Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-26
xxxvIth OONeREss-FIRsr SESSION.
WAsHINaroN. Anril 2b.

WASHINGTON, April 20.
H0USE.--Mr. Colfax introduced by unan-
imous consent, bill providing that the reg
ular dealers In newspapers and periodicals
may receive packages by mail at a pro rata
rate. Maps, engravings, photographed pa
blank or printed cards, 10 go through the
mails at one cent per ounce under 1900
miles, now charged letter postage by recent
decision of the Department on the present
California postage, to apply on letters carried
by the Overland Mail from the Atlantic
States to the Pacific coast, even If under 3, ZOO
miles 2lI i'. %. 0s a.F
Mr. Colfax stated that he would call up the
bill when the House was full.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union. .I..
Mr.. Florence briefly explained his tariff
substitute, claiming that it avoids the per-
plexities and complications Of the main bill,
that 1t is free from compound duties, has no
minimum, gives no specific duties for our
country staples, and leaving for further legis-
lation any extension of the system. ir.
Mr.. Corwin, in reply to Mr. Elliotts nllu-
sion TO him, said he did not agree to all the
provisions of the Fugitive-slave Law. II he
had been in Congress when il passed he would
not have voted for it, preferring the old law.
He thought there was no constitutional war
rants for one of its provisions, but there was
higher authority than himself When he
! was a member of Mr.. Fillmores Cabinet he
said the bill was constitutional, and hence
assented to the Presidents approval Of it.
Mr.. Corwin said he had doubts as to the con-
stitutionality of that provision Of the law of
1885, which authorizes the Courts 10 appoint
| the Commissioner, and regretted they were
not to be appointed by the President by and
with the advice of the Senate. Owing to
their judicial functions the old men who
framed the Constitution determined that our
rights should not rest on tradition like the
British country, but they wrote and printed
our CONSTITUTIONS so that there might be no
mistake about il.
Were there no Fugitive-slave law, a South
ern man could go into the free States with
the Constitution in his hand, reclaim the
| fugitive because the Constitution gave him
the right, and said the person owing labor
or service shall be deliveredup. The trainers
of the Constitution put this construction, and
therefore he adhered to this view of the
| subject. -' W .'.''
Messrs. Carter Elliott and Dawes contro-
verted the positions of Mr.. Corwin, who in
his further remarks kept the Committee in
remarkably good humor. When his hour
expired there was general hcquiescence that
| he should continr p his speech. -.'T.H.
Mr. Curtis wished to know how much time
he wanted. ........
| Mr.. Corwin thought he would get through
before the Chicago Convention. Laughter. ]
He made some good-natured hits at the
South, which were all received in similar
| spirit. He said that some would dissolve the
Union because their negroes ran SO fast they
could not reach them: but they ought to re-
collect that these negroes have to run
through slave States before they get.to free
/ Why not kill the negroes South because they
don't catch the fugitive. lLaughter.] I.1.'
| John Brown got up scheme in Chatham
to operate in Virginia against our laws. Why
not call on the British Government to de-
liver up those engaged in that transaction
IL there was no other reason why this was
not done, it was because Great Britain wants
our cotton, and we don't desire to go to war
4 with her. [Laughter.l '7
| 1t would not be long before Massachusetts,
would follow the example of Indiana, and
pass a, law prohibiting free negroes from
coming thither; and SO it would be with
! other free States, when they found they were
going to have negro pauper population
The Republican party are not opposed to tn,
recovery of fugitive negroes. There was no
one in hundred thousand who would un'
dertake to repeal the present law and substi
tute State legislation. Hi 20
Everybody knows that we would not be il
our present position if it had not been for tn,
repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
J Hisss speech was generally moderate ant
eonciliatory. ,rsiI 1854. ~ ..
4 The Committee arose, and the House ad
journed. M ..A .La .-" -f. ..