The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-25
OF THE THIRTY-SIyTH CONGRESS

I
SENATE
WAsHINGToN, May A.-Mr. BENJAMIN called
attention to the necessity of doing something at
once with the bill from the Judiciary Committee
to provide for the negroes at Key West. 1t
authorizes the President to enter into contract with
any persons or corporation to receive from the
United States authorities the Africans seized in
vessels engaged in the slave trade and to support
them for six months from the date of their landing
the coast of Africa provided the cost shall notex
ceed SlOO for each person. The President is also
authorized to vessels -owar to transport them
to Africa. The of $500, 900 is appropriated for
the purposes of the bill--Mr. PUGH offered an
amendment to extend the period during which the
negroes are to be supported to not less than one
year. instead of six months; adOpted.-Mr. "a
Wis opposed the policy of making this apprOpTia-
tion 1t did not fall within the obligations of this
Government to provide for their support in Africa
for so long period-Mr. FESSENDEN res
ponded contending that it was inhuman to turn
the negroes adrift without providing for their sup
port.-Mr. DAVIS replied, sustaining his previ-
Gus position. He offered an amendment to strike
out all of the bill, except so much as related sim
ply to sending the negroes back to Africa MIR.
BENJAMIN advocated the bill, and con-
tended that by our treaty stipulations
its passage was demanded-Mr DAVIS
caused the treaty to be read, to show
that no such obligations existed.-Mr. BROWN
contended that the negroes were slaves at home
and that il it was inhuman to return them home,
it was not inhuman to bring them away. As the
back, but not vote money to support them
Mr.. TOOMBS said he would have the negroes
sent back, and make all suitable provision
for them, but nothing more.-Mr. DAVIS
amendment was then rejected by yeas H. nays S.
Mr.. BENJAMIN called up the bill to amend the
act entitled can act in addition to the acts prohi-
biting the slave trade which discussed at
some length, and passed by vote of yeas Al, nays
4.-Mr. SLIDELL asked and obtained leave to
introduce bill giving the consent of Congress to
the Improvement of the communication between
the Atohafalaya bay and the Atohafaaya river
and the levying OF tonnage duty on shipping to
maintain the same; which was read twice and re-
ferred.-Mr. MASON, from the Committee on
Foreign Relations, to whom referred the House
bill to amend act regulating the diplomatic and
consular sytem of the United States, reported back
the same with an amendment.-Mr. BIGLER,
from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was
referred the bill to extend the limits of the port of
entry and delivery for the district of Philadelphia,
reported it without amendment and recommended
its passage. HARLAN, from the Committee
on Public Lands, to whom was referred the
House bill for the relief of Congressional town
ship, No. 6, South of Range No. s West, in Ran
dolph county, State of Illinois, reported it back
with amendment.-The special order was
taken up, and Mr.. BINGHAM made a long speech
in favor of the principles of the Republican party.
MIR. BIGLER defined his position with regard
to the resolutions. He was disposed to acquiesce
in the Dred Scott decision, as an authoritative ex
position of the condition of slavery in the States
and Territories, and the duties and powers of Con-
gress in reference thereto. The effect of that de-
cision must inevitably deny to Congress a terri
tory the power to establish slavery in a territory,
and also deny the right to exclude slaves or any
other species of property from the territories. That
covers the whole point ofdierence of opinion on the
Kansas-N Nebraska bill among Democrats-Mr.
IVERSON read a series of resolutions which he
would prefer to those under consideration, but he
was willing to take these as the best that could be
obtained under the circumstances His idea was
that Congress possesses sole power under the Con-
itntInn noh nfk kIn.y,
legislate for the territories of the United States
but may in its wisdom and discretion confer that
power upon the territorial government to the extent
and only to the extent, of its jurisdictions and
that Congress has power to legslate for the pro-
lection and enjoyment of all property carried into
territory by citizens, and it is the duty of Con-
gress in the formation of every territorial govern
ment to provide tor such protection and enjoy
ment ,either by direct and positive legislation,
by comforting power upon the territorial govern
ments to enforce its faithful exercse.--Mr CLAY
regretted that the state of his health prevented him
from indicating his State and the South from the
misrepresentation and aspersions of Mr.. Douglas
as he would like to do. He would avail himself of
the earliest opportunity to discharge that duty
Some general discussion took place, Messrs Green,
Pugh, Powell, Fessenden, DoOlittle, Colamer
Kennedy and others taking occasion to express
their views different topics connected with the
main subject. The first resolution then adopt.
