Washington sentinel., 1854-02-08
,G0narassi0maI.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
senate-Tuesday, February Z, 1854.
FIRST SESSION.

IlI. Dhl6f1l presented the memorials OF cltl-
zens OF Georgetown and Washington. in favor oi
the incorporation of company to construct a rail
road from Georgetown TO the navy yard along
pennsylvania avenue Referred.
SENATE CONTINGENT FUND.
Y The bill regulating the disbursement of the
Senate contingent fund was again returned from
the House, that body insisting on its amendment
striking out the provision allowing the Secretary
OF the Senate 81 200 annually in addition TO his
present salary
Mr.. HUNTER moved that the Senate recede
from its disagreement to that amendment, and the
motion was agreed to. So the bill is now passed
LAND FOR RAILROADS.
On motion by Mr.. JONES, of Iowa, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration OF the bill granting
about one million Of acres Of public land 10 the
Territory OF Minnesota, TO aid in the construction
OF q railroad, about three hundred miles long, in
that Territory. And after some explanatory de-
bate. the bill was read third time and passed.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF the bill granting land to Louisiana to aid in the
construction of railroad from Algiers, on the
Mississippi river, opposite New Orleans, to the
Messrs. DAWSON, HAMLIN, and BUTLER
opposed this system Of distributing the public
lands.
Messrs. JOHNSON and sLIDELL supported it
NEBRAsKA--sLAyERY.
The hour of one having arrived, on motion by
Mr.. DOUGLAS, the bill was postponed, and the
Senate proceeded 10 the consideration of the bill
to establish territorial government for Nebraska
The last clause in the 14th section is in these
words:
That the Constitution and all laws Of the
United States which are not locally inapplcable,
shall have the same force and effect within the
said Territory Of Nebraska as elsewhere within
the United States, except the Sth section OF
the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri
MI hsa nj Marc n Txrhi ich
was superseded by the principles of the Legislation
of 1850, commonly called the compromise mea-
sures, and is hereby declared inoperative."l
Mr. DOUGLAS moved to amend the said sec
tion by striking out the words within brackets, and
in lieu thereof insert the following:
Which being inconsistent with the principle OF
non-interventon by Congress with slavery in the
States and Territories, as recognised by the egis-
lation of 1850, commonly called the Compromise
measures is hereby declared imperative and
void, il being the true intent and meaning of this
act not TO legisate slavery into any Territory or
State, nor to exclude it herefrom but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free 10 form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way, sub
Ject only TO the Constitution Of the United States
Mr.. EVERETT sad that before any vote was
taken, he desired TO have an opportunity of ex-
pressing his views on the bill, and explaining the
grounds on which he had not been able to give his
support, either in the committee or member of
the Senate, to the bill reported by the COMMIT
tee, or it will read after this amendment shall
be adopted.
He did not propose to go into any elaborate dis
cusson of the great territorial questions presented
by this bill. That was great question, and would
require more time in its examination than his
other duties had allowed him 10 bestow upon it
during the short period which had elapsed since
the bill had been reported His position as a
member Of the committee, and as member of the
body, required him to give the reasons why he
could not vote for the bill. He had not very
clear conception OF the bearing of the amendment
now proposed, and desired an opportunity of ex-
amining it. For that purpose he would be much
obliged to the Senate if this bill were postponed
till tomorrow.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that he had no disposition
TO hurry this bill through without giving to all
full opportunity of examining and debating it.
The statement which had appeared in some ofthe
papers, that he designed TO force the bill through
on last Saturday, was not true. 1t did not follow
that, because the senator from Massachusetts was
not prepared to go on to-day, that others, whose
avocation it was to be always prepared to discuss
of them proceed? The public papers which were
opposed to the bill had announced the policy of its
enemies TO be postponement from day to day.
This policy being openly avowed, the friends of
the bill ought to see that it be not thus defeated.
Mr.. HOUSTON said that before this bill was
disposed of he desired an opportunity of express
ing his views and the reasons for his vote. He was
as ready now to vote as he would be after the de-
bate, but he desired to give his reasons for that
vote. He had nothing to do with any design to
postpone or delay the bill. AS there was large
majority in favor ofthe BILL he thought there ought
to be full opportunity given to the minority to ex
plain their objections.
Mr.. GWIN said he was in favor Of the friends
ofthe bill perfecting it, and presenting it in that
shape in which they proposed TO pass it. When
this was done, senators could debate it.
Mr.. RUSK moved that the bill be postponed till
tomorrow.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that he did not understand
the senator from Massachusetts as desiring time
to examine the amendment.
Mr.. EVERETT said that he did.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN said the Indian Committee
proposed to offer several amendments, changing
the regulations for Indian affairs in the territory.
Mr.. Mr.DOUGLAStemporarily withdrew his amend
ment.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN offered the amendments re-
ported by the Committee on Indian Affairs, all of
which were agreed to.
Mr.. DOUGLAS renewed his amendment.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.
LAND FOR RAILROADS.
The Senate then, on motion by Mr., STUART,
proceeded to the consideration of the bill granting
land to the State of Michigan, to aid in the con-
struction of railroad in that State
Messrs. DAWSON, BUTLER, HAMLIN, and
CLAYTON, opposed the BILL and Messrs. DODGE,
of Iowa, STUART, JOHNSON, SLIDELL, BEN
JAMIN, BROWN, and BADGER supported it.
Without taking the question,
The Senate adjourned.
oF