The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-23

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pressing II upon the attention of the Senate.
The Senator from Mississippi stated, on that &C.
casion, as he has stated now, that at former
period of that session he had been specially ap.
piled to by some senators from the Northern
States, among whom he instanced the Senat or
from Michigan, Mr.. CAss, who had suggested
to him to confer with those Senators who had
charge of the bill, upon the prop'iey and expe-
diency of bringing it forward and urging it's
passage; that he made that application to me,
amongst others; and that it was declined do
not recoleci such application, though have no
doubt of the fact, IA the Senator from NJ ssis-
sippl has said so. But have just as little doubt
that various conversations to, k place between
the Senator and myself, and other senators and
myself, upon the expediercy and wisdom, as
things then stood of bringing in this fugitive
slave bill in advance of the other measures with
which it had been connected and urging it upon
the attention of the Senate. What my reply to
him was do not know. have no doubt, how
ever, ii the Senator's memory is accurate, that
he has reported it correctly. shall come pre-
sently to that - ..M. IS. '.... ~.
! wish to show now from the record, because
| am DESTROYS that it may 60 before the country,
what steps were taxed in reference to that fugi-
tive slave bill; how they progressed, and where
they tern mated. | have had reference to the
register, and find that on the Sd of nuary, 1850
'-a very early day after the.Senate met gave
notice Of my intention to introduce that bill
1t was introduced January 4th, and on the same
day, on my motion, was referred to the Com.
nittee on the Judiciary. January 18th, the chair
man of that committee reported il to the Senate
January Odd, offered an amendment to it, which,
at my nsll nee, was laid on the table and printed
1 a. 4 4, - L.,
"ary, the day nnon ,whieh the chairman of The
committee reported the bill, it was, on his motion
made the special order of the day for January
23i, one wet k off. On the 23d, as appears from
the register, other business snterposed, and, on
the motion Of the chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, the special order was deferred urtl
the next day. On tie Oath the bill was debated
pretty much ut length by the chairman Of the
com niltee who reported it. The Senate on that
day adj ,urnei until Monday, the 2Sth, when en-
gagged in the debate, n spoke at length on the
bill Ga the 30 h, (the next dav,) The very dis.
lnguiShed Senator from Kentucky, Mr CLAY.
whose absence from the deliberations OF this
body. and its cause, we all deplore, introduced
his resolutions, for the purpose Of covering all
the subjects then before the Senate, arising out
Of the institution If domestic slavery, and on
his motion they were made the special order of
the day for the 9Th of February. six days off
On that d,y, the Senator from Kentucky adj
dressed the Senate upon the subject of his reso-
lui"ns, and continued that address during the
next day, occupying the 9Th and 9Th. Tn de-
bate continued on these reso) utons, and on the
18th Of February, the honorabl Senator from
Mississippi, Mr.. FooTE gave notice that he
should, at an early day, move for II special COM
mittee to which the entire subject should be re.
ferred Ga the 18th, the debate still continuing
on those resolutions, the Senator from Missis
sippi moved this reference. l he debate then
continued upon tire resolutions Of the Senator
from Kentucky, and upon resolutions of like
character offered in the mean time by Senator
from Tennessee, Mr.. BELL, in connection with
the motion made by the Senator from Mississippi
to refer them.
Now, as to the fugitive slave bill, have said
that it was made the special order of the day
for January oath; that it was debated by the
Senator from Sorih Carolina on that day; that
the Senate did not again sit until the 18th, when
the debate was continued by myself. Ga the
same day (the 2Sh) the Senator from New
York Mr.. SEWARD informed the Senate that
he had been requested by the Senator from
OHIO Mr. CHASE to ask that the further con.
sderation of the bill be postponed The reason
sired to be heard upon it, but that he was called
from the city by illness in his family. II ap.
pears, howe, er. that Senator from New Jersey,
no ongera member of this body, Mr.. DAYroH,l
obtained the floor, but did not continue the
debate. Tn rs il was, that the law for the recla
nation Of fugitive ,lavrs, which had been in.
troduced at an early day Of the ses. ion, and
promptly and actively carried on through it,
various stages, lay in repose, after the 2Sth Of
January, for reasons which am about 10 assign
TO the Senate
The Senator from Mississippi says, according
to his recollection or his construction that there
was policy on the part Of the gentlemen who
had charge Of the bill, in thus Keeping il hack.
| think have shown, that up to January 28th,
whether there was a policy or not, the bill was
not kept back, but was urged and pressed upon
the consideration Of the Senate. ] have shown
that on the next day 1.-THE 20 h) the resolutions
OF the Senator from Kentucky were introduced,
and that the debate continued upon them, To.
gether with the motion 10 refer, up 10 thu period
TO which arm about TO advert. On the 18th OF
March, the resolutions Of the Senator from
Kentucky and Of the Senator from Tennessee,
ia connection with the motion 10 refer TO n spe
cial committee, being still under debate, n Sen
stor from Connecticut, no logger a member of
this b1dy, Mr. BALDwrS moved that all matter
10 the resolutions relating to the State Of Cali
fornia, be excluded from that reference have
no doubt that many senators, who were presen,
then, viii recpllect that there was a strong and
prevailing inclination on the part Of gentlemen
opposed TO the reference, 20 except certain a..
vorite measures Of theirs from il. This Cali.
iornia bill was one OF them. Upon the propO.
s.tion 10 eS lude il, a Senator from Ma<sa
chusctts. no longer a member Of this body,
but at lie head Of the Department Of State,
expressed himself strongly in favor Of keeping
Npgraie.
The Senator from Michigan mr.. CAss1 ex.
pressed himself favorable 10 the plan 0f refer.
ence, but said, Ny hopes are not strong as TO
any favorable results to grow out Of this con-.
mttee. The chances have been much dimini hid
by the vote taken on yesterday, if that vote con-
tanned any indication Of the feeling in this cham.
Der with regard to the committee itself, and the
benefit TO result from IL" The vote 90 which
the Senator from Michigan had reference was a
vote taken the day before on the proposition of
the Senator from Mississippi to take mp the res.
I'll ntion and bia nofinu In ,of.r a, h;.h