The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-06

amendment proposed by him 70 the Civil and Di
PloInatIe bill Two years ago. proposing to extend
The LAWS and Com ttution OF the United States TO
Caligornia. hs had been condemned by the Legisa-
OF bis State, and requested resign his seat
lie had heen assailed by the Free-soil press of the
country, and denounced in all the most extrava-
CANT terms. He had explained his conduct TO the
people OF his state; and though he was conscious
that he was not guilty Of what he had been charged
WITH still he could not but feel sensibly the censure
which had been cast upon him. That censure had
now been removed, and lie expressed his sincere
thanks for the act OF justice the Legislature had
performed towards him.
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr. SEWARD presented the petition of the Peru
monthly n. e,ing Of Friends in New York, petit
ton of citizens Of Oswego county, New York, and
a petition ofinhabiants of Litchfed county, Con-
pccticut, praying the repeal of the Fugitive Slave
law.
Mr. aAMLIN presented the petition of citizens
OF Lebanon, Maine, for the same object.
Mo CHASE presented four petitions of citizens of
Ohio. praying the same.
All % which, on motion, were laid on the table.
THE UNITED STATES MAILS.
Mr. RUSK presented the petition of Barnabas
Bates praying that contract be entered into with
him and his associates for the transportation and
delivery Of the United States mails at a reduced
rate Of postage.
MILITARY ACADEMY AT THE SOUTH.
MIR. BoRLAND presented the resolutions of the
Legislature OF Arkansas, urging the Proprety OF
establishing military academy, like that of West
Point, at some place in one Of the southwestern
States OF the Union.
RAuRoAp IN LOUISIANA
Mr.. DOWNS gave notice of bill granting the
right OF way and donation of public land to
aid in the construction of railroad from Fulton,
on Red river, in Arkansas, to Providence, the
Mississippi, other point on that river in
Louisiana.
ACT EXPLANATORY OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr. BRIGHT. gave notice that he would intro
l.,<n pr al mat nrU nf act ar Sen
tcmber Is, 1850, entitled can act to amend and
supplemental TO the act entitled An act
specting fugitives from justice and persons es-
Gaping from the service OF their masters, approved
February IL, l793."
FREDERICK puRvISE.
Mr. DOWNS reported back the bill from the
House to amend the act for the relief of Frederick
Durvine. The bill was then taken up, explained,
and read third time end passed.
WORKS OF HAMILTON ADAMS.
MIR. PEARCE moved, and the Senate proceeded
10 the consideration of the joint resolution pro-
viding for the distribution of the works of Alex
anGer Hamilton.
Mr. HALE moved. and the joint resolution was
amended, by providing for like distribution Of
the works OF John Adams
The Joint resolution was then ordered to be en-
crossed for n tuird reading.
PORT or CAMBRIDGE, (MAss.)
The bill to make Cambridge, Massachusetts,
port of entry, yesterday ordered to be engrossed,
was taken up, read third time, and passed.
ARBITRATION OF NATIONAL CONTROVERSIES.
Mr.. FOOTE, from the Committee Foreign
Relations, to whom had been referred various me-
MORALS of the American peace society and others,
PRAYING that some substitute for war be adopted
Tor The settlement of misunderstanding and diff
culties between nations, reported the same back,
with the following resolution:
Whereas, appeals to the sword for the determine
ton Of national controversies are always product
i've OF immense evils, and whereas, the spirit and
enterprise of the age, but more especially the
genius OF our own Government, the habits OF our
people, and the highest permanent prosperity OF
our Republic. as well AZ the claims OF humanity,
the dictates of enlightened reason, and the pre-
cepts of our holy religion, I'll require the adoption
of every feasible measure, consistent with the ma
tional honor and the security OF our rights TO pre-
vent far possible the recurrence OF war mere
after. Therefore
Resoiced, That in the judgment of this BODY IT
would be proper and desirable for the Governmental
the United States, whenever practicable, to secure,
in its treaties with other nations, provision Tor re-
ferring TO the decision of umpires all future misun-
derstandings that cannot be satisfactorily adjusted
by amicable negotiations. in the first instance, be-
fore resort to hostilites shat! be had.
Objection being made to the present considera-
ton of the resolution, it was laid over.
MAIL TO RIO JAsEIRo.
Mr.. HAML.IN, from the Committee Com
rnerce, to whom had been referred several petitions
from merchants of Philadelphia, reported bill to
authc rize the Postmaster General to contract for
carrying the mail in steam vessels from the United
States TO Rio Janeiro, in Brazil.
EXPIRATION or SENATORIAL TERMS.
Mr.. BUTLER, from the Judiciary Committee,
made the following report:
The Committee the Judiciary, 10 which was
referred resolution directing said committee to
inquire and report at what period the'term Of SER
vice of Senator, appointed by the executive of a
State, during the recess Of the Legislature thereof
rightfully expires, have had the same under con-
sidcration and report
The question presented by the resolution turns
mainly upon the construction of the clause of art
], =, Of the Constitu ion of the United States,
which provides that .ifyaca rcies happen, by resg
nation or otherwise, during the ecess Oh the Legs
lature Of any State, the executive eoi may make
temporary appointments until the next ,.,eetlng OF
the Legislature, which shall fill such vacancle.
our committee are of the opinion that the sip
ting member, under executive appointment, has
right to occupy his scat until the vacancy shall be
hled by the Legislature of the State of which he s
senator during the next meeting thereof. To fill
such vacancy, it is not only necessary to make an
election, but that the person elected shall accept
tue appointment; and your committee are further
OF the opinion that such acceptance should appear
by the presentation to the Senate OF the credentials
OF the member elect, other official information
OF the fact, at which time the office of the sitting
member terminates. When the member elect is
present and ready 10 qualify, his express accent.
ance is at once made known, and when his Gre
dentias presented in his absence his acceptance
may be fairly implied
These general views are sustained by prece-
Journal Of 1909, page 3Sl, where the question was
settled, after debate, by the ADOPTION the 9th of
June Of the following resolution:
'ReSoiced, That the Hon. Samuel Smith a SEN
ator appointed by the executive of Maryland to fill
the vacancy which happened in the office of Sena-
tor for that State, ia entitled hold his seat in the
Senate Of the United States during the session of
the Legislature of Maryland, which, by the proc.
lamation of the Governor Of said State was TO com
the 5th day of the present month of June.
unless said Legislature shall fill such vacancy by
the appointment of Senator, and this Senate be
officially informed thereof
The precedent in this case has been uniformly
followed, from that time to the present in the
many cases that have arisen involving the same
question.
Accompanying the report was list of prece-
dents Of Senators appointed by the executives of
the States, the time when they vacated their seats
TO their successors and the daes of the election of
those Successors The report read, and, to-
getbcr with the accompanying papers,
dered 10 be printed.
IMPORTATION AND wAREHoUsISo OF FoREioN
MERcHANDIsE.