Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-07-20
Congress.

tuesday, July 1os
SENATE.-Mr. Adams moved to take up the
bill granting a pension to the widow Of
Batchelder, who was killed in Boston. OBJ
jected to.
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial of the
Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of
Slavery, arguing that under the tenth section
of that law free colored man had been sent
back to slavery.
Mr.. Dawson denied the statement of facts
offered in connection with the memorial.
Mr.. Rusk said that in the papers accompa-
nying the petition, was one to the reception
of which he objected. 1t reflected grossly
and falsely on the South. SEA
Mr. Mason said that Senator presenting
paper was responsible for it. He asked that
it may be read. 1t was then read, after
which long debate ensued,
The case referred to in the memorial, was
that of colored man in Philadelphia, who
had escaped from slavery in Georgia, by con-
Cealing himself under the guards of steam"
boat, and who was re-aTested at Wilmington,
Delaware; yet, Notwithstanding the positive
evidence that he wss free man, he was, un-
der the working of the fugitive slave law, re-
turned to slavery.
The Senator from Massachusetts, in pre-
senting the memorial, added few brief
comments. 81 10
MI. Clay, of Alabama, said, the dog will
return to his yomit, but he, for one, was tired
of hearing these hackneyed phrases, which
were almost continually repeated in violation
of the order of the Senate.
Mr.. Sumner replied, I am in the habit
Of answering argument on this floor, when it
is presented by my peers, but when a Senator
does not keep within rules Of propriety and
order in debate that man is not my peer"
Mr.. Dawson, of Georgia, reproved Mr..
Sumner for renewing the agitation of the
slavery question, and asserted that the man
who was arrested at Wilmington, was in real
ity and legally slave.
Mr.. Bayard, of Delaware, denounced the
authorof the letter giving an account of the
arrest at Wilmington, and stated that the
assertions relative to the case were unworthy
of belief; they were, no doubt, the rawlings
of some maniac. The abolitionists, he added,
had several times been convicted of aiding in
the escape of runaway slaves
Mr.. Benjamin, of Louisiana, asked Mr.
Sumner whether he recognized any obligation,
under the Constitution he had sworn to sup
| port, to deliver fugitive slaves.
Mr. Sumner asked the Senator from Louis
lana whether, in his own State, or South
| Carolina, there existed laws which refused to
| colored man, citizen of Massachusetts, his
! freedom when in those States, and selling him
into slavery to pay his jail fees.
Mr.. Benjamin admitted that there were
such laws in force, but he regarded them as
| unconstitutional.
Mr. Sumner asked if the Senator from
Louisiana wa. willing to introduce bill IN
! Congress, carrying out the provision of the
| Constitution guaranteeing to the citizens OF
one State the rights of citizenship in another.
l,.1 41,oE l. f1n
question an extraordinary one he said that
the Senator improved upon the Yankee rule,
| by answering one question by asking two.
Mr.. Sumner said the Senator from Louis
lana must explain his position on these points,
before he could confront the discussion.
Mr.. Benjamin respectfully declined further
| discussion.
Messrs. Slidell, Toombs, Gwin and others,
refused to permit Senator Sumner to rejoin.
A vote was had upon the memorial, when
it was laid upon the table, by yeas 81, nays
IA.
Mr.. Badger withdrew his motion to recon-
slider the vote passing the Pacific Telegraph
bill, and the bill is now passed.
The Homestead bill was then taken up.
Mr.. Stuart, at the suggestion of friends Of
the bill, withdrew his substitute.
| Mr.. Weller made a lengthy speech in favor
of liberal policy towards foreigners and in
strong denunciation of Know N things, dur
Jet 81 Tie 6ssftSHne Gf f6Fe anG at the battle
of Cherubusco.
Mr.. Benjamin followed Mr.. Weller agains
the bill, and Mr.. Cass replied, when the ques-
ton was taken on Mr.. Brodheads motion t.
amend the original bill by striking out the
words free of cost, and inserting at so cents
per acre, and was decided in the negative
yeas 20, nays u.
Mr.. Weller moved to strike out the same
words and insert so cents per acre to be paid
at the expiration of five years, and the settler
to be credited at 90 cents per acre for each
acre he may have reduced to actual cultiva-
ton. Rejected, 8 to Al.
Senate adjourned.
HousH.-Mr. Phillips asked leave to intro
| duce bill providing that all territory acquired
! from Mexico, under the Gadsden treaty be
| incorporated with New Mexico, and subject to
all the laws Of that territory.
Mr.. Peckham objected. f
The House took up the bill to repeal SO
much of the act of August 80, 1852, as makes
a reduction of 80 per cent. on prepaid postage
| on newspapers and periodicals.
MIR. Olds proposed to put the bill on its pas
sage.
Mr.. washburn, of Maine, opposed the
bill. a7' & -
Gerritt Smith repeated his views against
Government having anything to do with pos
tai matters.
Mr.. Elliot, of Massachusetts,, could see no
reason for the passage of the bill.
Before disposing of the subject, the morn
ing hour expired.
kAlThe House then went into COMMITTEES on
the Army Appropriation bill. The amend
ment pending was to restore the civil superin-
tendency at the National Armores, and after
some debate. it was agreed to-ayes Ss, nays
80. Without disposing of the bill, the Com.
mittee rose and the House adjourned.
The CHoLERA.--The deaths at St. Louis for
the week ending July 10th, were 500, great