The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-08
THIRTY SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WEDsEsDAy, April 7, 1852
SENATE.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.

Fugitive Slave law. He said that he intended up
on presenting these petitions to make no
marks upon the practical operations of this Fngi
tive Slave law by the ten-dolar judges which had
spawned upon the country. But as the general
subject Of the Compromise would be before the Sen
ate in few days, he would defer his remarks till
that time
Several other petitions were presented.
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF.
Mr.. DOWNS, from the Committee on the Ju
dietary, to whom had been referred the memosia
of citizens Of Washington county, in the District of
Columbia. reported bill to prevent malicious
mischief and protect private property in the Dis
tTict of Columbia.
ABsrRACTIoN pURLic RECORDS.
Mr.. DOWNS, from the same committee, TO
whom had been referred the message Of the Pr.si-
dent. relating to the abstraction Of papers and re-
cords from the Executive Departments, reported a
bill endatory Of the acts for the punishment of
crimes against the United States.
JAMES LEWIS.
Mr. DOWNS, from the same committee. reported
back House bill for the relief of James Lewis; and
the same was considered, read a third time, and
passed.
ELLIs's TEST GOALS.
Mr.. PRATT submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed to: f is
Resoluea, That the Secretary of the Navy be di
rcctcd to communicate to the Senate a copy of the
report of Engineer Ellis of his tcst of GOALS made
at the navy yard in Washington in May and June,
1851.
PRINTING REPORT ON oUNpowpER pEPoTs.
Mr.. FISH submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed to:
Ordered, That the communication from the Sec
rotary Of War, in relation to the establishment Of
dcpots for the preservation Of gunpowder be print
ed for the use of the Senate.
OF BUSINESS.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN moved to take up the bill to
restore certain reserved lands in Arkansas TO the
of public lands. He said the bill one which
would occupy but q few moments.
Mr.. MANGUM said that he had no objection to
the particular bill mentioned by the Senator, but
he objected to any departure from the regular
der OF business He would desire the chairman of
the Committee Public Buildings TO cay when
it was intended to bring before the Senate the joint
resolution providing for the extension OF the Capt.
tol. He thought that it was desirable that that
measure should be now acted upon, and the work
progressed with. @
Mr.. HUNTER said that he was not chairman of
the Committee on Public Buildings, but he was the
only member Of that committee present He thou ut
also that the measure mentioned by the Sena, or
should be taken up and acted upon at once. He
would be glad il il could be disposed of to- day 1t
was most desirable If it intended that the work
| should 60 on, that it be recommended now in this
favorable season.
MIR. SEBASTIAN said that the bill he desired to
have taken up could be disposed Of before the ex
piration of the morning hour.
Mr. RHETT desired TO leave the city Tomorrow,
and said he would be glad if the Apportionment
bill could be first disposed Of
had been set apart for the consideration of the
French Spoiaton bill lie would be glad if that
bill could be taken up and disposed Of ut an early
day. say Monday next.
MIR. HUNTER said that the Apportonment bill
could be disposed of day; and by general
sent the Capitol Extension bill could be taken up
to-mor
The question was then taken on Mr. SEpAsrIA Ms
motion, and no quorum voted.
MIR. SEBASTIAN then withdrew his notion
MIR. BRADBURY then moved that the bill pro-
viding for the entertainment and payment OF the
claims due American citizens for spoliations by
the French prior to 1901 be taken up, for the
purpose Of fixing day for its consideration.
MIR. CASS said he could not what preference
that bill should have over fifty others
Mr.. ATCHISON asked il the bill was not spc-
cial order at this time?
The CHAIR replied that it was.
Mr.. BRADBURY said that nearly two months
ago the bill was made special order, but had been
from time TO time set aside for other bils out of
tcsy. He wished now to have day fixed when it
would be courtesy TO consider that bill.
MIR. WIN said il the bill n special or
der, what benefit would it be TO make it doubiy SC,
MIR. ATCHlSON said that majority Of the Sen
ate could at any time take up any bill, and could
postpone eny special order; then why make this
bill a spec el ORDER
The CHx3R said the effect of motion to post
pcne the bill would be TO take it ont OF its place
among therpecial orders, and place it at the end
OF those orders
MIR. BRADBURY then withdrew his motion.
move to take up the bill for Consideration, and
would ask The yeas and nays on his motion.
REPRESENTATION cALryoRsIA.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF the bill supplementary 10 Gan act providing for
the Ia king of the seventh and subsequent censuscs
Of the United States, and to fix the number of the
members OF the House of Reprc1 ativcs and pro-
vide for their future apportonment among the
several States. approved May %, 1850. And the
motion was agreed 10.
The following a COpy of the bill.
Ne II enacted 6y NE Senate and House Of Rfprs
se,tafivss Of The United States IF -1nsrica in Con
grt'' dsstubed, That the Secretary of the Interior
proceed forthwith 10 apportion the representatives
among the several States, in accordance with the
provisions contained in the twenty ffth section of
the act OF twenty third May, eighteen hundred and
hfty, according to the returns OF population which
have been completed and returned 10 the census
Office In the Department, of the Interior including
the population Of the counties of San Francisco,
Santa Clara, and Contra Costa, in the State OF Cali
fornia, according 10 the returns made thereof by
the census agent Of California to the Secretary Of
the State OF California, amounting to twenty five
thousand two hundred and twenty four.
sro 2. lind bet Jwtdo enacted, Thst IT, at any
future dccennial enumeration of the inhab tnns OF
the United States, the Of any dstric or sub
division in the United States shall have been i'm
properly taken, II the returns Of any district
subdivision shnll be accidentally lost or DESTROYED
tho Secretary of the Interior shall have power to
order new enumeration Of such district cub
division.
SIC. g. 1nd Of at JWDier enact d, That the TWEEN
tieth section of the said act be amended by strk
ing out the wor "has been" from the last line
and inserting the words "may necessarily be" in
lieu thereof.
The effect of the bill "a to recognise the popula-
ton OF California as III ,3lS, which would leave
her froction Of % 6l6 the ratio emitting her
TO one Representative in the House Of Representa-
tyes. sh Juld this be established South Carolina.
having the largest fraction, viz, AZ AIS, would be
entitled to ono Representative for that fraction.
The QUESTION pending was on amendment sub
United by Mr.. BRADBURY, to amend the bill 30 us
TO increase the ~hole number Of Representatives to
two hundred and thirty four instead Of two hun
bred and thirty three, provided in the act of
May, 1850. thereby allowing to South Carolina the
member TO which shc is entitled to under the frac-
ton, and alec allowing one additional TO California
ON account OF the uncertainty Of the returns
from that State.
Dir. kllETT said he did not consider this quos.
lion so embarrassed as Senators supposed. The
object OF the oct Of 1850 avoid the scenes of
strife and difficulty which invariably took place
upon every apportionment bill whenever Congress
undertook to apporti1n the Representatives. II
provided for an apportonment 10 be made by the
Secretary OF the Interior, according to the returns
OF the ccnsus The law had been complied with,
and an appor nmcnt had been made a nd under IT,
on account OF having the largest unreprcscntod
traction, was assigned member. To this member
she wac entitled according TO existing law and sc