The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-03-03
CONGR ESSION PROCren,~,.,
NXNIlTd CONGRESS-.
WaShinoton. Feb

NNNIlId CONGRESS.
Washington, Feb. p.
SENATE.-Mr. Rusk, of Texas. from, :,
Committee of Conference upon the d;sa,,a.
mcnt ot the two Houses upon the t..
Debt bill, reported s., 15o. 600 AZ a com,,,a.a
iSe. N'-
IlOUsE.-Mr. BrcckcnriIcc of ke,.,,,
from Inc COMMITTEE of Conference on H.
Texas Creditors hill made report req M
mendcd the appropriation of 1000. 600. tn.
senate tiii recommends IS 900. O0o. H.,
House bill $1,000. GOO. WIT
ne ucoa't was continued to some I.n.,b
when Mr. Hamilton. of MARYLAND. novel
thai the report belai,l on the table. Nera,;,,.a
yeas 40, nays 20. The repor. was concur'
red in, yeas l2s, nays 40.
Thursday. Feb. p
SENATE.-Mr Chase. of Ohio rreser.o,
the petitions of certain citizens in New Vol.
praying for the repeal of the Fugitive Slare
Law, and moved their reference TO a spjec,
Committee
After some discussion, petitions were la,
on the table 10y vote of 30 to l,.
The senate resumed the consideration 90
the Invalid Pension bill, reported from .bo
Committee on Finance, with the recommor
dation that the Senate concur with the amend.
mcnts made in the House. Report alon.
ted
The bill TO extend the credit for duties q,
the railroad iron was then taken up. and tho
till passed yeas - navs Is.
Tho ,Jor,.;,,, -. - -- :, -,
TO provide tor final settlement of the claims
OF the officers OF the Revolutionary ARM
and the widows and orphans of those VIII
died in the service. Amended verbally. AM
passed yeas %. NAYS ID
DoCSE--filc House adopted the renc-.
OF the Committee of Conference on H..
Swamp Land bill and the bill passed.
sl"o."oo was appropriated for putin, ~
iron Dome on the Capitol
Friday, Feb 90.
SESATE.-A Joint resolution 10 a1;ou--
both Houses of Congress at midnight of Sa..
uriav, March }. was introduced lr Mr..
Brown of Mississippi. and adopted % tolls.
The debate upon Mr.. Douglass bill 10 mo-
tect officers of the United States. &c. con,in.
ued I'll! very late hour in the Senate NJ
Douglas SAID the Know No.hinns armea will
pistols and bowie knives. broke up the meet.
inc in Chicago and prevented the rcople from
hearing him.
Mr.W llson of Massachusetts was ready 70
carry ont every provision Of me Constitution.
bat was opposed to the extension of SLAVERY
IN the District of Columbia. or in tie Tori
torres OF the nted States. and he. and those
vino acted with him. were determined TO A.
b"!lsh 1t there They believed they shared
the responsibility of its existence wherever
II was under the control Of Congress. and
they desired 10 relieve themselves Of the re-
Snan>itilifv. fIocarncStlv desired the nc-ne-
'ul'v o. the Mon and thought if the Frr;-
ur" Slave Law >honId he repealed. the r-o-
visions OF the Constitution would he carried
OFT 10y the States themselves
Mr.. Seward made SIeech in opposition n
the bil!. and ,lenunciatorv Of secret nolitieal
societies Mr. Bavard defended the bin
Mr.. Sumner OF MaSsachuSctts-It If is now
near midnight. Since II O'Clock this morn
inc we have been in our seats. This is the
day usua!.:- set apart f,r private claims
1 here are seventv-two private bills. unhearl.
sacrifice to slavery in one of its most odious
forms There i is Sc. sesminT srqa1r wien f.; Won
hunt man who has intelligence and skill TO
secure his freedom.
Mr.. Ru>k, of Texas-lf the officers are
not TO he projected. repeal vour law.
Mr.. Sumner-So say |. Repeal vour law.
There is neither the word slave nor slavery
in the Constitution. The bill is reported hv
the Senator to bind anew the chains of the
slave. Some Senators regard the Fugi-
tive Slave law as constitutional: others, equal
Iv conscientious. believe it to he utterly un-
constitutional. move to strike ont the en-
acting clause. and insert an amendment pro-
viding for the repeal of the Fugitive Slave
Act Of 1850, and ask the yeas and nays upon
the amendment
Mr.. s miners amendment was rejected
80 to 9.
An amendment allowing the use of depo-
Stion> taken under this bill was passed, when
the bill was passed 10 third rcadins-yeas
%, NAYS ..