favor OF the old settlers in
California, acquired from Mexico with the terri
tory, and cast by Mexico, IN the treaty Of Gauda-
lupe Hldalgo, upon the paterna protection Of the
United States. But inde pendently of this ebate,
the proceedings of the day were sufficiently inte-
resting for special notice.
Committee on Foreign Relations to inquire into the
expedency Of allowing some indemnity 10 the
Spanish claimants OF the blacks on board the chip
Amistad, said slaves having been declared free by
the United States Courts, being brsugh, from
Africa in violation Of existing treaties az ains tho
slave trade. The case is well understood. These
blacks were imported from Africa to Cuba, and
there they were shipped on board the Spanish ship
Amistadt for another port in the island. The
negroes rose and took possession OF the ship,
and compelled the crew to agree TO take them
back to Africa. Instead of that, they the ship
ashore in the State Of Connecticut, where the sub
Ject matter was tined, the negroes liberated, and
subsequently sent to Africa by the Colonization
Society. Application by the Spanish government,
in behalf Of the Spanish owners or alleged
owners Of said blacks, having been made 10
the United States government, Mr.. Polk sub
of indemnity, to Congress, in his annual message
of lSI7. bill was introduced into the Senate,
and spaased, allowing $50, 900 indemnity 10 the
claimants, but It failed in the House. The object
of Mr. Mason in his resolution, 10 to recall the al
tention Of the Committee on Foreign Relations TO
this subject, and particularly to the recommends
The resolution being up for consideration, Mr..
Chase gave in his exceptions. He reci,ed the
various treaties for the suppression Of the African
slave trade, the history Of the Amistad case, and
these Spanish claimants. Mr. Hale was a little
more indignant He declared this to be the
most abhorrent proposition ever presented 10
Congress. If these claimants lad been Ameri-
cans, the law would have hung them for
piracy, but being Spaniards, their loss Of the
blacks, stolen from the coast of Africa, We are
called upon to indemnify out of the public
treasury He warned gentlemea not to presume
too far upon the suppression Of the slavery agita
uon, and was exceedingly provoked At this outrage
upon the anti-slavery sentiment Of the North.
There migAt be grouad swell sooner than the
occasion TO crow exultingly in the triumph Of the
compromise measures. Upon the subjectof domes-
tic slavery, the sgitators effectively put down,
foreign slave trade for little capital. Mr.. Hale
replied and declaring that ne was not prophet,
could yet undertake prophecy, which was SUBJ
ss, stan ny ,ns:dns, any man who shoald IN
champion, or the advocate Of the compromise mea-
sures, would be swamped. And Mr. Hale longed
for that day Of retribution TO come round. We put
this prophecy on record, to see how Il will come
out. n we have a Union candidate, and only one,
upon the compromises, Mr. Hale himself will be
swampsd, but If we have two or more candidates
go to the House and there, though no man can
predict the result, we presume man will assume
the possibility of the election Of free soiler
;. Mr. Mason. Mr.. Chase, and Mr.. Hale, further
discussed the resolution, when a motion by the
latter was rejected. nine to forty-three and the
resolution, heing mere resolution of inquiry, was
adopted We presume that will be the end OF il
for this sion. MIR. Hale then submitted a reac-
luton, calling for all the official correspondent on
this Amistad case, which lies over one day.
Mr.. Hunter gave notice OF bill to amend the act
establishing the warehousins system. of which you
will have been ADVISED by telegraph Some little
chance yet, though very little, for the tariff this
session.
Mr.. Foote offered resolution, which was
adopted, calling upon the Secretary of Sate for
information as to the expediency Of adopting q
graduated scale Of salaries for the Diplomatic
agents OF the United States in foreign countries
NO doubt MT Webster has something to commu-
nicate on this subject; and IL is a matter Of abso-
lutte injustice that ministers to England and
France, should be reduced 10 the necessity Of
keeping W appearances by paying large portion
Of their expenses out Of their private funds II has
become matter OF policy to send such ministers
to London and Paris can afford, and are willing
TO meet the cost, OF these appointments The
Government should graduate its diplomatic salaries
according TO their unavoidable and reasonable ex-
penses respectively.
Mr.. Rusk introduced bill granting the right Of
way for Geographic line between the Mississippi
river and the Pacific Ocean, to Josiah Snow and
Company. As this project is rather large enc, we
suspect the right Of way will be the end of il.
Such were some OF the interesting proceedings
Of the morning hour.
The special order TO wit the bill for the set,le-
ment of California Land Claims and Lad Titles,
was al length taken up, and Mr. Soule proceeded 10
advocate an amendment providing that a twenty
years possessing right Of lands IN California shall
be deemed yrima fecn as evidence az .inst an
night and title to the on the part OF the United
States. His argument was brief, slickisg close to
the law. and especially to the laws and usages OF