The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-17

was binding a. all, it was binding only so far as
to permit the capture and return of the fugtlves.
1t YVES utterly abhorrent to the feelings OF him
self &nd of his constituents to be taxed for keep
ing she wretched fugitives until their cases
werestried in the courts. For himself, when in
terrogated concerning his individual senti-
menfs, ne would march right up to the con-
fessi6nal, and tell them that when fellow-being,
be h., black or white, came to his door implo-
r ng food and shelter, he would never refuse it.
nd if the demon of Slavery should cross his
threshold and forbid him, in the name of the
ltw. he would set him at defiance in the name
o. his God.
MI. John Cochrane, of New York, suggested
Il at the clause should be so amended as to
read " for the safe keeping of free prisoners"
laughter.
"Ms Phe ps, of Missouri, thought that the
a neI.dment of the gentleman from Illinois
would, if adopted, constitute him general jail
deverer of all kinds Of criminals, without excep-
ii,
Mrs Singleton, of Mississippi, said that since
the r9ember from Illinois had acknowledged
himself TO have assisted in the stealing of slaves,
he re garded him as disgrace to this body. He
had 40 doubt that the members father was
e.,eaged in this very traffic which he was now
sc~gehemently denouncing.
Other amendments having been acted upon
On motion of Mr.. Phelps, of Missouri, the
c, mraittee rose, and the bill, together with the
amendments, was reported to the House. The
an enJments were then read and voted on.
The question being first taken on the amend
m, nt proposed by the Committee, to strike out
TIM following appropriation
g For Congressional Globe, and binding the
same. forty-nine thousand three hundred and
til N,three dollars and thirty-two cents;
al,
sa d and forty-siX dollars the amendment
was c5ncurred in-yeas 70, nays 10; the Speaker
vc ing in the affirmative.
drsClark, of New York, moved TO reconsider
tn. vote last taken.
Dir Burnett moved to lay the motion to re-
consider upon the table Not agreed to-yeas
~ nays IS.
he motion to reconsider then prevailed and
tn ql6stion recurring on the adoption of the
as endment, it was rejected-yeas Is nays IS.
h. majority of Republicans voting in the
ne at5ve, the majority OF Administration men
in he Affirmative.
lfter which, on motion, the House adjourned.
Wednesday, February 9, 1859.
SENATE.
he Tariff Question.-The Senate proceeded
to- he further consideration of the resolution
int Odnced by Mr.. Bigler in relation to a modi-
6c lion of the tariff.
%lr. Toombs spoke in opposition to the reso-
lucsn. If it had been intended to say in the
resolution that the ordinary expenses Of Gov
ernment ought to be met by the revenue, it
webld meet his assent; but the extraordinary
expenditures Of Government should be met by
extraordinary means. 1t was unwise to raise
the Revenue in order to meet temporary def
cie,lcies.
the public lands could be thrown into mar
ket as they ought to be, or if the Post Office
Deg artment could be made selfsustaining, there
I'd be no deficiency. They had to work out
a -iciency by bad policy and bad manage
meS There was no deficiency, even upon the
present basis and if there were, it could not be
met by reforming the administration of either
the public lands or the Post Office Department.
Mr.. Toombs proceeded to comment upon the
Post Office system. 1t was right that those who
write the most letters should pay the most post
age. The business of the South did not require
sGlDpch correspondence. 1t was the merchant,
tn manufacturer and the business man, who
pad the hostages and received the benefit. To
rasse the hostages would be to tax this class,
rather than the poor man, who writes only one
or two letters a year. The taxes upon imports,
in like manner, fell heaviest upon the poor man,
wtoss whole income was expended for articles
for & benefit of the rich. He would be glad to
seAtl business of carrying letters abandoned
by Government, as it ought to be. Why not as
wei carry the products of the country? But,
so lohg as Government insisted upon carrying
on ~ Post Office Department, let it be made
sel.s' staining.
Nr Clingman obtained the floor, when
r. Hunter moved to postpone the resolution
until lne o'clock tomorrow which prevailed
Thc Cuba BH.-Mr. Slidell moved to take
up - bill for the acquisition of Cuba.
Hunter would prefer to take up the APP
pr pf-4tion bill. He suggested that the discus
siol ~ the Guha hill which he supposed would
no. BE- long, should be confined to an hour or
twz III the morning, and let him get on with
the appropriation bills in the evening.
or. Seward gave notice that if the Cuba bill
came up, it must be fairly discussed on both
sides, and it would not be debate of an hour
or Two oniy. The bill would have TO be debated
through and through, up and down,
Mr.. Hale said he should go with the Senator
from Louisiana for taking up the bill, whether
a little or a long time should be occupied by the
debate.
Mr. Benjamin was glad of the prospect of
discussion upon this subject, and was ready to
meet The Senator ffom New Hampshire upon
the question of aGneIation, North or South.
This was the most interesting question that
could come before Congress, and he hoped it
would be discussed from top to bottom, inside
and out.
Ar Mason said be should listen with interest
to the debates promised on the part of those
who thought the immediate acquisition Of pula
so important to the country, but wished to cali
attention to little subject which might be i'm
portant when they came to the negotiation, He
referred to the claim which Spain had had upon
the honor of this country for nearly twenty
years. in the matter of the Amistad negroes.
he would ask leave to call up the Amistad bill
on Friday, &C naif past twelve o'clock, in the
hope that justice might be dCne beth to Spain
and ourselves.
Mr.. Seward thought the Amistad bill would
be most atrocious act of legislation, and if
it came np he should feel bound to attempt to
expose IT, If it was to be an aid in placing
thirS millions in the hands Of the President,
that would be an additional argument agains.
it. Their great work ought to be to consider
whether and how they should make the revenues
meet the expenses of Government. Without a
majority in either House, and no Administra-
ton to guide them, that task would be diff
cult one. They were now raising a row of or
namental columns in front of The Treasury
building, at a cost of two thousand dollars each
and paying FIVE per cent. interest on the money
to do it with. He hoped they might devote the
balance of the session TO reducing the expendi
lures and raising the revenue at the same time
doing something to revive the stagnant inter
ests Of the country.
Mr.. Fessenden hoped the Cuba bill would not
betakan up. They had business enough al
ready crowded INFO tbs heel of the session. If
the Amistad question stood in the way of this
Cuban question, he hoped it would cQntinne to
| stand there He onsidnrod II ON ,tto, rascal