The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-30
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
MONDAY, March 20, 1852.
SENATE.
FIRST SESSION.

MONDAY, March 30, 1882
SENATE
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communi-
cation from the Secretary OF War, made In COM
pliance with resolution Of the Senate oil the 2ath
instant, calling forinformation whether any charges
had been filed in his Department against the com
missioner appointed to mark the boundary line be-
tween the United States and Mexico, &c. The
Secretary states that charges have been filed in
that Department. and, as the commissioner ID In nc
manner accountable TO that Department, char ges
could properly be filed against him; but states also
on the information OF the chief of the bureau of To-
biographical Engineers, that an officer of that
corps, detached from duty on that commission did
deposit certain manuscript containing various
allegations of official misconduct against the
missioner Over this manuscript, as it forms no
part Of the records Of the Department. the Secre-
tary has no control, though he Ia informed that the
owner of it is willing it should be laid before the
Senate.
LANDS ToR RAILROAD PURPOSES.
Mr.. WALKER presented nine petitions from
citizens of Wisconsin, praying grants OF land to
that State to aid in the construction of various
railroads therein.
Mr. DODGE, of Wisconsin, presented ten petit
lions, asking land for the same purposes.
Mr.. WALKER presented petitions praying that
land may be given without cost to actual settlers.
wooDwoRTHs PATENT.
Mr.. MANG UNI presented petitions from the
State OF New York in favor of extension Of
Wood worth's patent.
Mr.. FISH presented similar petitions.
TRKsrAss IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Mr.. SHIELDS presented petition of inhabitants
Of the city and county Of Washington, d. c., pray
ing the enactment Of a law for the punishment Of
ton limits Of said city, and within the county OF
Washington. Referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
OCEAN POSTAGE.
MIR. SUMNER presented petitions from Massa
chusetts and New Hampshire in favor of cheap
ocean postage.
Mr., BRODHEAD presented the petition OF nli-
metous citizens of Pennsylvania, praying modi-
fcation of the tariff Of 1916, by an increase of the
duty on iron.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr.. WALKER presented the petition Of citizens
OF Milton, Rock county, Wisconsin, signed by
men, women. and children, praying repeal of the
Fugitive Slave law; which. on his motion, was
laid on the table.
lIr SEWARD presented four petitions of citi-
zens Of New York, and memorial Of the Cain
Quarterly Meeting Of the Religious Society of
Friends Of Pennsylvania, praying the repeal of the
Fugitive Slave law.
Also the petition of inhabitants of Marceus,
New York, praying that Congress would adopt
slavery. He moved their reference to the Com.
Inittee on the Judiciary
MIR. MASON said that be understood this
motion TO refer to the Judiciary Committee certain
petitions praying the repeal OF the Fugitive Slave
law; he would make no objection to the reference,
but would leave the subject to the Senate.
Mr.. NORRIS asked that the question be divided.
He moved that the five petitions praying the repeal
OF the Fugitive Slave law be laid the table, and
that motion, asked for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered
The question was taken, and decided in the
attlrmative-yeas 80, nays las follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Atchison, Badger, Bay
ard, Borland. Bradbury, Brodhead, Brooke, Cass,
Clarke, Clemens, Cooper, Dawson. Dodge OF Iowa,
Douglas. Downs, Fetch. Geyer, Gwin, Hunter,
Jones Of Iowa, Jones OF Tennessee, King, Mallory
Maugum. Mason, Miller, Norris, Rusk Sebastian,
spruance, Underwood, and Walker-33.
NAYS.-Messrs. Chase, Davis Dodge of Wiscon.
sin, Fish, Foot, Hale Hamin, Seward, Sumner,
Upnam, and Wade-n.
Digestion being made to the reception of the pc
hton praying the extinction of slavery
Mr.. DAWSON asked if the Senator from New
York believed Congress had the power to do What
was prayed by the petitioners; If not he must OBJ
ect TO the reception Of petition asking for action
beyond the power Of Congress.
MIR. NORRIS moved that the motion to receive
the petition be laid on the table.
Mr.. SEWARD said he presented tbe petition;
on the same principle that he always presented pc
ttiops; that was that the people have a right e
address Congress by petitions. and that it Is the
duty Of Congress TO receive them.
Mr.. HALE called the Senator to order.
The question was then taken Mr.. NoRRrs's
motion. and decided in the Acknowledgment SO
nays6-as follows;
YEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Atchison, Badge Bay
ard, Borland. Bradbury Brodhead, Brooke, Cas-
Clarke. Clemens, Dawson, Dodge OF Iowa, Doug
Las, Do~ns, Felch, Fish, Geyer, Gwin, Hamlin
Hunter. Jones OF Iowa, Jones Of Tennessee, King
Mallory. Mangum, Mason, Miller, Norris Rhett
Rusk. Sebastian, Shields, Spruance, Underwood
and Waiker-36
NAYS-,lessrs. Dodge of Wisconsin, Foot
Hale, Seward, Sumner, and Wade-6
Mr. HALE presonted a petition praying for the
repeal Of the Fugitive Save law. He said that
among other reasons given by the petitioners for
the repeal of the law was that IL held out bride TO
the judges 70 decide against freedom; it gave the
Judge hive dollars fee in case Of acqutta, and ten
dollars for conviction.
Mr.. MANG u NJ repelled the intimatiou contain
ed in the petition as libel, Islander. and out
rageous calumny upon the judiciary of the country
And after some remarks by Messrs. HALE and
MASON
The petition, motion by Mr.. MANG UNI, wa.
ordered TO lie on the table.
TINE pzFIenscy nLt.
message received from the House, an
nooncing the passage Of the bill making appropria
tons TO supply deficiencies in the annual appro
priations Tor the year 1852 and, on motion by Mr.
HUNTER, the bill wac referred to the ComInitte,
on Finance.
TINE hmIsTAD CLAIMS
Mr.. MASON, from the Committee on Foreign
Relations, reported bill to indemnify the master
and owners Of the Spanish schooner Amistsd. lie
said that there was proprety in having this bi
passed at this PERIOD Tie moved that Il be mad,
The special order of the day for April the 9th.
Mr.; UNDERWOOD opposed the motion, anc
urged later day; more pressing and importan
business would require the attention Of Congress
till that time.
Mr.. MASON modified bis motion. 80 az TO post
pone u TO, and make IL the special order Of the da
for, Monday, the Goth OF April.
Mr.. HALE desired the question divided, 20 as Il
vote bret upon postponing.
The question wac then taken on the postpone
rnent and agreed 20;
And recurring upon making the bill a specia
order, IL was decided in the negative
Mr.. MASON asked when the bill would com,
UP for confederation
The CHAIR sad on the 26th Of April
Mr.. MASON asked whether II would then be
special ordcrl
The CHAIR eaid IL would not. II would take 81
place in the general orders.
Mr.. MASON then moved 10 reconsider the vot
postponing the bill; and the same reoonsid
cred.
He then withdrew bis motion to postpone an,
the bill took lite place on the calendar.