The daily union., 1854-07-19
CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Third Congress First Session.
TUESDAY, JULY IS, 1854.
SENATE.
THE WIDOW or BATcHELDER.

| THE WIDOW or
Mr. ADAMS endeavored to have the bill for the relief Of
the widow of James c. Batchelder who was killed while
assisting the United States marshal the district of Mas
aehusetts in the execution OF law of Congress taken up
Tor consideration but objection made, and the bill
was not considered.
| FUaITIvE-sIAvE
Mr. SUMNER presented memorial of the Pennsy yania
Society for the Promotion Of the Abolition Slavery pray
ing the repeal of the fagitiyesave law of 1850 The
mortal refers to the of Ned Davis, who was
sent to Georgia slave, although there positive ey
dence Of his freedom MIR. s. made few remarks the
subject in presenting the memorial and moved its refer
/ ence to the Committee on the Judiciary
Mr. DAWSON deprecated the renewal Of agitation on
the subject Of slavery and asserted that Davis legally
| a slave.
| After some further discussion,
Mr. BENJAMIN inquired Of Mr.. SUMNER what were his
views of the clause in the constitution providing the
delivery Of fugityes from service or labor to those 10
whom such service or labor may be due and whether he
Mr. SUMNER said that before answering that question
he desired to ask the senator from Louisiana question
Did he regard those laws in Louisiana South Carolina
by which free coored citizen of Massachusetts, could be
seized and imprisoned for fault and them If unable
the jail fees, sold into actual slavery consistent
with that provision of the constitution which declares that
eiens o. each state shall enjoy The rights and privileges
Mr.. BENJAMIN had hesitation in declaring that
| such laws were unconstitutional
Mr.. SUMNER was grafed to hear that declaration He
would also like know whether the from Louis
lana would in his capacity as member of the Senate in
troduce bill to carry out the provisions of the consti-
tOn guarantyng the coored citizens Of the northern
States their rights when visiting the southern States
Mr. BENJAMIN thought the course Of the senator from
Massachusetts, very extraordinary He had simply asked
for information to the senator's understanding Of of
the clauses of the constitution that senator had
nounced that he was bound TO support the constitution
he understood it but instead of replying he had subjected
him ir b. to series Of interrogatories. It was the
Yankee way to reply to question by asking another but
the senator had asked two Iaughterl He did not de-
sire to open discussion at this time the whole sub
ect Of the institution of slavery but he merely wished to
know whether the from Massachusetts recognised
of ne free O
gess to return fugitive slaves who had escaped from their
masters.
Mr. SUMNER said that before replying to that question,
the point to which he had alluded must be settled. It
must be scertaned whether the senator would admit the
constitution to which he had alluded He proceeding
to reply more at length, when 5
Mr.. GWIN moved to lay the memorial on the table
Mr.. SUMNER claimed that he had the floor, and 1t was
not competent for the senator to make that motion.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BnIeHT in the chair)
put the question amid much confusion; whereupon
Mr. SUMNER called for the yeas and nays; which were
ordered
The question being taken by yeas and nays the mo-
tion to lay the memorial the table, it agreed to-
yeas 81, nays l4-as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Adams, Allen Atchiaon, Badger Bayard,
benjamin, Bright Brodhead, Brown, Cass, Clay Clayton
rick Geyer, Gwin Houston Hunter Johnson Jones of Iowa.
Jones of Tennessee Mallory, Mason Norris Pet Pratt,
| Toucey, and weller-37.
NAfsMessrs; Butler, Chase, Dodge Of Wisconsin, , Fes
ner, Toombs, Wade, and Waker-l4.
TELEGRAPH PACIFIC.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration Of the bill to
authorize the construction Of suberranean line Of tele
graph from the Mississippi or Missouri river to the Pachc
ocean the pending question being the motion submit
ted time since by Mr. BADGER to reconsider the vote
on the passage of the bill. saa rsFtt
Mr.. BADGER asked leave Withdraw the motion
consider and hoped that would be made test question: TO
indicate the sense Of the Senate on the bill.
The question being TAKEN leave TO withdraw the motion
was granted--yeas 3d. nays l9--as follows:
YEAs-Messrs Allen, Badger, Bell BENJAMIN, Brodhead,
Cass Chase Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa Douglas
tom James Jones Of Iowa. Jones Of Tennesee Norris Rock
WE'LL Rqsk, Sebastian Stuart Sumner, Thomson of New
NAYS-Messrs Atchison, Dayard, Brown, Butler, Clay
Pa Sd
Toombs, and Waker-l9.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the special
derbeing the bill from the House of Representatives
grant homestead of hundred and sixty Of the
public lands to actual settlers The question pending
on the motion Of Mr. BRopnnAp to amend the first
ton Of the BILL to charge fifty cents per for the
land granted, instead of its being free of cost
Mr. STUART withdrew the substitute which he offered
into the bill
Mr. WELLER addressed the Senate at some length in
favor of the bill He took occasion denounce the know
nohings remarking that he did not know what their
principles but that if they proissed the principles
which have been assigned to the and which to have
confidence of honest men, lie alluded to the remark
the senator from Delaware Mr. CLAYroN that this
organization had carried almost every election in which
they had mingled, and stated that in view of the nceas
ing power and extent of the order it expected to enter
into the presidential election prominent element
and he regarded the upon foreigners upon the
floor of the Senate bids for the support Of the know
nothings" in that election.
Mr. BENJAMIN opposed the bill with much earnestness
He alluded to the doctrine of prudent proprietorshp"
which had been relied sanconng the giving away
of the public lands for railroads and other purposes and
he could not how this bill could be defended upon
that principle. How the government to derive any
from the public lands if the bin should pass Peo
pie will buy lands when the government offers give
them away The passage of the bill would also inic in
jury the old States by Withdrawing the hardy and
industrious portion of their population and thus destroy
the political equilibrium between the States 1t would
either have this effect the benefits of the bill should be
confined TO foreigners. erE
Mr. CASS replied of the arguments Of Mr. BEN
and others After further debate, the question
being taken the amendment of Mr. BnopHrAp was re-
jected-yeas 2b, nays 27as follows
YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Badger, Bayard Benjamin Brod-
head, Butler Clay, Clayton, Dawson, Evans Fescnden
Fitzpatrick, Foot Hamn, Houston Hunter Mallory Ma
Norris Pearce, Pratt Rockwell Thompson Kentucky
Toombs and Toucey-25.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen Atchson, Bell, Bright, Brown
Douglas, Fish Geyer Gillette, Gwin Jones of Iowa.
of Tennessee Petit Sebastian, Shields Side Stuart Sum
ner Thomson of New Jersey, Wade Walker and Welor2
The question then REQUIRED on the amendment of Mr.
GwN to strike out the words free of cost in the FIRST
ton of the bill and insert in lisa thereof the words
twenty-five cents per acre payable when the patent shall
be issued"
Mr. WELLER moved to amend the amendment so as TO
provide that the land shall be paid for at the of fifty
turned for every which may have in that time been
mt cut Ip said lie oh tIvau IN have