Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-24
" EDNEsDAY, Jan. 18th

w EDNESDAT. Jan. 10th.
SENATE.-Mr. Clay presented petitions in favor of
the Colonization Society and praying for the estab
llshment of line of steam sailing packets between
the United States and the coast of Africa. Mr. Clay
accompanied the presentation of the petitions by
remarks. Referred to the committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. Halo presented petition from ontgomcry
county Pa, praying the immediate repeal of the Flu
gitive Slave Law. Mr.. Hale proceeded with some
remarks denunciatory of the law, when he was call
ed to order by Mr.. Foote. The Chair decided that
Mr.. Hale in order. Mr. Whitcomb of Indiana
moved to lay the petition on the table. The yeas
and nays were ordered and taken. Before the vote
was announced Mr. Foote called the attention of the
Chair to the fact that several Senators were
who had not voted.
Mr. Yulee said he had not voted, and he had
reason for not voting. He gave his reason that
there were resolutions pending before the Legislature
of Florida instrucng their Senators to vote on
any question relating to the Fugitive Slave Law
Mr.. Mangum asked for the yeas and nay on excu-
sing Mr. Yulee. Mr.. Hale asked to be excused from
voting on the motion to excuse MIR. Yulee. The
present law says that all should VOTE and he did not
know whether to vote for the enforcement of the
law, wait for the higher law" that was going
to come from Florida. Mr.. Seward said he would
vote for exeusing any who did not desire to vote
Mr. Foote surprised at the harmony between
the Senators from Florida and New York on the sub
ject of the higher law.
The Chair decided that it was not in order to ask
to be excused from voting after the vote had been
taken. He directed the Secretary to call the gentle
from Florida. which was done, but Mr.. Yulee
did not Mr.. Butler, of s. c., said he was
in the same position as the Senator from Florida
He had not voted, nor did he intend to vote. The
Secretary then called Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Yulee
twice, but neither answered. The vote was then an
nounced follows
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison, Bell Berrien Borland Bradbu-
Cass Clay Clemens Davis of Miss Dawson, Dickinson
Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downs Fech Foote Gwn Hous-
ton Hunter Jones' King Mangum, Mason, Norton Norris,
Pearce, Phelps Rhct, Rusk Shields Soule Spruance
dcrwood, Wales, Whitcomb-35
NAYs-Messrs Baldwin, Benton Chase, Cooper, Davis of
Mass, Dayton, Dodge of Wis Ewing Hale Hamlin Mil
Ter, Seward, Smith, Upham, Walker, Winthrop-l6.
So the petition laid the table.
After the petitions and reports, the Senate took up
the bill to cede the public lands to the States in
which they lie, certain conditions, sc. Mr.. Wal
ker concluded his remarks il support of the BILL a
ter which it postponed, and the French spolia-
ton taken up. The Senate then went into executive
session, and shortly after adjourned.
HOUSE OF REpREsENTArIvEs-The amendment tc
the bill for the reduction of postage pending yester
day when the committee rose, again came up and
was decided in the negative Mr.. Potter of Ohio
moved as an amendment, that the postage of letter
weighing less than half an ounce, and so on in pro-
portion, be three cents; and that no post route be
discontinued in consequence of the passage of the
act which was carried, 81 to TO-
An amendment pending, that papers, when crcu
lated iu the county where published, within thir
ty miles of the place of publication, be transmitted
free of postage, carried by vote of 70 to 46.
1t was also agreed that fifty per cent of the post
age magazines and other periodicals be RENTED
when postage shall have been prepaid
The committee then rose and the House adjourned
THURSDAY, Jan. 10th.
SENATE.-Mr. Hunter presented the credentials Of
Hon James M. Mason, Senator elect from the State
of Virginia for six years from and after the 4th
March 1851. Mr. Seward presented netitions fo,