The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-27
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.


| 0enat0s
BY MoRsE's MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.
oTFIcE CORNER ov srAvra AND HANOVER STREETS.
wAsHrSor Feb. 2s, 1851.
| ASrrFyeIrIvE LAW PETITION.
Mr.. SEWARD presented . petition from citizens Of
New York, oondemning the fugitive slave Law uu-
constitutional and asking for It's repeal that they
may be relieved from all obligation to its provisions
Laid on tho table.
| THE SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
Mr.. SEWARD offered resolution, directing the Naval
Committee to inquire into the sxpedency OF author
izing the Secretary ofthe Navy to despatch steam
propsler to assist the vessels searching for Sir Joh
franklin. Laid over.
| THE ABDUCTION AMERICAN CITIZEN.
| Mr.. Stewards resolution that the President oomuu-
nicate to the Senate any Information he may have
concerning the forcible abduction Of citizen of the
United States and OF his conveyance to be reduced
| into peon ssrvitude in Mexico, was taken up and
adopted.
THE MExicAs INDEMNITY, ETC.
Mr.. HALE offered resolution calling for the cor
respondence by the Mexican Minister in relation to
| the payment Of the Mexican indemnity. Laid over
Several revolutions of inquiry were adopted
| sENAToRsHiP.
Mr.. BADoER reported resolution directing that two
thousand dollars be paid to Mr.. Weightman for his
expenses and mileage in coming to Washington q,
Senator of New Mexico.
| VESSEL FOR KossUTH AND ATRIors.
Mr. FooTE called up the joint resolution, author
zng the Secretary of the Navy to place vessel for the
use of Kossuth and his ompanons to bring them to
| ing.
PENSIONS WIDOWS OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS,
Mr.. HALE called up the House joint resolution ex-
tending pensions to all widows OF revolutionary sol.
diers, whether widows at the time the pension laws
| were passed OF not. 1t was debated and passed
| bills FROM THE HOUSE.
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was 70.
he nd rafar
Hon.s Aoadsny bin was returned from the
pristing twelve thousand dollars for a riding school
Mr. HUNTER moved that the Senate reoede Lost
The Senate insisted on its amendment, and confer
| ence. Committee appointed
| PASSAGE OF POSTAGE BILL
&The Postsge bill was put on its passage and Mr. Bon.
routes connected WIKI ae and extent Of
territory and argued for an hour and half against
| any reduction OF postage.
The bill pas'ed-yess 39 nays15.
| REVENUE coLLEcriosstN CALIFORNIA.
The bill which was under debate yesterday, direct
Ing that the duties collected in Csliforns prior to No.
vember IL lsis be paid into the Unitsd States tres
| sury, was passed.
| military ASYLUM
The bill to found military asylum for Invalid and
disablsd soldiers was taken up.
| Mr.. UspERwooD opposed the bill.
| Gen SHIELDS and Col. JgrrrRsoN D AVIS replied.
The bill then passsd-yeas 40, nays5
| THE POST orficE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
| Was taken up and Mr. HUNTER moved to add sixty.
six thousand dollars for the Incidental
expenses ofthe Post Once Department In California
Adopted. r''
GwN proposed an amendnsnt, that when dead letters
have been opened they shs be remalsd writer's
| After de bate, this was rejected
Mr.. RusK moved to amend the bill by adding thereto
provision granting the right Of way for telegraph
| line to the Pacific
Mr.. HUNTER raised point OF order stating that the
| amendment was not in order
The CuAIr ruled the amendment out of order.
After debate, the Senate sustained the Chair and
| the bill was than engrossed.
| LIABILITY sHIr OWNERS
| mr HAmLiS endesvored 10 get up the bill limiting
the liability of ship owners
| long debate ensued during which
Messrs. BUTLER and GwtS urged the necessity for
executive session on California business.
The bill was taken up, aad Mr.. HanLIs explained
Hs raid that, under the present Law If vessel bs lest
by fre while at q wharf her owners are responssl
The first section OF this bill limits the liability for
goods on board to cases where nre and ls.. Is sus-
The second sectiep provides that any shipper OF ps
tina gold geld dust buon OF other pre- ,ious metals
| shall lade them board OF any vessel, without.
at the time Of go doing giving 10 the master agent
on owner OF the ve.sel a note or description In
wrirg Of the value and character of said shipment
the mater and owners of such vessel shall not
be liable carriers thereof in any former
sha the liability be for beysnd the vsue OF goods
described Thethrd 'ecion provides that the liability
for element destruction for loss by collision
occurring without priority consent Of shall
not exceed the amount value OF OF
respectively In such hip vessel ami her freight
then pending Section tour provides n m ode of
covering from the owners the damages sustained by
shippers Section ve provides that the charter-r OF
such veseel at his expense or By hi procurement,
shall be deemed the owner OF such vessel within the
meaning OF this act sestion six provides ths. thi,
law shall not be construed TO take away affect q
| remedy on account Of any smbezzement injury or
loss, on account Of negligence. fraud OF other
| malv.ration OF the master, officers or mariners.
Section provides that any one shipping vitrol
up,lacked lime, inHsmmsbe matches, or gunpo wdsr,
In ship taking cargo for divers persons freight,
without delivering a. the tins snt d.scrip
ton OF the same 70 the master. mate, or person In
ehsrge OF the a1ing of the ,hp vessel shall forfeit
TO the United States 81 900 The act does not apply
to owners OF canal boats to lighters employed in
tstion Mr. ~. briefly urged In favor Of the passage
Of this bill, ne due to com mereiai intere.t'.
MT BrrIfn wa. opposed TO action on such an i'm.
plan to adhere TO the old common Law applcsb. to
common carriers.
been fully considered and that thu sensts pre-
pared TO act. He was ready TO vote for the bill:
Mr. USpEHwsoD opposed the hrst section oi the BILL,
and was oppofed to any action on the subj ,c at this
time.
pressive and wrong, and whether time was short or
not the bll ought 70 be passed
ar PHslrs, by way OF sts.t vote, moved It he laid
on the table; which vas lost lie then observed that
Mr.. PrsRcs moved an amendment excepting from
the till vessels engaged In river navigation After de-
Mr. Bapcsn oppossd the bill. lie though. /. unsafe
and un-i,e TO depart from the established principles
Mr. PHrrs replied that the reason for the string rent
rule Of common ia- had long since passed away and
the rule she ud follow t Great Britain had
that rule and confeqnenly now Was successful
competitor In the carrying trade.
Mr.. Pr.kcr moved an adjournment Lost.
The bill was then reported 20 the Senate, and the
amen dments were ccncurrsd in
Mr WAiKyR opposed the bill.
Mr. RERHlES thought that more time should bs
give to this bill and moved 20 amend by combining
the limitation from liability 60 any loss srsing from
any csu.e which " excepted in ths bill Of lading
without the fault Of the carrier or his agents This
debated and lost.
ON motion Of Mr. HaNLiS, proyiso was added 70
the frst section "hst notbin herein contained shall
prohibit a party from mahng any contract they think
proper In the premhes. Adopted.
The bin wa. then eugrossea.
Hts TRtfNps.
The Kotsuth Joint resolution, providing vessel 10
convey the urtfious patriot and his com PsnoRs 70
America, parsed and the Senate adjourned