The republic., 1851-02-20
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
"WEDNESDAY, FrBnuARy 10. 1851.
49, SENATE.

"WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY ~, 1901
a.a-- SENATE.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communica-
tion from the Secretary Of the Treasury, IN re-
sponse to resolution Of the Senate enclosing ~ bs
5tatement Of the interest OF the United states Ia e
Louisville and Portland canal
THE AMIsTAp CLAIMS.
Mr. MASON from the Committee on Foreign
Relations reported bill to indemnify the masters
and owners Of the Spanish schooner Ahiistad-.
MINT IN CALIFORNIA.
Mr EWING from the Committee on Finance,
reported back the bill to establish branch mint Of
the United States In California
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr. BRADBURY, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, to whom pad been referred three petit
tions asking for the repeal Of the Fugitive Slave
law, reported the same back, stating that the COM
rnttee deemed legislation on the subject mex
pedient. The committee, on motion, was dis
charged from the further consideration of the sub
lect.
TRADE TO THE COAST AFRICA.
Mr. HAMIIN, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported bill to regulate the trade of Ame
rican vessels to the coast OF Africa The bill pro-
vides that it shall not be lawful for any American
vessel trade the coast Of Africa except to ports
in the republic of Liberia and in Sierra Leone,
less they shall clear from ports in the United States
or Europe.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS.
MIR. FOOTE said that there was some business of
VI
which required an Executive session; he thoughtit
would not occupy more than fifteen minutes; he
moved the Senate proceed to the confederation OF
Executive business; and, after a long debate, the
lows:
YEAS.-M Messrs. Atchison, Badger. Bell. Ber-
rien, Butler Clay, Clemens, Cooper, Davis Of Mas
Mason. Miller, Pearce, Phelps, Seward, Smith.
Turney, Underwood, Upham. Wales, Whitcomb,
and Yulee--26.
NAYS Messrs: Baldwin, Benton. Borland.
Bradbury, Cass, Chase. Davis of Miss, Dawson,
Dayton, Dodge of Wis Dodge of Iowa, Douglas.
Downs, Hamlin, Jones, King, Norris, Pratt, Rhctt,
Rusk, Sebastian, Shields. Soule, Spruance, Stur-
geon, and Walker-2G.
RArLRoAD IN FLORIDA.
Mr.. YULEE moved that the Senate take up a
bill granting alternate sections of the public ands
toFlorida to aid in the construction of a railroad
in that State; and the motion was agreed to.
Mr. WALKER moved TO amend the bill by add
ing thereto another bill ma king a similar grant to
Wisconsin for similar object. After debate
Mr.. BADGER moved that the bill be laid ON the
table; which motion was not agreed to-
Mr.. WALKER then withdrew his amendment,
MIR. WHiTCOMB moved to amend the bill by
adding thereto bill making similar grant to
Indiana, for like purpose; which amendment was
rejected.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, and
subsequently was read third time and passed.
The bill from the House, making appropriations
for the improvement of rivers and harbors, was
referred to the Committee on Commerce.
REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF the bill to reduce and modify the rates of post
age, &c.
MIR. UNDERWOOD moved an amendment, that
all papers weighing not more than one and a half
age fixed by the bill
After debate, this amendment was withdrawn.
The substitute of Mr.. RUsK proposes the follow
ing rates Of postage on ncwspapapers: The postage
mhera Of n ue eua arerr rfYh he'd
weekly, (not exceeding three ounces in weight)
for any distance not exceeding fifty miles, five
cents per quarter; over fifty and not exceeding
three hundred miles, ten cents per quarter; over
three hundred miles and not exceeding one thou
sand miles, fifteen cents per quarter; one thou
sand and not exceeding two thousand, twenty
cents per quarter two thousand; and less than
four thousand, twenty five cents per quarter;
iour thousand miles, thirty cents per quarter pa
pers published semi weekly TO pay double, tri-
weekly, treble; and oftencr than tri-weekly, five
times these rates.
Mr.. CHASE moved to amend this part Of the
substitute by striking out the words per quarter"
and insert "half year. And, after debate, modi-
fed his amendment to strike out "fve'' cents
per quarter, and insert "three" cents. And, after
debate, this was rejected-ayes20, noes 81.
Mr.. DICKINSON moved to amend this part of
the bill by striking out the words "The postage
weekly for any distance not exceeding fifty miles.
shall be fve CENTS" and insert provision allowing
such papers to go through the mails free within
distance not exceeding thirty miles.
And this amendment was rejected-yeas 90,
YEAS.-Messrs. Cass, Chase, Clarke, Cooper
Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin. Dodge
OF Iowa, Douglas, Downs. Ewing. Felch, Mason,
Miller, Phelps, Seward, Sturgeon, Upham, Walker,
and Whitcomb-20.
NAYS.-Messrs. Atchison, BADGER, Baldwin,
Berrien, Borland, Bradbury, Clay, Clemens. Da-
Wis Of Massachusetts, Davis OF Mississippi Dawson
Gwin, Hamlin, Houston, Hunter, Jones, King,
Morton Morton. SOIris s Pearce' Pratt. Rhett, Rusk. Sc
derwood, Wales, and Yulec-3I.
The eighth section of the bill authorizes the Post
master General to make contracts for carrying the
mail through foreign countries, &c.
Mr.. SOULE moved to amend this section by add
ing thereto the following:
Ind prorided further, That the Postmaster Gene
rail- for the transportation Oft mails contemplated
by this section, shall be bound to select the route
which shall transport the mail in the shortest time
and on the most economical terms, and that, before
making any contract, he shall give at least sixty
days' notice by advertisement in the usual manner
for advertising proposals for mail contracts, and
that any contract made under the authority hereby
conferred shall be renewed annually.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.
The Deficiency bill was returned from the House
with an amendment to Of the amendments Of
the Senate. II was taken up, and, after some re-
marks, was postponed.
Of Executive business, and shortly after adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
PRoposED NEW LINES OF STEAMERS.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, from the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, reported bill authorizing
the Secretary Of the Navy to contract with MIR.
Thompson, Of Philadelphia, for the establishment
of line Of six steamers between San Francisco.
and the Sandwich Islands, and Hong Kong and
Shanghai, in China; and for line of four steamers
between Philadelphia and Norfolk to Antwerp and
other ports of Europe. The vessels TO be SO con-
sructed as to be convertible into war steamers of
the navy to carry four heavy cannons each, if re-
quired. On the requistion Of the Secretary of the
Navy, United States certificates of stock to be is
sued to the contractor, to be redeemable in six