The republic., 1851-12-16
THE REPUBL
THIRTY-SECOND- CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
rIosOAr. December I5. 1871.

JAMES c. JuEEs, Senator from the State OF Ten
nessee, which were read, and b1r. JONES appeared
and was qualified.
Mr.. HALE presented the petition Of several
American exhibitors to the Worlds Industrial Ex-
hibitioD, setting forth that the governments oi other
nations had delrayed the expenses OF their respec
tive citizens. and asking Congress 10 make an sp-
preparation for the same purpose Referred 10 the
COMMITTEES on Patents.
LAND FOR RAILROADS, ETC.
Mr.. FOOTE, OF Mississippi, gave notice Of a bill
granting TO the State OF Mississippi donation of
public lands 10 aid in the construction of railroad
Ia that State.
Mr. GEYER presented several memorials Of the
Legislature OF Missouri, praying grants of land
for railroads and other improvements In that State.
BOARD or AccousTs.
Mr.. HUNTER introduced bill TO establish
board OF accounts.
BRANCH MIST IN CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance,
reported back the bill to establish branch of the
mint Of the United States in California, with an
amendment
Mr.. HUNTER explained that the bill was the
came as that pafsed last year; and ii was ordered
TO be engrossed for third reading.
PENSION BILLS.
Mr.. BORLAND, from the COMMITTEE on Pen
sions, reported large number Of bills among
them one granting pension to the widow of the
late Major General Worth.
THE COMPROMISE ACTS.
Mr.. FOoTE, Of Mississippi called up the reso-
luton introduced by him declaring the acts Of
Congress known as the Compromise acts to be
dehnitive settlement Of the questions growing out
OF the subject of slavery.
MIR. BUTLER cory the debate had been
suspended He would have preferred TO have said
what he was about TO say Monday last. The
Senator from Mississippi, IN his reply on Monday
last, had made some illusions which il was neces.
sary for him (Mr. 3D. to Tho Senator
had not only defended his Compromise, but in that
defence had fired into the camp 10 which he had
belOnOed me uf at
acts unusual thing. Magma Charta or the
bill of rights may have been rcaffirmed, but it was
unusual course 10 adopt.
Mr. b. referred to some allusion made by the
Senator from mississippi concerning delay in
bringing the Fugitive Slave bill before the Senate
at the session at which it passed. He explained
that he had reported the bill at early day, and
had spoken on it. Mr.. Dayton, of New Jersey,
had the floor the bill, and about that time the
proposition for Compromise committee in
troduced. If there were go many northern men
anxious at that time to bring that bill before the
Senate, where were they when the vote taken
on il? Where were the genteman's northern al
lies then? IL only received three northern votes.
The Senators from Iowa, and MIR. Sturgeon OF
Pennsylvania, voted for It, Mr. Dickinson, of
New York, was present, and would have voted for
it. but he had paired off. He hoped, as he doubted
not they would, northern gentlemen would show
that this happened by accident and unavoidably.
Mr. B. RI ad his report the Presidents message
sent TO the Senate concerning the Boston riots and
defended it. Tho President had asked for an
right He was opposed to placing under the orders
OF the marshals of the President militia who with
bayonet and ball, were to put down resistance to
the Fugitive Slave law. He thought il ominous
that such amendment should have been asked.
He did not believe the law would be exercised; did
not believe il had been executed. IL could not be
enforced The recent decision showed that the re-
sisance did not amount to treason, and those who
resisted the execution of the law had been handed
to the State authorities. He looked for vim
dcation OF the law by such tribunals. The juries
who were TO try them were selected from persons
who sympathized, perhaps, with those who they
10 try; and even if conviction took place,
there was hardly an executive Of northern State
who would not interpose and commute or remit the
punishment
The Senator from Mississippi was or was not in
favor OF the Compromise; he either was in favor of
the admission of California and the bill abolishng
the slave trade or he was not. If he remembered
right, the Senator had denounced the Executive
interference to establish State government in Cal
ifornia, and had declared the admission of that
State would be aganst all precedent, and yet ihe
Senator, In his speech few days since, had said
that California came into the Union as every other
State had.
Mr. b. repeated his objections to the admission
of California. He asked if proposition were now
introduced dividing California into two States, one
Mississippi vote for il?
Mr.. F0OTE said that at the scssion the Compro-
mise measures were adopted he had introduced two
propositions dividing California neither Of which
had met with any favor from the gentleman; neither
had received the support he bad anticipated. II q
proposition now introduced to divide Califor-
mia by the line of 36o 80, or $50 30, he would vote
for il.
Mr. BUTLER said the Senator had resolution
now before the Senate declaring the Compromise
measures immutable; yet Inc willing to admit
that ne would vote for proposition disturbing that
Compromise.
MIR. FO0TE, said he would vote for the divi-
sion of California he would vote for the division
on Of any other State, such division to De made in
accordance with the Constitution. The Compro
mise he never claimed to be above the Constitution
MIR. BUTLER referred to the resolutions adopted
by the convention of the State of Mississippi where
in it was resolved that the right of secession did
not exist but that certain legislation by Congress
would be good ground for dissolving ali connexion
with the Federal Government, by revolutionary
resistance. When Mississippi called upon her sons
to take up arms in such revolutionary resistance,
would the Senator be found engaged in it,
MIR. FOOTE anticipated no such call He con-
sdered 1t was insulting to place Mississippi in
such disgraceful position that of calling upon
her sons to engage in war against the General
Government. When she did, he would deliberate
on il.
MIR. BUTLER had no hesitation in declaring
where his allegiance and his heart would be in
such cause. When his lreside was Invaded, he
would not stop to chop logic upon where his first
allegiance was due. He know there great
many persons in Mississippi who would be found
sustaining her ordinance, and he would not, for such
act, consider them traitors Freemen seldom died
by the rope when they had arms in their hands.
- He alluded to the declaration by Mr. FooTE that
the Constitution OF Washington was good enough
for him, and that he wanted no amendments; and
pointed out the fact that by the wisdom of it's
trainers provision was made for its amendment. |
He would vote for amendments giving guarantees
and protection to the minority against the power
OF the majority. He commented upon what had
been said concerning tho amendment to the Con-
stitution contemplated by Mr.. Calhoun providing |
for a dual Executive, and said that he did not |
know but thatthe adoption Of such amendment |
would be beneficial; he thought it would be q
benefit ifthe North could not pass laws without the
consent of an Executive chosen by the South. He |
referred 10 the denunciRtiuns which had been /
poured upon those who opposed the Compromise.
Mr.. FooTE disclaimed ever having made any |
alusion personal in its nature to those who had /
opposed it.
Mr.. BUTLER considered the Senator from Mis-
sissippi as responsible for the Southern Address
and that he had upon him TO great extent the re-
sponsibity of the Nashville Convention. The
Senator had gone into the merits of the late inter
nal struggle in South Carolina. Mr.. Is alluded to
his great difficulties in that struggle; that he had
to differ from many lends and he considered
that those who had stood up for the resolutions of
the Legislature of that State were high and hon