The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-15
purpcso being objected to, the House adjourn.
ed at half past three o'clock
FRIDAY APRu q


Mr.. Daniel, Of North Carolina moved that
the debate on the Location bill should close in
two hours after the House in Committee again
took it up.
Several resolutions, by different members.
were proposed and objected to; after which,
the House went into Committee on the private
calendar
Mr.. Bartlett, of Vermont. then EXPRESSED
himself as opposed to the bill, upon the ground
that slavery did not exist among the Seminole
nation, and that no act of military command
er could give it existence nor could the Cen
eral Government sanction it where it did not
previously exist
Mr.. Walsh, of Maryland. said he rose TO
correct legal error that had occurred during
the debate, which was that it was necessary TO
prove that slavery existed among the Seminoles
contrary to decision of the Supreme Court
to which he alluded The Indians he said
were not separate nation, but are amenable
to the laws of the country, and might AS well
as free persons of color hold slaves. He then
alluded to the contract entered into with the
Creeks, by which they acquired the right of
property IN the negroes they had captured. and
which, with the sanction of the Government
was transferred to General Watson. He con.
permitted the negroes alluded TO 10 be carried
to the head Of the Mississippi they were bound
to return General Watson the money which he
had paid for their purchase
MIR. Sutherland, Of New Jersey, reviewed
the facts connected with the case. He said the
negroes were living with the Seminoles as
slaves and were proved to be such bv annie
testimony. 1t was the policy of the Govern.
ment he said, that they should not be carried
West by the Semnoes or the Creeks and
hence the arrangement entered into with Gen.
erai Watson, by which he was induced to nav
$4,000 for their purchase, and which the
Government was not enabled to carry out. He
therefore considered the claim before the Com.
mlttee as founded in justice, whether the ne
groes were slaves or not and that Congress
was bound to vote the amount which Watson
had paid for property he did not obtain.
MIR. Sweetzer, of Ohio said he should waive
the consideration of the question whether tbs
negroes were slaves or not, but contended tina,
the contract entered into with the Creeks con.
ferred no power on the Government. under
the Constitution, to make the arrangement
which had been alluded to, with Watson, and
by which the Government was subsequently
embarrassed. He'was in favor of passing the
bill, If 1t could be proved that the faith Of the
| Government was involved and thus TO prove 70
| the South and the world that Congress was do
termined to maintain its integrity.
Mr.. Daniel of North Carolina. closed tn,
debate by reviewing the objections that ha,
been urged against the bill, and recapitulatin,
the circumstances connected with case whci
has 80 often occupied the attention of Congress
and concluded with submitting certain docu
ments in support of his opinion, that the bill
should pass, and by moving that the Commit
tee rise, and that the Chairman report the bill
with a recommendation that it pass.
The Committee then rose, and Mr.. DAME
moved that it be engrossed and read a third
| time.
Pending this motion. it was resolved that
when the House adjourn, it adjourn to meet on
Monday next
IL was then moved that the House adjourn
upon which tellers were ordered and the mo-
ton was rejected.
Mr.. Daniel moved that the bill do pass upon
which, the yeas and nays being ordered, it was
ordered to be engrossed and read third time
and passed-yeas 49, nays So After which,
the House adjourned till Monday
MONDAY, APRIL 10
The House, on motion of Mr.. Stanton, OF
Kentucky, took up the bill from the Senate
appropriating five hundred thousand dollars
for continuing the work on the two wings Of
7 the Capitol The House concurred in tn,
amendment Of that body, limiting the contracts
to be made by the architect and the Secretar,
of the Interior, and non-concurred in that pro
posing to pay the workmen for the time the,
| have been idle The vote on the latter was
yeas 10, nays 1873.
MIR. Brown, of Mississippi, asked unanimou
consent to introduce resolution, that neithe
the joint resolution OF 1916, directing the mar
nor Of procuring the printing for the tw
Houses, authorizes, or shall be so construed q
to authorize, the Joint Committee on Printin
TO discharge one contractor and employ al
other, or to take the printing from ono perso
and give it to another: but in all cases wher
! the committee shall deem that there has bee
} neglect of duty or unnecessary delay on tn
part of the public printer the fact shall be re
ported to Congress and the committee shall b
governed by its advice.
The House refused 10 suspend the rules 70
the introduction of the resolution-yeas 90
nays 60
i Mr.. Haven, Of the Committee on Printing
desired to inform the House of what has beer
done by the committee, but objection wa
made.
Mr. Orr asked leave TO introduce resolu
ton requiring the Committee of Ways an,
Means TO report on Tuesday, the Goth inst, a
half past ~ O'Clock, bill to exempt railroad
iron from duty.
The House refused to suspend the rules fol
the reception of the resolution-yeas So, nay,
| 95
Mr.. Robbins moved a suspension of tho ruler
| to introduce resolution providing for an I'D
journment Of the two Houses ON Monday, the
5th Of July, at IL o'clock but the motion did
not prevail
Various efforts were made to transact bust
ness, but failing in them,
The House adjourned.