The republic., 1851-12-20
TaIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
FaIDAY, December 10, 1851.
SENATE.


ent. was sworn.
RIVER AND mAnBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. MILLER gave notice that he would hereafter
ask leave to introduce a bill ilmaking appropriations
for the improvement OF certain rivers ana hatpoiS'
COMMITTEE CLERK.
Mr. BORLAND submit ted the following resolu-
tiOn which agreed TO:
Resolptd That the Committee on Printing be au-
thorized 10 employ clerk during the present Con
gress TO whom the usual per diem compensation
shall be paid out OF the contingent fund oi the
Senate.
FIR GWIN submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed TO:
Resolvsd That the Secretary Of the Navy be re-
auested 10 furnish the Senate with any letters from
officers of the navy the subect of corporal pun
shinent in the navy, and any code or codes OF law
or regulations which he may have had prepared
for the better government OF the navy
POST ROUTES IN sEw YORK,
MIR. SEWARD introduced Joint resolution pro
vidlng for the establishment of certain post routes
in the State OF New York; which was referred to
the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr. MALLORY submitted the following resolu-
ton which was agreed TO:
Resolved That the President be requested TO
Furnish TO the Senate the original record of exami
nations of witnesses, prepared by the "Board Of
Examiners" composed OF General Churchill, U.
s Army, and other officers, relative TO sundry
claims OF citizens OF Florida; and also the record
of examinations of Witnesses prepared by Major
Thomas. u. S. Army, and other officers, on the
same subject which records were prepared by or
der of the War Department, and are now on hle
in said Department
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER, il was
ReSolped, That so much of the Presidents mes.
sage relates To The finances of the country be
terred to the Committee Finance; that 80 much
relates 10 naval Affairs, to the Committee on
Naval Affairs; that much as relates 10 military
afairs to the Committee Military Affairs; that
80 much relates TO the public lands, to the Com
Inittee Public Lands that SO much as relates to
foreign relations, to the committee on that subject;
and that much as refers to the improvement OF
rivers and herbors, 10 the Committee on Com
nlerce.
BILLS PAssED.
The following bills yesterday ordered to be en-
CROSSED, were seyerally read a third time and
passed
bill granting to the State of Mississippi the
right Of way and donation of public lands for
the purpose of locating and constructing railroad
from Brandon 10 the eastern border of that State,
in the direction of Montgomery, Alabama
bill authorizing the Secretary OF the Irea
sury to issue register to the brig Ada
THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF the resolution declaring the Compromise acts
dehnitive settlement OF the subject OF slavery.
MIR FOOTE resumed his remarkF. After again
stating the objects of the resolution, he examined
the objection made to the admission of California
that a prohibition of slavery being in her constitu.
fion her admission in effect the same as If the
Wiirnot proviso bad been adopted. He could not
see how The division Of California by the line of
36o 3O would alter the question; il she were ad-
initted with her present constitution the Wilmot
proviso would be as much enacted thereby, whe-
iher her southern boundary was the Missouri com
promise line or not The adoption of that line was
% "l Pa'' E. the "m0 P'0y'0 upon al territory "0f'
He next referred to the objections made to the
tpTr evidence
were not Objectionable, stated that his late col
league had voted for them, and every other south
ern Senator, except two
He did not consider that the inputation upon
the President that he had appointed the territorial
Judges because their opinions on the subject Of
slavery hostile to the South, were just or we'll
founded de read letter from Judge Baker, Of |
New Mexico, 10 show that no such opinions were
entertEined by those judges as had been stated.
He read from the speech Of the Senator from
South Carolina, MIR. RHETT,) delivered near the
close of the last session showing that that Senator
had then declared Congress had power pass
the Fugitive Slave law, and that that law un-
constitutional. He commented very fully on this
speech and said that the Senator had done more |
than any other man to build up a party who took
the ground that that law was unconstitutional and
should be repealed.
The Senator had openly syowed himself seces-
sonist and diauhionist. The Senator an
enemy 20 his country, enemy To his Govern
nient, an enemy 30 the blessed Union. lie Mr.. +
would not hsYe dared to utter such declaration
which he hgd taken remained his conscience,
his tongue would have become paralyzed if he
were to utter that he was disunionist
He then read from several speeches made by the
Senator from South Carolina at different times as
showing that the secession views of that Senator
entertained by him long previous 10 l545; and
that long previous to that year be had been in favor
of resistance and had declined for himself and his
constituents any adjustment or compromise, pre-
ferring disunion
Mr. F. again reviewed the course Of the Senator
from South Carolina at the Nashville Convention,
and after his return 10 South Carolina.
lie (Mr. +. } agreed with Jackson, that intoler-
able oppression only would justify resistance the
General Government.
He alluded to the sympathy between the aboli-
tionlsts and secessonlsts the doctrines Of
son. The late Syracuse Convention had declares
much sympathy with their State-rig brothers Of
South Carolina.
The object of the disunionists was to get the
southern States all committed in favor of secession
In order that when they got State to secede the
other southern States could not object they having
recognised the right. The attempt, however, had
failed.
He referred to Jefferson. Barbour. Madison,
Roane, Randolph Crawford, and Poindexter, as
having all denied the existence OF any constitu.
tional right Of secession. He quoted from and de-
Tended President Jacksons proclamation Jack
son, II livlng, would not recognise as Democrats
many who called themselves such. He would not
recognise any secession Democrats, nor any fire.
eaters; but, with an indignant frown, would drive
the reptiles from his presence lie also read from
Jackson's message the declaration that, at every
hazard and by every sacrifice, the Union must be
preserved So it would be, despite all that faction
lsts may attempt or do to the contrary.
He again referred to the speech OF MIR. RnErT in
Charleston, and read several extracts from it, lie
dweit particularly upon the declaration therein
made by that Senator, who, using the words Of
Henry, exclaimed, eve must fight" lie thought
those words might have some meaning in them
10 conRexion with this point he also read a report
lately made Of the ofdnance. &c, which arc now
under contract 10 be made for South Carolina
lie thought the Senator utterly mistaken i,i
saying that majority VI the people of South Caro-.
lima were in favor oi secession and disunon
He recognised the Compromise no Whig rnea
cure. IL received larger Democratic than Wing
vote. IL was neither Whig nor Democratic Inca-
sure, but truly national and Union preserving
measure
He urgently asked the Senate to pass this reso.
luton; II was highly desirable and proper that il
should pass
Mr. HOUSTON got the floor, but yielded il to
Mr. RtIE1'T, who desired to make some expla-
nsto1s; and then
The Senate adjourned
HEAVY DAMAGE Ia the circuit court of ST.
Louis. the 9th instant, the Jury in the case OF
ID Hunt Us. John Simonds, on trial in the common
rot nod Ifrt q 10