The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-28
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, April 81.

MIR. MOORE, of Pennsylvania, said, that rs the
House would soon have to vote upon the home
stead bill, he would move that it resolve Itself
into Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Onion, for the purpose Of considering that subject
Mr. HOUSTON hoped the morning hour would
be devoted to receiving reports from committees
The question was then taken on the motion Of
Mr.. MooRE, and it was agreed to.
HOMESTEAD BILL.
And thereupon the House went into committee,
(Mr HrBBARp, Of New Hampshire in the chair,
and resumed the consideration of the homestead
bill.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, addressed the
House, and in relation to the bill before the COM
tnittee, said that at present, without any defined
policy, he was inclined to think this question had
better be postponed until they should see what
policy shall be adopted.
The gentleman from Maine, (Mr. SMART,
commenced his remarks the other day by saying
that he rose TO defend the North. He (Mr.
SrkpHENs) did not rise to respond to that speech,
but he roae to defend the Constitution of his coun-
try and our common country, North and South
We present to-day spectacle which this coun-
try never did before. 1t was said that in all re-
publcs there must be parties. He would 60 fur
Their. and say that in all free countries, where a
representative government was known, and ad-
hered TO, there must be parties. But he laid down
the position that there could be no party without
principle. He maintained that in this country we
presented the strong and anomalous fact that there
were nominaily ten parties, when really, accord
ing TO the principles and doctrines Of both parties,
they did not in fact exist.
The great leading and controlling question which
was likely to enter into the political contest OF
this country and the administration of its govern
ment, was the constitutional right of one section
of the country to reclaim their fugitive slaves.
This was one Of the paramount questions of the
day. Now, it was said that there must be dis
agreement between Northern men and Southern
men upon this queston--that is that upon this
great constitutional question, men must disagree.
If this was to be adopted, either by the Demo-
cratic party or the Wing party, it was time that
the country should know it for there was a ma
;ority of the people Of the United States who
were in favor Of fulfilling every constitutional obi
ksticn, and the majority had been evinced by the
votes Of this House, Ifthis we're not SO, he would
not indulge in those fond hopes Of the future with
which be was inspired. If he believed that there
was 10 be disagreement between the North and
South upon a fundamental principle of govern
meat, the future indeed would be robed IN dark
ness Now what did he ask, as an American
What did he ask Of gentlemen of the North he
did not speak to them as Wings or Democrats
but be addressed them as Americans, as represen-
tAtives Of the American people, in whose hands
were the destinies of the republic; and with It the
destinies of mankind were interviewer. ere
they to deny principle maintained by our fore
fAthers, and by them inserted in the Constitution
and say that they must disagree upon this greal
Question, He would not believe it until he should
~ the question tried.
Mr.. S. then referred TO the assertion Of Mr.
RAsrouI, that Northern men must eat Southern
dirt before they could become nationalists HI
[Mr. 81 asked not this, but merely asked them tc
do no more than to fulfil the obligations of tht
Constitution, and to recognise the right Of thu
South, and pledge themselves that that righ
should be enforced.
Ii here was majority of Northern. people who
were unwilling to see the fugitive slave law en-
forced be would like to KNOW il; and if the people
Of lie South would submit TO be governed by any
eiass Of men who would Hot recognise this right
he would scorn them. II the North would no
they would become the party which would breal
the oouspect; and he would repeat what he AZ
serted n I fsrmer Congress, that II the people o
the North intended TO disregard the constitutions
compact Of our f6thers-if they intended to maxi
this government hostile 10 the rights OF the Sou'f