Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-05

THIRTY-FOuRTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate--Thursday, January 8, 1855.

senate--Thursday, January 3, 1856.
Mr. MALLORY appeared in his seat
message was received from the President of
The United States, communicating, in compliance
with resolution of the Senate, the memorial of
the citizens of New Orleans respecting the irreg-
uariy Of the mails, together with the reply Of the
Postmaster General 10 the same; which was orr
dered TO be printed and referred TO the Committee
on the Post Office and Post Roads.
The PRESIDENT of the Senate laid before
the body the report of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury on the state Of the finances
Mr.. YULEE moved 10 print ten thousand add
tional copies for the use of the Senate, and five
hundred for the use of the Treasury Department.
This motion led 10 considerable discussion.
Mr.. HAMLIN held il doubtful whether, UNDER
the law, the order could be made, and quoted to
show that, with his understanding of the matter,
neither that document nor any other could be-
printed without abrogating the law relating io
printing, which the Senate had no power TO do
Mr.. MASON conceived the document 10 be
one of great and al-pervading interest to the PEG
pie OF this country, and, although The movement
might be somewhat irregular, still, under the me-
cessity of the case he thought it proper that the
motion Of the Senator from Florida (Mr YULRE)
should prevail.
Mr.. BRODHEAD spoke in favor of printing
the document ana against the ground assumed BY
Mr.. STUART contended the law would not be-
abrogated by the adoption of the resolution but
that II would be plain evasion Of il that no
thing but necessity could justifyit.
Mr.. ADAMS insistsd that if il was violation
of the law the Senate were violating il every
day, in not proceeding 10 the election Of printer
and the choice of Committee on Printing.
Mr.. TOUCEY insisted that the law was clear
and unquestionable SO far as regarded extra copies
OF any document. 1t said expressly that the mo-
ton TO print should be referred 10 the Committee
on Printing, and the Senate could not make the
order in this case without direct and papable
violation of the law. If an inadvertence had been
committed in ordering the message of the Presi-
dent to be printed, il was TO be regretted; but,
now that the attention Of the Senate had been
called TO the subject, they should proceed regu-
larly. The Senate could appoint Committee on
Printing.
Mr.. YULEE thought that statistical informa-
ton Of so much Importance should be placed as
soon as practicable before the people The ex-
penditures Of the country were becoming very
large, and il was thought that during the present
session there might be attempted some modica-
ton of the present existing tariff He should have
no objection TO delay the subject for day two,
but if il were 10 be made contingent upon the or
ganzation of the other branch there would be no
telling how long II might be postponed.
Mr.. HALE observed that, if it would be in or
der, he would move 10 reconsider the vote order
ing the printing of the message of the President.
If he had been in his seat at the time he should
certainly have opposed il, because it had been ir-
regularly sent. The Senate had informed the Pre-
sident that it was ready 10 receive any commune
cations of an executive" not Legislative charac-
ter that he might be pleased 10 make, and which
he had acquiesced in for four weeks, and now had
sent legislative message, for which he could
only be excused on the ground of a remark of the
Ex-senator from Delaware, (Mr. CLAYToNO The other
day, that the message was one Of great impor-
lance.
The CHAIR ruled the motion of Mr. HALE out
OF order, and, on the point Of order, the discussion
was continued by Messrs. JOHNSON, CLAY
TON. SEWARD, BROWN, and others.
Mr.. TOUCEY moved 10 lay the motion of Mr..
YULEE on the table, on which question Mr..
BROWN asked the yeas and nays, when the vote
stood as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Clay, Collamer, Dur.
kee, Fessenden, Fitzpatrick, Foot, Hamlln, John
son, Jones Of Iowa, Mallory, Sebastian, Sidell
Sumner, Toucey, Trumbull, Wade, and VIII
Uson-1S.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Bell of New Hampshire,
Bell of Tennessee, Benjamin, Bright, Brodhead,
Brown, Cass Clayton Crittenden, Dodge, Evans
Fish, Geyer, Hale, Jones of Tennessee, Mason,
Rusk, Seward, Stuart, Thompson Of Kentucky,
Weller, and Yulee-23
The motion OF Mr.. YULEE was then amended
on the motion of Mr. Mason, and adopted in the
following form:
Ordered, That the annual report Of the Secrel
tary OF the Treasury on the finances, with the
xdocuments communicated Herewith, be printed,
and that 10000 additional copies of the same be
Eprinled for the use of the Senate, and 500 adj
dtonal copies printed for the use of the TREASURY
department by the printer of the Senate for the last
Congress, al rates not exceeding those established
by existing law.
Mr.. FESSENDEN presented resolutions Of the
State Of Maine IN relation TO slavery, setting
forth
let. Thai human slavery is in all its aspects an
unqualified evil and wrong, and, as such, merits
kthe apprehension of mankind.
I'd. That in the early periods OF our national his
tory both the opinions Of the people and the policy
OF the Government were adverse 10 the institu
ton.
Sd. That the Constitution of the United State 4
is and was designed TO be a charter Of liberty, and
hence that all acts Of the National Government
by which slavery maintains legal existence in|
Territory subject TO the exclusive jurisdiction of
Congress in direct conflict with the whole
spirit and with the clear provisions Of that in
strulnent.
4th. That the act OF the 33d Congress repeating
the law OF 1920, known as the Missouri comprol
mise, by which slavery was forever prohibited nl
the territory north Of 36o 30, was an uniustifa
bic violation Of solemn compact and fagrant|
breach of faith.
9Th. That Maine will never consent 10 the ad
mission into the Federal Union Of any more|
Estates with institutions authorizing slavery.
9th. That the act Of 1850 called the "fugitive|
kslave law is unconstitutional and odous 10 thel
whole North. Maine therefore demands its i'm
mediate and unconditional repeal.
Hh. That II IS the duty OF the General Govern i
ment, without delay, TO abolish slavery wherever
IL has exclusive jurisdiction, and 10 exert its in
huence wherever and whenever il legitima,ey|
may on the side ofuniversal liberty.
The Senators are instructed and the Represen-
tatives requested to use all practicable means toI
procure the repeal Of all laws of the United States
autborising slavery in the district of Columbia
for the repeal OF the fugitive slave law, and the|
passage Of an act prohibiting slavery within the|
Territories of the United States; and at all times|
hereafter most strenuously 10 oppose the admis
sion Of any new State permitting slavery.
Also, resolution TO the effect that the veto oil
the President Of the French Spoliation bill had
created general aud well. founded disappointment
and dissatisfaction throughout the State and thu
the reasons given by the President for the arbi-|
rary act are extraordinary and wholly inst Efficient
that the obligation OF the General Government toI
make indemnity for French spolistioss lin part
provided for by said bD has been repeatedly ex
amined and demonstrated in Congress, aud ought
20 be faithfully performed and requesting their
Senators and Representatives 10 endeavor in|
every practicable way 10 secure the payment
of the claims Of citizens of the United States on|
account of said French spoliations