The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-11


retain possession of their slaves until the
money appropriated be paid them. Re.
Mr.. Davis offered another amendment to
strike out the limit Of $500 as the average
amount to be paid for such slave. Reject.
ed, IL to 30.
Mr.. Browning said he found no difficulty
as to the constitutionality of this measure.
He bad an amendment suggested by citi.
zen Of the District who was himself slave
holder. He moved to amend Mr.. Clark's
substitute by making the average value OF
slaves $500, and providing that half be
paid to the master, If loyal, and the other
half retained by the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, and when liberated by the bill, if the
slave emigrates to another country, it shall
be paid over to his or her adopted guar.
dian.
Mr.. Wiley moved to amend Mr.. Clark q
substitute, so as to provide for the submis.
sion of the question to the people of the
District before it became law. Disagreed
to-l3 to IA.
Mr.. TrumbuIl offered an amendment to
the original bill, that no payment be made
for any slaves to any person who has borne
arms in rebellion against the United States
or in any way given aid thereto. Adopted.
After further discussion the Senate went
into executive session, and afterwards ad.
journed.
On Thursday the Sd, the bill was again
taken up, and was passed. The following
is the telegraphic account of the proceed
ings:
Mr.. McDougal of California spoke
against it.
I Mr.. Ten Eyck of New Jersey said be
would have preferred bill providing for q
gradual emancipation of the slaves.
Mr.. Sumner moved to amend the bill so
that in taking testimony before the CONS
missioners no witness shall be excluded on
account of color. The amendment was
agreed to; yeas 26, nays 10. Nays-Bay-
ard, Carlisle, Davis, Nesmith, Kennedy,
Powell, Salisbury. Wiley, Wilson of Mis-
souri,, and Wright.
Clark's and Wright's substitutes we're
rejected.
Mr.. Clark moved to amend the second
section by providing that claimant max.
ing petition for payment for bis slaves
shall take oath that be has not borne arms
in the rebellion, nor given aid or comfort
thereto.
Mr.. Trumbull of Illinois, moved to add
that such oath of allegiance party to the
petition shall not be evidence of the facts.
Agreed to and amendment adopted.
Mr.. Browning of Illinois, moved to amend
that, providing that the average price of a
slave shall be $500 instead of $500, one
halt to be retained by the Secretary of the
Treasury to be paid to the person liberated
if he emigrates to another country. Re-
jected by yeas ten, nays thirty one.
Mr.. Collamer offered an amendment that
the owners of persons held to service shall
put upon file the name and description of the
person liberated by the bill within twenty
days after making claim for payment, or
within such time as the commissioners may
limit, under the penalty of forfeiture of the
claim and that the clerk of the court shall
issue certificates of manumission to the per
sons liberated. Amendment adopted.
Mr.. Doolittle offered an amendment ap-
propriatiDg 100000 to aid in the volunta
ry emigration of the persons liberated b,
the bill. and other persons of color liberated
in the District of Columbia, to say Liberia,
or some other country. Adopted, ayes
twenty>seven. Noes - Chandler, Clark,
Fessenden, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Harlan,
Howard, Morrill, and Pomeroy.
The question was then taken on the pass.
age of the bill, and it passed, as follows
Yeas-twenty-seven. Noes-Bayard, Da.
Wis, Henderson, Latham, Doolittle, Nesmith,
Powell, Salisbury, Stark, Wiley, Wilson OF
Missouri, Wright and Carlile-14.