ed; yeas SO, nays 49, The remaining resolutions of
the series were adopted by very similar vote.--
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at IL o'clock and proceeded to
act on the amendments reported yesterday from
the Committee of the Whole on the State of the
Union to the Civil Appropriation bill. Among
others, appropriating $4,000 for seeds and
cuttings to be distributed by the Patent Office, was
passed.-The bill was then passed. 1t appropri-
ates 81 900 900 for taking the census-Mr COL
FAX called up the Senate Pacific Telegraph bill
He said he was originally in favor of giving the
work out to the lowest bidder, but he had become
convinced that it not the best plan.--Mr.
BURNETT moved to strike out the names of the
corpOrators, Messrs Barnum, Sedgwick, and Others
and insert that the contract be given to the lowest
guaranteed bidder after proposals shall have been
invited for sixty days from the passage of the bill
The amendment was agreed to-yeas 90 nays So
"A number of Senate bills relating the Dis
trict of Columbia were referred to the Committee
for the Dstrict.-Mr. HUGHES, from the same
Committee, reported bill authorizing the Metro
politan Railroad Company to construct a railway
between Washington and GeorgetOwn; also, bill
appropriating $50, 900 year, for ten years. in aid
of the Washington National Monument.--Mr.
CARTER, from the same Committee, reported the
Senate bill, with an amendment authorizing the
extension of the Alexandria and Loudoun Railroad
to the city of w ashingt gtOn.--The House proceed
ed to act on the amendments reported yesterday
from the Committee of the Whole on the State of
the Union, to the Civil Appropriation bill
Among these amendments concurred in one
appropriating $4,000 (moved by Mr., Davis of
Maryand) for the repair of the damage
to the Baltimore Custom House occasioned
by fire several years ago; another appro-
and third 100000 for seeds and cuttings to be
distributed by the agricultural division of the
Patent Office. The bill also appropriates Sl,000,-
900 for taking the next census. The $500, 900
clause for the Capitol extension was stricken out
The bill was passed.-The House resumed the
consideration of the Pacific Telegraph bill, and
amended it by striking out the names of the cor
porators, and open the contract to the lowest
aa1 Iha unanti ic m noHr
more than SAC, 900 annually, and to have the pri-
ority of the line. Private messages So for every
ten words. The bill was passed-yeas 10l, nays
73.-The House proceeded to the consideration
of the Pacific Railroad bill, when Mr.. CURTIS
explained the provisions of the bill, reported
from the Select Committee on the subject, which
proposes a central route with two branches, one
from slave and the other from free State, these
cOnverging for a distance of two hundred miles,
to the main trunk leading to San Francisco. He
showed the advantages of the route, and explained
them by reference to a map which was prominently
exhibited in the hall. He argued that the central
route is two hundred and eighty miles shorter than
any other yet proposed. After a conversation be-
tween various gentlemen, the bill was made the
special order for Monday and Tuesday next
Mr.. REAGAN offered an amendment, making the
corporators named the trustees for the company
to be hereafter organized under their auspices and
to prevent stock k-jobbing swinders from enriching
themselves and breaking down the enterprise. He
did not believe that an honest bill could pass.-
Mr.. CURTIS briefly replied, showing that the bill
contained guards against such results.-Without
taking any question the House adjourned.
THE GREAT ToRNADo-ONE HUNDRED LIVES LOST
AND MILLION OF PRoPERTY.-The Cincinnati pa
pers come to us with further accounts OF the dam
age done by the late storm. The Gazette of Wed
nesday, says:
The ever-memorable tornado which passed over
this city Monday afternoon has proved even more
destructive than at first supposed. Accounts
of the great storm and the immense loss of life and
property by which it was attended, pour in upon
us from all points of the compass. Even with the
data before US, it is impossible to give anything
like correct idea of the damage sustained which
can only be estimated by millions. The hurricane
seems to have been general throughout the valley