The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14
NO. 1913.
-, pvBRAsKA TERRITORIAL BILL.

,..tpde is O vast extent vi tcrrlIOry, tnrouBh
~hiob mass the great routes from Missouri to
Nc Mexico, Utah, California, and Oregon.
rortion of it, Immediately on the border of
Missouri. is occupied by Indians, removed from
,bs limits of the States, and secured in their
,,-ritOrial rights by solemn treaty. The rest
oftbe territory is inhabited by few white set
,s-s whose numbers would be soon reinforced
are Territorial Government established, and
tbe lands brought into market. AS the tide OF
rOpulation is sweeping onward towards the
Rocky Mountains it will ere long break over
ali obstacles, and we shall see settlements
Swinging up all along the emigrant routes.
10 view of this state of things of the increasing
immigration from abroad, of the necessity Of
providing for the safety of emigrants from the
States to our Pacific territories, and of binding
together in indissoluble bonds the new States
of the Pacific and the old States of the Allan
ic it is the duty of the Government to bring
this wilderness into subsection to the rule of
civilization Fortunately, the whole of it lies
north of the Missouri Compromise line, SO deg.
30 min and is guarded by positive statute
AGAINST the introduction of slavery. That Com
rronise, which has been held binding by the
South. and has been uniformly recognised as
constitutional, expressly excluded slavery from
,bs territory of Louisiana north of that line.
I,s now as positive and effectual as any statute
can be. 1t is a conclusive Wilmot Proviso; and
;ronv slaves are held in the territory they are
held in violation of law.
Eight years ago, Mr.. Douglas in the House
or representatives, at the second session of the
Tsensy-cighth Congress, introduced bill for
,bo organization of Territorial Government,
styling the Territory Nebraska. 1t was referred
10 the Committee on Territories, which report
"A II with amendments, January 7, 1S45; but
twas never taken up for consideration.
At the first session of the Thirty-second Con-
eress March IS, ls4s, MIR. Douglas, being a
momber of the Senate introduced similar
hill in that body. 1t was referred to the Ter
rtOrial Committee, reported by it, without
amendment, April 20, lS4s, recommitted at
the next session to the same committee, but
never reported.
Meantime, the Wilmot-P roviso agitation had
sprung up; the South had arrayed itself as a
unit in support of Slavery The Compromise
measures were the result and Northern poll
dcians with Presidential aspirations did not
care to signalize themselves by any act which
might be deemed exceptionable by the Slave
Power Mr.. Douglas seemed to have lost sight
Of his once favorite measure. The Thirty first
Congress, and the first session Of the Thirty
second Congress, went by, and not word was
heard of Nebraska.
The few settlers there, finding they must act
for themselves, appointed Mr.. Abelard Guthrie
delegate, to submit to Congress memorial
praying for a Territorial Government. On bis
way to Washington, he says, he fell in with
Senator's Atchison and Geyer, of Missouri, and
knowing the deep interest taken by the People
Of that State in the organization of Nebraska,
be fully expected t36nd them prepared to sus.
tain the movement; but he was bitterly disap.
pointed. They both strongly opposed the
measure, and Mr. Atchison told him that it
was folly to persist in it. He recollected, how.
ever, that Col Benton was in Washington, and
took courage On arriving here, he consulted
with the Colonel, who encouraged his under
taking, and who was, in fact from beginning
to end, the soul of the enterprise, Southern
men, desirous to avoid a recognition of the
Missouri Compromise line, promised their sup
Wrt, if he would consent to bound the new
Territory on the south by the thirty de-
gree of north latitude. Taking the advice Of
the veteran Missourian, he stood firmly by SO
deg 80 min. and o. last the Committee on
Territories in the House reported bill for the
organization Of the Territorial Government Of
Nebraska, with the original boundaries, which
was passed February 10, 1853. There was =
protracted debate upon it, burning ostensibly
upon the effect of the bill upon the rights of the
Indians The opposition came from the slave
holding members and a few Hunkers at the
North and the real ground of it was, that Ne
braska would be free Territory, and become
the nursery of free States. The bill was passed
by vote of sS to 49, The negative vote was
gwen by ultIa Shareholders chiefly, a few
Northern Hunkers, two or three members
Jealous of the growth of the West, and two OF
three others deceived by the clamor about the
nights of the Indians. 1t was as follows:
NAYs-Messrs Abercrombie, VIM. Apple.
ton, Ayerett, Bocock, Bowie, Brooks, Albert G
Brown Caskie, Chastain, Cobb, Colcock, Colt.
man, Daniel Dockery, Durham, Edmundson
Ssmpson w Harris Haws Haven, Hem, Hors
lord, Houston, Howard, <Thos. M. Howe, Jack
son, G. w Jones, Letcher, Mcqueen. Meacham
MIllsOn, Morehead Orr Outlaw, Ross, Stanly
A; r Stevens Strother, Sutherland, Venable
wallace, Walsh, Wildrick, and Woodward-43
The bill was received from the House of Rep
reSen'atVes by the Senate, and referred to thu
territorial Committee, February "a, 1853. Al
mad been repeatedly brought forward in botl
houses Of Congress, Md been thoroughly dis
eussed in the House of Representatives, anC
was perfectly understood by tho Chairman o
we Committee, Mr.. Douglas, with whom 1t wa
1Ought favorite measure, it is somewhat re
msfkaoe that it was not reported till the It'll
u February five days after its reference, snt
VII more remarkable that after il was report
sa'hwos not called up by Mr.. Douglas till thu
last day of the session, IA lapse Of two weeks,
'nen nearly all tho great appropriation bill
renamed to be disposed Of and when it was il
' 'l power Of any member to talk it to death
NAG Mr. Douglas shown half the prDmptitl -
SUI zeal In urging this movement that he dis
p'ayea In the annexation of Texas, the bill
would have passed
VT uuthr'e in communication published
III s%i Missouri Democrat, says
Darby M ,ha inc exception of Hall, Phelps and
gave y,a ~. 10 missouri members of Congress al
was vi nI sae cold shoulder Senator Atchison
plated Ta ~ ms denunciations of the contem
occas;oa ,Slrl,orIal Government; and upon one