The southern press., 1851-12-18
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
In SENATE.


journal of yesterday proceedings read.
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES.
Sundry messages received yesterday from the
President of the United States, were read. One
related to the case Of John S. Thr .shef, and an
other to the firing into the steamer Promeheus,
by British armed vessel; on these the President
says it will not, at the present time, be consistent
for the public interests to communicate the action
ofthe Executive. Others communicated informa-
ton from the War Department. These messages
were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
PETITION PRESENTED, &C.
By Mr.. Case, Of citizens of Ohio, praying for
legislation in favor Of the liberty Of conscience; by
Mr.. Downs, Il petition for a military lard office;
by Mr. CLEMENS, res .lution # the State of Ala
bama relative to public lands; by Mr. UNDER
WOOD, a petition to supply the city of Wash
ington with water r.-....
FLoGGING IN THE NAVY. ..:r...'..
Mr.. BRODHEAD presented a petition of clt'-
Zens Of Phad phia, nunerously signed, praying
for restoration of the law authorizing corporea
punishment of sail RS in the navy for INSIDE
meanors. +....
Mr.. STOCKTON, of New Jersey. said that he
was amazed that such petition as this (hoIding
itup) should be sent in here. He would not have
believed that so large number Of persons could
be found TO sign such petition. Although he &C
kno wedSed the right of petition, and was willing
that the Senate might t. Ike such action on this
memorial it saw fit, still he would take this oc-
from the start ... .,."".
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. BRADBURY, from committee to whom
they were referred, reported the following bill 8,
which passed stages bill for the relief Of J
McGaw of New York, and William D. Green !;
Il bill to establish port Of entry at Little Rock,
in the State of Arkansas.
Mr.. HUN TER reported bill for the relief OF
certain officers, which was read and passed to be
engrossed. ~. "~
".'.. .. NoN-INTERvEETIoN.
Mr.. WALKER, of Wisconsin, by leave intro
duced a series of resolutions declaring that the
government will adhere to its policy of non inter-
venton in the affairs of other nations, which were
read and laid over under the rule" .
... WIDOW or GEN. WORTH.
On motion of Mr.. BoRLAND, the bill for the re-
lief of the widow Of the late Gen. Worth was con-
sidered. ~..' 49,.
Mr.. HALE raised an inquiry, why this bill
should be reported and considered befor a similar
one in favor of the widow of the late Gen. McNel
Mr. BORLAND said that bill would probably
be speedily reported and he intended TO give 1t his
Mr.. UNDERWOOD objected to the principle
ofthe bill. He was opposed to taking the widows
of distinguished men and legislatng for them
specially, and without any general law.
Mr.. SEWARD said he despaired of procuring
any general legislation on this subject. 1t was
only 6y taking up these cases, and specially leg
merits, that they can he reached.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD called for the yeas and
nays on the question. II said he wished to as
certain whether senators were disposed to grant
individual gratuities and introduce tad prece-
dent in this matter. II so, we shall have widows
enough to legislate for to bankrupt the treasury.
Mr. BORLAND believed that the principle was
not a new one. IL had been adopted in the case
of Commodore Decatur's widow.
The bill was passed to be engrossed.
FOOTE'S COMPROMISE RESOLUTION.
The Senate proceeded to consider the special
order, being Mr.. FooTE's resolution, recognizing
the Compromise measures OF the last Congress as
a final settlement of slavery agitation, &c.
Mr.. HUNTER proceeded to speak IN opposition
70 the resolution, believing IL To be unnecessary.
He reviewed at some length the proceedings Of
the Senate upon the Compromise measures at the
last session.
Mr.. FooTE took the floor, but gave way 10
Mr.. BRODHEAD, who desired IN correct an
error, which the senator from South Carolina,
(Mr. BurLER) had fallen into, in relation TO the
operation Of the Fugitive slave law in Pennsylva.
MIA He had said that IL could not be executed
and that IL persons convicted under Il in the
courts. they would he pardoned by the executive.
Mr.. BUTLER. only gave that my opinion.
Mr. BRODHEAD said that he considered such
an opinion q. an imputation on the common
wealth which he represented. No State had been
more loyal 10 the Constitution or more devoted to
the laws than Pennsylvania. In regard to the re.
suit OF the late Christana trial, any other ~
riot in that State may well he cited prove that
the laws cannot be executed as that. Does the
senator mean to say that the Judge in that case
has not laid down the law 10 relation 10 treason
eorrsetlyi Mr. B. reviewed the resu OF the late
election in Pennsylvania, and considered IL to be
an indication Of the people there to stand by the
Constitution and laws.
Mr.. RHETT, in replying, said that il had been
made party test-that there was only FIVE or six
thousand majority one way out Of one hundred
thousand votes.
Mr.. HALE opposed the resolution, and amer
some conversation with Mr.. FooTE in relation In
the division OF California, went on to argue that
the North had gained noihn g by the compromise.
In the course Of his remarks, he spoke Of the
Judges Of the Supreme Court, abiding N their de-
cisions in relation to subjects where the slavery
question was embraced as biased. That body
was the citadel where slavery always has and al
was will be protected.
Mr.. STOCKTON called the senator to order
He did not wish to hear corruption imputed to the
Supreme Court judges.
The PRESIDENT said, the point Of order was
one for the Senate 10 consider
Mr.. FOOTE said that he would not claim the
floor ut this time, a. he wished to reply To the
marks Of senators entertaining extr me Northern
and Southern views at length, hereafter.
Mr.. BUTLER desired TO reply to the intims-
ton Of the senator from New Hampshire, (Mr.
81
bsv, acted dishonesty in giving their decisions
The assertion was bold one. lie defed him tMr.
H. 10 show a case where the iud res had not
been rather Indifferent towards the South than
otherwise. lie (Mr. b. had never been able TO
trace any bias in their opinions. II was unfair
TO attempt 70 impesch their motives IN this body,
where they cannot have hearing. The case was
not like that Of the President Of the United States,
who has partizans here to defend him when at
tackled.
Mr. HALE would repeat what he had said
that the Supreme Court citadel where
slavery has always been protected, and always
will be. A majority Of Northern lawyers had
never been trusted on its beech. lie had not al
luded to the Judges Of that, but Of another court,
as giving dishonest decisions, as the senator from
New Jersey (Mr. SrocEroY) had attributed. The
Judges Of the Supreme Court, however, were mo-
thing but men, and he (Mr. III } bad seen as good
specimens elsewhere. They we're just rs likely
10 be biased as other men; and he had spoken OF
them thus, in view Of majority always being
from the South
Mr. UNDERWOOD replied, ard asked il il