The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1851.
SENATE.

SENATE.
MIR. Hale. MIR. President, | have received
large number of petitions, very numerously sign
ed. ! have not taken the trouble to count the
names, but there are some thousand at moderate
estimate and mostly from Boston and vicinity.
| find, sir by high authority, that il is within the
| rules and regulations for Senators to state the
contents Ola petition, and to say word or two
| about the character Of the petitioners | will
simply say that these petitioners, numerous as
they ore comprise some OF the most respectable
people of that section Of country from whence
the petitions come | see, sir, at this moment,
upon the petition before me, the name of an in
| diyidual who ID himself q son and grandson of a
President of the United States man whose
present position adds lustre to the ancestral fame
| that comes TO him by Inheritance see sir the
names of others, who are celebrated in all the
arts that embellish society and advance its pro-
| gress ] see sir, the names Of clergymen, who
with gigantic intellect have seized religion from
the grasp of superstition-thus commencing it to
our Judgment no less than to our affection-all
uniting in asking for the repeal of the Fugitive
| Slave law.
But know very we'll these petitions will not
have any effect-the day has not come for that,
| sir. ] know also, sir, that within this place
have demonstrated now, that If hand join in hand,
| good many of us, iniquity will pass UNPUBLISHED.
But trust better day will come. | was going
to suggest, before | make motion of reference,
that hope my friend from Georgia who sits far
thest from me, Mr. Dawson, will not move that
these petitions be laid on the table but that he
will leave that to be done by some who have been
supposed to be favorable to those sentiments but
who have got new light since they came here.
Mr.. Badger. will move it, then, sir. Laugh
ter
The motion was agreed to.
Numerous memorials of miscellaneous char
acter were presented.
Mr.. Bright obtained leave 10 bring in bill
supplemental to the Fugitive Slave bill. lie re-
marked There are conflicting opinions Mr..
President, among the legal minds of the country
as to whether the act Of 1893 las it is called was
repealed by the compromise measures Of last ses-
sion. This bill is merely declaratory in its ma
ture, enacting that oil legal rights existing under
| the law of 1893 may be prosecuted to final judg
ment and execution, as though the Fugitive Slave
law of 1850 had not passed.
MIR. Hale am not going to oppose this mo-
ton; but before the question is put, want sim
ply 10 call the attention Of the Senate and the
country to this singular fact here is a subject
confessedy within our Jurisdiction, upon which
we are legislaiing and proposing to act and yet
most respectful petitions upon the very same sub
jeot that are sent here are contemptuously re-
fused hearing.
The bill Is as follows
Be Il enacted SC, That all actions and cause of
action and all proceedings instituted, TO be in
stiuted, for any violation Of the provisions of said
"act respecting fugitives from justice and persons
escaping from the service Of their masters ap-
proved 18th February, 1893, may be prosecuted,
or instituted and prosecuted, TO final judgment
and execution, as II the said act of September 49,
1850, had not passed
A memorial was presented by Mr.. Mason, from
members Of the Legislature and Of the Constitu-
tional Convention of Virginia, in favor Of the
Ebony Line Of steamers as q means Of transport
ing the free people of color to Africa. II was re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce.
The Deficiency bill from the House was re-
ported with amendments, which were agreed TO-
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for O
third reading.
HOUSE OF REPR EsENTATIvEs.
Several appropriation bills were reported by
Mr. Bsyly, who made an unsuccessful attempt to
bring the House to fix day for their considera-
ton.
The House was engaged all day In the consid-
Grafton Of the bill to establish board Of accounts
Mr. Julian offered u proviso, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed TO authorize
the board to hear or decide for tho loss or ser.
vice Of any slave Slaves were persons, not prop
erty, and therefore the subject ought not to be
brought before the board
Mr.. Holmes opposed the amendment. Amidst
much confusion, the question was taken on the
amendment, and decided In the negative-yeas
10, nays li7-the members passing through
tellers.
Mr.. Allen of Massachusetts offered an amend
ment, that member Of the present Congress
shall be appointed to any Office created by this act
Mr.. Wentworth. ! object 10 that.
Mr.. Allen BY the intimations around the
Hall, his amendment was not understood. II was
4 horo m IN "A in |
For year past he had seen in the newspapers
reports that son or brother Of some member Of
the present Congress has been appointed 10 Office
by the Executive Now, from his amendment Il
was not 10 be inferred that any member Of this
Congress has sought office for himself or relatives
but yet the Executive, In his paternsl care OF
members and their families had provided for a
largo portion of the families Of members on both
sides OF the House. The bill before the commit
tee contained some high prizes, and the President
may think that the prizes should not be given TO
the younger members Of the family but reserved
for the older. He feared that the Executive, In
the kindness Of his honest heart might force some
of these Offices on members, 10 the scandal Of
members snd the good people Of the country.
Mr.. Matteson was understood TO move an
amendment 10 the amendment OF the gentleman,
to the effect, unless he be a Silver Cray
voice. Amend IL by saying, or a Woolly
Head'p Laughter
Members. Question question !" give US
O vote on thatn
This was agreed to-
Mr.. Daniel then moved to strike out the first
section Of the hill and to Insert substitute here
tofore submitted by him.
The substitute was agreed to--yeas 0s, nays 81
On motion Of Mr.. Daniel, the rsmsining Sec
tions Of the original bill were stricken out when
the Committee rose
The question being stated oa secondIng the
demand for the previous question--on agreeing
10 the amendment
Mr. Thomas moved that the bill be laid on ths
table. But the motion did not prsvaii--yeas 50,
nays 100.
And, pending the demand for the previous ques-
ton, The House sdjourned