Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-01
UNITED STATES SENATE.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW "a

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr.. WALKER presented the petition ofcitizens
of Milton, Rock county, Wisconsin, signed by
men, women and children, praying arepeal of the
Fugitive Slave law; which on his motion, was laid
on the table.
Mr.. SEWARD presented four petitions of cti-
zens of New York, and memorial of the Cain
Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of
Friends of Pennsyvania, praying the repeal of the
Fugitive Slave law.
Also, the petition of inhabitants of Marcellus,
New York, praying that Congress would adopt
such measures as would result in the extinction of
slavery. He moved their reference to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Mason said that he understood this was
motion to refer to the Judiciary Committee GER
tain petitions praying the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave law; he would make no objection to the
reference but would leave the subject to the SEN
ate.
Mr.. NoRRIs asked that the question be divided
He moved that the five petitions praying the re-
peal of the Fugitive Slave law be laid on the table,
and, on that motion, asked for the yeas and nays
which were ordered.
The question was taken, and decided in the
af1irmative-yeas 33, nays las follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Adams, Atchison, Badger, Bay
ard, Borland, Bradbury, Brodhead, Brooke, Cass,
Clarke, Clemens, Cooper, Dawson, Dodge Iowa.
Douglas, Downs, Fetch, Geyer, Gwin, Hunter,
Jones of Iowa, Jones of Tennessee King, Mallory
Mangum, Mason, Miller, Norris, Rusk Sebastian
Spruance, Underwood, and Waker-33.
NAYs.-Messrs. Chase, Davis, Dodge of Wis
consin, Fish, Foot. Hale Hamlin, Seward Sum-
ner Upham, and Wade-1l.
Objection being made to the reception Of the pc
tition 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
ject to the reception of a petition asking for
ton beyond the power of Congress.
Mr.. NORRIS moved that the motion to receive
the petition be laid on the table.
Mr.. SEWARD said he presented the petitions on
the same principle that he always presented petit
tions that was, that the people have right to
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 on Mr.. Norris
motion, and decided in the affirmative-yeas SO,
nays Gas follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Adams, Atchison, Badger, Bay
ard, Borland Bradbury, Brodhead Brooke, Cass,
Clarke, Clemens, Dawson, Dodge of Iowa, Dou-
glas, Downs, Felch, Fish, Greyer Gwin, Hamlin,
Hunter, Jones of Iowa, Jones of Tennessee, King,
Mallory, Mangum Mason, Miller, Norris, Rhett,
Rusk, Sebastian, Shields, Spruance, Underwood
and Waker-36.
NArs-Messrs. Dodge of Wisconsin, Foote,
Hale, Seward, Sumner, and Wade-6.
Mr. HALE presented petition praying for the
repeal of the Fugitive slave law. He said that
among other reasons given by the petitioners for
the repeal Of the law was, that it held out bride
to the judges to decide against freedom; 1t gave
the Judge five dollars fee in case OF acquittal, and
ten dollars for conviction.
Mr. MANGuN repealed the intimation contain
ed in the petition as a libel SANDER, and an out
rageous calumny upon the Judiciary of the coun-
try.
And after some remarks by Messrs HALE and
MASON
The petition, on motion by Mr.. MANGUM, was
ordered to lie on the table.