The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-01

XXXVIth CONGRESS-FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, May "a.

XXXVIth CONGRESS-FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, May "a.
SENArE.-Mr. Benjamin called attention
to the necessity of doing something at once
with the bill from the judiciary committee to
provide for the negroes now at Key West. 1t
authorizes the President to enter into con-
tract with any persons or corporation to re-
ceive from the United States authorities, the
Africans seizes on the vessels engaged in the
slave trade, and to support them for six
months from the date of their landing on
the coast of Africa, providing tie cost of the
same shall not exceed 800 for each person.
The President is also authorized to use the
vessels of war to transport them to Africa.
Two hundred thousand dollars is appropri.
ated for the purposes of the bill.
Mr.. Pugh offered an amendment to ex-
tend the period during which negroes are to
be supported, to not less than one year, in
stead Of six months. Adopted, yeas 20,
nays II.
Mr.. Davis opposed the policy of making
the appropriation. 1t did not fall within
the obligatian of the government to provide
for their support in Africa for so long a
period.
Mr.. Fessenden responded, contending that
it was inhuman to turn them adrift without
providing for their support.
Mr.. Davis replied, sustaining his previous
position. He offered as an amendment, to
strike out all of the bill except so much as re-
lated simply to it, and contended that
by our treaty stipulations its passage was
not demanded. He caused the treaty to be
read to show that no such obligation ex>
listed.
Mr.. Brown commended that the negroes
were slaves at home, and that if it was in
human to return them home it was not TO-
human to bring them away.
HoUsE-Among the bills concurred in
was one appropriating $4,000 for seeds
and cuttings to be distributed by the Pat
ent Office. Among other appropriations
is $1,000 for taking the Census.
Mr.. COlfax called up the Senate Pacific
Telegraph bill. He was originally in favor
of giving ont the contract to the lowest bid
der, out be had became convinced that it
was not the best plan.
Mr.. Burnett moved to strike out the
name of the incorporation, and Others con-
tended that the contract shall be given to
the lowest guaranteed bidder, after pro-
posposals bad been invited sixty days from
the passage of the bill. The amendment
was agreed to, SO to 81.
WASHINGTON, May Is.
SENATE.-Mr. Hunter from the finance
committee reported back the House post
Office deficiency bill with sundry amend
ments.
Mr.. Gwin moved to take up the Overland
mail bill. Carried. He said that the OBJ
ject of the committee was to establish per-
manent mail system and proceeded to ex>
plain its advantages.
The bill from the judiciary Committee
providing for the deportation of the cap>
tured Africans at Key West, passed in the
shape reported, Al to H.
Mr.. Davis resolutions coming up Mr..
Bingham read long speech in opposition,
and Mr.. Bigler defined his position Oh the
other side. He said he had at one time ex-
pressed an opinion adverse to the views
contained in the resolutions, but regarded
the bred Scott decision as settling the
question, and should vote for the resolution.
Mr.. Iverson said that he had intended to
offer amendments to the resolutions of Mr..
Davis, but now declined doing so. He,
however, read series of resolutions which
he had intended to offer as an expression of
his individual views. They take extreme
Southern ground, claiming that it is the
duty of Congress, in organizing the Terri
tories, to provide for the protection OF slave
property. He should, however, vote for
the resolutions as the best that could be got
Mr.. Clay said be had intended to speak
in favor of the resolutions, and was sorry be
was physically unable to do so, and especial
ly was he sorry that he was unable to reply
to the assaults and aspersions on his State
by the Senator from Illinois, whose whole
argument was to misrepresent the Democ-
racy of Alabama. The Senator from Illi>
nois had garbled resolutions to show that
Alabama was in favor of n0n-intervention.
Such never was the case. He defended
Mr.. Yancey, and declared himself ready to
endorse what was called the Scarlet Letter.
Mr.. Green contended that the resolutions
were not intended as a platform for the
party, if it had always been the habit of
deliberative hodies to declare their opinions
by resolutions. He defended Missouri
against what had been said by the Senator
from Ohio, (Mr. Pugh,) that that State is
in favor of the Platform Of the majority of
the Committee at the Charleston Conven-
ton.
MIR. Powell said he had always been ready
to vote for the resolution. He simply
wished to reply to the Sena tor from Ohio,
(Mr. Pugh,) that Kentucky was reliable
Democratic State, and he (PowelD then re-
ferred to past elections in that State to sus-
tain his position. -.1'
A discussion ensued between Messrs.
Pugb, Powell, and Clay, in regard to the
votes in Charleston and the State. p. Oh
Mr.. Doolittle appealed for vote He