Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-02
COmgrfssiOnal.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate-saturday, July 1, 1884.
FUGITIVE sLAyE'LAw.

i
Senate-Saturday, July 1, 1854.
FUoITIvE sLAvE'LAw.
Mr.. SUMNER presented the memorial of ga
men of Massachusetts, principally citizens of
Boston, praying the repeal of the fugitive slave
law, which was referred.
| He gave notice that on Monday, or some early
day, he would ask leave 10 introduce bill to re-
peal the act of September, 1850, usually known as
the fugitive slave law.
Mr.. ROCKWELL presented memorials of the
citizens of Lowell, Mass. against the employment
OF military superintendent of the national ar
mories.
Mr.. BRIGHT presented the memorial Of 81 in
spectors ofthe customs, at Baltimore, Maryland,
asking an increase OF compensation.
TEXAS CREDITORS.
Mr.. BRIGHT, from the Committee on Finance,
10 which had been recommtled the bill for the
satisfaction ofthe claims of The citizens of the late
Republic OF Texas, reported the same back with
The bill provides for the distribution pro rata
among the creditors, $S,500,000.
LAW DEPARTMENT..
Mr.. ADAMS from the Committee on Retrench-
ment reported bill 10 establish department of
law, 10 prescribe certain duties of the auditors
and comptrollers of the Treasury, and for other
purposes.
(fhe bill establishes law department of which
the attorney general shall be the superior officer
he shall perform all the duties of his Office Of
attorney general shall prepare, record, and attest
all JUDICIAL appointments, and shall have the direc-
lion of the duties of The several district attorneys,
and also OF the solicitor of the treasury, who shall
hereafter be styled the solicitor of the United
States, whose Office is, by this blu transferred 10
the law department.
Section two confers upon the attorney general
the supervisory power over The accounts of mar
shals clerks and other officers Of the courts of
the United States.
Section three provides for the appointment Of
an assistant attorney genera by the President
and the Senate, at salary of SO 500 per annum,
who shall have one clerk at salary of ST. 800 per
annum.
Section four provides that if the attorney gen.
eral or the assistant attorney general be required
10 attend to the interests of the United States in
any court without the District of Columbia he
shall be allowed therefor such compensation as
the President may direct
Section FIVE gives the President power 10 APP
point temporary attorney general, whenever in
case OF the death, absence, or inability of the
attorney general.
Section six provides for chief clerk for the
new department, at the same salary as the chief
clerks OF the other departments, one clerk Of the
fourth class, two of the third class, one Of the
second class, and ono of the first class, and two
messengers. as
Section seven provides for division among
the several auditors and comptrolers Of the
treasury the settlement of the accounts of the
several departments.
Section eight provides for classification of the
clerks in the State Department.
Section nine increases the salary of the COM
missioner of public buildings to $4,000, and al
lows him two clerks, at an annual salary each of
81 500.
SCHOOL LANDS.
On motion Of Mr.. JOHNSON the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration Of the bill allowing
exchanges OF, and granting additional school lands
IN, the States which contain public lands; which
was considered and passed.
TELEGRAPH TO THE PACIFIC.
On motion of Mr.. GWIN the Senate proceeded
to the consideration Of the bill to authorize the
construction of line of telegraph from the Mis-
sissippi river 10 the Pacific ocean, was taken up
and made the special order for Wednesday next.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. CLAYTON moved that the Senate proceed
10 the consideration of the bill for the more effec-
tual suppression Of the slave trade by restricting
the transfer and sale Of American condemned YES
sells in foreign ports. .na@f
Mr.. SUMNER said that he had not had the on
portunity Of giving the bill the consideration he
would wish. 1t would, he thought require amend.
ment. lie knew one senator who desired TO dis
cuss the subject at length. He made these sug-
gestions a reason for allowing the bill TO lie on
MIR. CLAYTON said, if the bill was to be de-
ieated he wanted the country to know that il was
bill 10 suppress the slave trade
The motion was then agreed to.
Mr.. CLAYTON moved some neutral amend.
ments, which were agreed TO. He said that this
bill would take away the nationality of those
American vessels engaged in this slave trade, and
would enable foreign cruizers TO board, search,
and detan them.
Mr. HAMLIN said that while he would vot.
Tor the bill as II now stood, he thought it could be
made more effecual by prohibiting entirely all
trade IN American vessels between South America
and Inc coast OF Africa. 1t was too far 10 require
vessel sold in the ports of South America to re-
turn 10 the United States for new register
There was no trade between South America and
AFRICA that was not connected with the African
slave trade.
Mr.. CLAYTON expressed an unwillingness 70
oppose the great interest of ship building and
navigation.
Mr.. PETIT moved an amendment appropr.
ating S23OO0O annually 10 enable the American
Colonization Society TO establish line of armed
steamers between the United States and the coast
Of Africa
After few remarks by Messrs PETIT
HUNTER, and BRIGHT, the Bill
was postponed till Wednesday next
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.
Mr.. GWIN, from the Committee of Conference
on the dlsagreeing votes upon the resolution for
an adjournment of Congress- reported thew bpJ
agreed TO recommend.an adjournment sine III ION
Friday, the 18th of August; and the report was
agreed 10.
BILLS PASSED.
Mr.. DODGE, Of Iowa, reported back House bill
:, :. estapiish Inc Office OF surveyor general for
New Mexico, Kansas, and Nebraska and to grant
DONATIONS Oh land 10 actual settlers herein and for
other purposes; and the same was considered
and passed.
Also, a bill TO vest in the several States and Ter
rltorles the title in fee of the lands which have
been or may be certified TO them and the same
was considered and passed.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr. HOUSTON addressed the Senate Till four
clock, in personal ex MIA etion IF b;s o,,,,,
and conduct with respect TO Commodore 10. w
Moore OF the Navy Of the late Republic of Texas.
md in defence OF himself for charges preferred
lganst him at various times by the said Moore.
de had not concluded when he yielded the floor
Mr. OWN, on whose motion the Senate pro.
'eeded to the consideration Of executive bushes,
ind shortly after
Adjourned till Wednesday.