Resolutions. Bill of 1850.
27. Giddings's resolution inquiring into the condition of the District of Columbia jail. [§ [28.]]
1848, April 18. Mr. Giddings introduced the following resolution:—
"Whereas, more than eighty men, women, and children, are said to be now confined in the prison of the District of Columbia without being charged with crime or any impropriety other than an attempt to enjoy that liberty for which our fathers encountered toil, suffering, and death itself, and for which the people of many European governments are now struggling; And whereas said prison was erected, and is now sustained, by funds contributed by the people of the free as well as of the slave States, and is under the control of the laws and officers of the United States:
"And whereas, such practice is derogatory to our national character, incompatible with the duty of a civilized and Christian people, and unworthy of being sustained by an American Congress: Therefore, Be it resolved, That a select committee of five members of this body be appointed to inquire into and report to this House by what authority said prison is used for the purpose of confining persons who have attempted to escape from slavery, with leave to report what legislation is proper in regard to said practice. Resolved, further, that said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers." Objections being made, the motion was not received.—Cong. Globe, 30 Cong. 1 Sess., 641.
28. Giddings's resolution on the jail in the District of Columbia. [§ [28.]]
1848, April 21. Mr. Giddings visited the jail in the District of Columbia for the purpose of interviewing the persons confined there on charge of carrying away slaves from this District. He was then mobbed and his life endangered.
"Resolved, That a committee of five members be appointed to investigate and report to this House respecting the points alluded to in the above statement, and that said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers, and to sit during the session of the House."—Cong. Globe, 30th Cong. 1 Sess., 664.
29. Meade's resolution on more effectual enforcement of the constitutional article on fugitive slaves. [§ [27.]]
1849, Jan. 8. Mr. Meade moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to offer the following resolution:—
"Preamble. Whereas it is the duty of the Congress of the United States to enact all laws necessary to enforce such provisions of the Constitution as were intended to protect the citizens of the several States in their rights of property, and past experience has proved that laws should be passed by Congress to enforce the second section of the fourth article of the Constitution, which requires that persons held to labor in one State, escaping into another, shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such labor may be due; therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary is hereby instructed to report a bill to this House, providing effectually for the apprehension and delivery of fugitives from labor who have escaped, or may hereafter escape, from one State into another." Rules not suspended.—House Journal, 30 Cong. 3 Sess., 213; Cong. Globe, 30 Cong. 2 Sess., 188.
30. Legislative history of the Fugitive Slave Act. [Jan. 3 to Sept. 18, § [29.]]
1850, Jan. 3. Mr. Mason of Virginia gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill.—Cong. Globe, 99.
Jan. 4. Senate bill No. 23 introduced by Mason, read twice, ordered printed, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.—Senate Journal, 54; Globe, 103.
Jan. 16. Bill reported favorably by Butler from the committee, ordered printed, and made a special order for Jan. 23.—Senate Journal, 88; Globe, 171; Senate Reports, I. No. 12.
Jan. 22. Debate begun. Mason offered an amendment which made the fine for any obstruction of the workings of the act one thousand dollars, and refused to allow the testimony of a fugitive.—Globe, 210.
Jan. 23, 24. Bill taken up and debated.—Senate Journal, 104, 110; Globe, 220, 228; Globe App. 79, 83.
Jan. 28. Seward presented an amendment, which allowed the right of trial by jury, and punished judges who should disallow the writ of habeas corpus.—Senate Journal, 117; Globe, 233-237.
Jan. 29. Clay introduced, as a part of his compromise resolutions, a declaration that a more effective fugitive slave act should be passed.—Senate Journal, 118; Globe, 247.
Jan. 31. Mason offered a substitute for the bill already before the Senate. It was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.—Globe, 270.
June 3. Webster brought in an amendatory bill.—Senate Journal, 370; Globe, 1111.
Aug. 15. The debate was again opened, and made the special order for Aug. 19—Senate Journal, 560; Globe, 1588.
Aug. 19. Mason offered as an amendment a substitute for the bill already before the Senate.—Senate Journal, 564; Globe, 1605; Globe App., 1582.
Dayton brought in an amendment which gave trial by jury. This was rejected.—Senate Journal, 564; Globe App., 564.
Chase offered one of the same character, which was also rejected.—Globe App., 1589.
Winthrop brought in an amendment granting the protection of the habeas corpus. This was rejected.—Senate Journal, 565; Globe App., 1589.
Aug. 20. Mason's substitute was agreed to.—Senate Journal, 568; Globe, 1616; Globe App., 1591.
An amendment to Mason's substitute was offered by Mr. Pratt. This gave the owner the right of suit against the United States for the value of the slave if not delivered. This was afterward amended by Mason and Pratt, and rejected, August 23.—Senate Journal, 570-573; Globe, 1636; Globe App., 1609.
Aug. 22. Underwood offered an amendment as a substitute, and Davis presented an amendment to Mason's bill striking out the clause providing compensation for escaped slaves. This was rejected.—Senate Journal, 573, 580; Globe, 1636; Globe App., 1609, 1619.
Aug. 23. Amendments were offered to Underwood's amendment by Chase and Badger. Both were rejected.—Senate Journal, 575-580; Globe App., 1619, 1623, 1625.
Another slight amendment by Chase was also rejected.—Globe App., 1624.
Mason amended his bill by making the Marshal liable for the value of a slave who has escaped from his custody.—Senate Journal, 576; Globe App., 1625.
An attempt to amend the bill by striking out the compensation for escaped slaves, and other slight changes, was made by Davis, and the amendment was accepted.—Senate Journal, 580; Globe App., 1630.
Bill as amended was then ordered to be engrossed for the third reading.—Senate Journal, 581; Globe, 1647; Globe App., 1630.
Aug. 26. After changing the title to make it an act supplementary to that of 1793, the bill was passed, and sent to the House.—Senate Journal, 583; Globe, 1660.
Sept. 12. In the House it was read a first and second time by title. Thompson of Pennsylvania moved to put it on its passage, and moved the previous question, which he refused to withdraw, and which was carried.—House Journal, 1289, 1448.
Stevens moved to lay it on the table, but the motion was lost, and the bill was ordered to a third reading.—House Journal, 1449.
The bill was passed, 109 to 75.—House Journal, 1451-1453; Globe, 1807.
It was returned to the Senate.—Senate Journal, 627; Globe, 1810.
Sept. 14. The bill was signed by the presiding officer of the Senate.—Senate Journal, 629; Globe, 1815.
Bill signed by the Speaker of the House.—House Journal, 1457; Globe, 1812.
Sept. 16. Bill sent to the President, and signed by him Sept. 18.—House Journal, 1472, 1497; Senate Journal, 638, 648.