Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-26
XXXIVth CONGREss--FIRsT SESSION.
WAsHINsTON, April 25.
HOUSE

Mr. Colfax introduced, BY unanimous consent, a bill
providing that regular dsasIa In newspapers aud per-
iodlcals may receive packages By mail at prO-fata
rates. Maps engraVngs photoEraphfca paper and en-
veopos, books bound and unbound, blank or printed
cards go through the mails at one cent per ounce
under 1870 miles charged letter postage. by a re-
cent decision Of tne Department on the present Calor
mia postage TO apply Letters carried BY the overland
mail from the Atlantic States TO the Pacific coast
il under 900 miles.
Mr. COlfax seated that he would Gallup the bill when
the House was full.
The House then went into Committee Of the Whole
the State Of the Union.
Mr.. Florence briefly explained his tariff
substitute, claiming that It avO ds the perplexi-
ties and complications of the main bill, and
that it is free from compound duties. It has
no minimum, gives specific duties for our
country staples, and leaving for further legisla-
ton any extension OF the system.
Mr. Corwin, in reply to NT. Elliott's allusion
to him, said that he did not agree to all the
provisions Of the Fugitive Slave Law. If he
bad been in Congress when it passed be would
not have voted for it, prefeTring the old law
lie thought there was no constitutional war.
rant for one of its provisions, but there was
higher authority than himself when be was a
member of Mr.. Fillmore's Cabinet. He said
the bill was constitutional, and hence assented
to the Presidents approval of it.
Mr.. Corwin resumiDg, said, be bad doubt as
to the constilutiOnaity Of that provision of the
law of 1850, which authorizes the Courts to
appoint the Commissioners and regretted that
they were not to be appointed by the President
by and with the advice of the Senate Owing
10 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 Constitution 80 that there might be no
mistake about it. Were there no fugitive law
Southern man could 90 into the free States
and with the Constitution in his hand, reclaim
the fugitive because the Constitution gave the
right and said the person Ou our soil shall be
delivered up. The trainers of the Constitution
put this construction and therefore must be adj
hersd to.
Messrs. Carter, Elliott and Dawes eontro-
verted the positions Of Mr.. Corwin, who in his
further remarks kept the Committee in remark
ably good humor.
When his hour expired there was a general
acqriescence that he should continue his
speech.
Mr.. Curtiss wished to know how much time
he wanted.
Mr.. CoEwin thought he would get through
before the Chicago Convention. Laughter. ]
He made some good natured hits at the South,
which we've all received IN Similar EpIrlt- lie
said, among other things, that scme would
dissolve the Union because Their negroes ran
so fast they could not reach them, but they
should recollect that these negroes have to run
through slave States before they get to free -
Why not kill the negroes South because they
do not catch the fugitives! Laughter John
Brown rot up a scheme in Chatham to operate
in Virginia contrary to or laws. Why not
call on the British government to deliver up
those engaged in that transaction If there
was no other reason Why this was not done, It
was because Great Britain wants our cotton
and we don desire to 60 to war with her
[Laughier.l 1t would not be long before Mass
following the example Of Indiana, would pass
a law prohibiting free negroes coming thither,
and so it would be with other free States when
they found that they were going to have a
negro Pauper population. The Republican
party are not opposed to the recovery Of
fugitive negroes; there was not one in hundred
thousand who would not unds1tske to repeal the
present law and substitute State legislation
Every body knows that we would not be in our
present position if it had not been for the repeal
Of the Missouri Compromise. his speech was
generally moderate and conciliatOry. The
Committee arose and the House adjourned.