The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-28

slave law OF 1901. there are two modes of
recovering slave, one is by taking him Just
as you would any other stolen property, and
bringing suit afterwards. This gives no
protection against kidnappers. The laws of
the North were generally made in regard
to this mode, and not against the fugitive
slave law at all. The people of the free
states never held the doctrine that state
could nullify an act Of Congress.
Mr.. Benjamin said Vermont had passed
a law relating to the same subject in 1858,
and be would ask the senator if he thought
it unconstitutional.
Mr.. Collamer said that it was in the bis.
tory of the transaction, that at the time of
the adoption of the law, the Supreme Court
had passed law deciding that colored men
had no rights under law which white men
are bound to respect.
Mr.. Benjamin asked if the Supreme Court
had ever decided it So
Mr.. Collamer said it had, and in his
opinion, the people of Vermont never in
tended to pass an unconstitutional law.
The Senate here, on motion of Mr.. Bragg,
adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Lovejoy raised the point Of
order that this was not privileged question,
and in this be was sustained by the speaker,
who said that it had been decided hereto
fore that newspaper articles did not come
under that rule. .......
Mr.. Ely offered bill amendatory of the
Pacific telegraph act.
Mr.. Crawford called up the resolution he
had introduced.
Mr.. Sherman moved the subject be laid
on the table with view to proceed to
other business as its consideration would
probably consume the whole day. He was
perfectly willing that fair vote should be
taken on the resolution Monday.
The House refused to lay the resolution
on the table, 80 against 90.
Mr.. Sherman changed from yea to nay
merely for the purpose of moving a recon.
sideration of the vote.
Mr.. Stevenson moved to lay this motion
on the table.
Mr.. Sherman was willing to withdraw
his motion with the understanding that a
direct vote shall be taken on the reso luton.
Mr.. Stevenson's motion was disagreed to,
SO against 81.
After further proceedings the resolution
was tabled, SO against 81.
The Pacific Railroad bill was taken up.
Mr.. Branch raised the point that its first
consideration must be in committee of the
whole on the state of the Union, it contain
ing matter in the nature of money appro-
priation. This question was debated
The Speaker decided that the twelfth
section OF the bill provides for bonds to be
raised to the amount of $6O,OO0,0O0, paya-
BILE at the Treasury aud redeemable in 80
years. This was certainly an appropriation,
therefore the bill must 60 to the committee
of the whole.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole, and considerable time was con-
sumed in reporting and laying aside numer-
GUS bills which preceded the Pacific bill on
the calendar. The opponents of this bill
refusing to take it up Immediately and indie
pendent of the others. When the bill
granting lands for the Nebraska Railroad
was reached, the Committee proceeded to
consider it without making much progress
thereon.
The Committee rose.
The speaker laid before the House let
Ter from Mr.. Ford, proposing to surrender
his printing contract if Congress immedi.
ately put the government printing estab-
lishment into operation, saying the reduced
prices are not remunerating. Referred to
the Committee on Printing.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.
SENATE.-Mr. Hunter, of Va, from the
Committee on Finance, reported back the
tariff bill with a resolution that it be
postponed till the 4th of March.
Mr.. Clark moved to take up his resolu-
ton of inquiry.
A message was here received from the
House announcing the passage of the de-
ficiency appropriation bill.
Objection was made to taking up Mr..
Clark's resolution on the ground that it
would consume too much time.
Mr.. Salisbury, of Delaware, hoped the
friends ofthe Union would not allow any such
resolutions to be considered. 1t would only
add to excitement and destroy the little
harmony left. .... ....
Mr.. Mason said be supposed the object
of the mover was, after he got the informa-
ton, to offer another resolution to require
troops to be sent to those forts. He never
believed in the right of State to secede.
Mr.. Davis contended that the inquiries
were improper to make of the President.
The President could not send troops now
to the forts without bringing about COL
lision.
The special order, Mr.. Johnson's resolu-
ton was taken up. ..... -. ..t.
Mr.. Pugh spoke at length in reply to the
arguments of his colleague, Mr.. Wade, de.
nouncing the speech of the latter as inAam-
matory. He did not regard the personal
liberty bills of any practical value, only as
their object could be to insult the South.
He referred to the decision of Gov. Denni-
son, and said he thought it entirely wrong,
and now when the Senator from Kentucky
came forward with fair line of policy, we
have not heard voice in favor of it from
the Republican side. Why could not that
gentleman come forward and meet it fairly?
There could be no objections to the pr0po-
sition of the Senator from Kentucky, except
to carry on intestine strife. He did not
design to offend Senators of that party, but
to throw the responsibility on them. They
have the power, for all opposing parties are
shattered. His colleague said the dav of