Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-05-25
CONGRESSIONAL.

Washington, May IL, 1854.
SENArE.---A number OF memorials and petitions
were presented and disposed of. The bill giving
the Port Huron and Erie Railroad Company the
right of way through the military reservation
at Fort Gfotiot, was taken up, read a third time
and passed Senator Clayton, of Delaware called
the attention of the Senate to the humanity and
generosity of the British ship Virago, in reiiev-
| ing the distresses of Lieut. Strain 3 Darien Sur
veying Party, and introduced joiut resolution
manitesting the gratitude of Congress therefor ;
resolution received, and referred to committee on
Foreign Relations. 4lIl n 0N
HoUsE.-Immediately after the opening BUSH
ness, the House went into Committee of the
Whole upon the Nebraska Bill. Mr.. Ready OF
Tennessee delivered speech in favor of the bill.
aga May 49,
HorsE-On motion of Mr.. Richardson, the
House went into Committee of the Whole, (Mr.
Olds in the Chair.)
Mr.. Churchwell arose and said that he would
prefer giving Il silent vote on the question before
the House; but his gallant colleague (Mr. Eth
eridgc) had challenged him to come forth.
What is the question before US! 1t is one
selves. OF the thirteen States who formed the
| SOIiCuCruCy, tNCfC WCiC blttC lHCJ
did not make Il Government torbidding slavery,
US until 1919. Seven States were afterward
added, without objections being made to the
possession OF slaves within them.
How can it now be said that the slavehoding
States arc the agtatorsl The North sold oul
its slaves when free labor proved more profitable
to them, and not until then did they cry out
against slavery.
Mr.. Churchwell reviewed the Missouri Com
promise, and contendcd that the North had al
ways repudiated it, lie said he wished to know
from his colleagues, (Messrs. Cullom, Etheridgt
and Tayor) whether they approved of the Mis-
souri, Compromise!
MIR. Culiom- My position in reference to thu
Missouri Compromise is this 1t was passed il
a time of great political trouble, by worthy
band Of patriots, looking to the good of thu
country; and perhaps, ii had been in tina
Congress, should have voted for it, under tn
necessity thea existing. The act il not favor
lite Of mine, bit the necessity which originals
it continues to-day, and therefore am oppose
to its ahrogation.
Mr. Dean followed Ho had refrained iror
participating in the debate upon this bill, be
cause he had entertained hope that it woul
not come to IL yote--5ec.usc he hoped that ger
tlomen from the South wodld NOS press it--tha
the people of the North would BE- heard wit
power. But the hour was at hand-the las
day Of discussion was Upon Is.
This bill was one to bcdenounced, rather tina
to be discussed. Bills of merit had been 81
aside for the purpose Of considering this bill
and the interests Of the country had been mad
to fer
Mr.. Dem spoke Of tho recent delay occasion
ed by tie action Of the minority, and said tina
it was correct; that the bill should not only
oppUel, but resisted; that the Representative
here had not ben elected to enact such Law
lie would propose to the friends Of the measure
that before voting upon the bill they should a
return to them for reelection. He would tru
the decision of the people, who would nj
make sectional issue upon it.
Mr.. Dean opposed the BILL because it PR
fessed to approve, while it virtually denet
popular sov,r ignty; and also because it wa
double faced, in that It's advocates claimed tba
slavery shoald be permitted to go to Nebraska
but would not
He also condemned the repeal of compromise
and declared that the North would hereafter
nothing not imposed upon them by the Const
tn ton, for the restitution of slaves, nor Tor tt
protection OF slavery.
Mr.. Wheeler arose and stated, that when Il
bill was first presented to the Senate, he WI
predispused in its favor Thus Impressed,
had ventnred upon minute examination
the subject, and he had arisen from this exam
nation with the conviction that he could new,
give it his support
lie believed in tho slnctity of compromises
that, without an observance Of them, our Go
crnment could not continue to exist, and TIN
the Compromises of 1920 and 1850 were not il
compatible, but in perfect harmony.
Mr.. Benson presented his views upon the sui
ject, declaring that the bill was uncalled for /
the Sourh, UNJUST to the North, and injurious
the country.
May 90.
HOUSE AT midnight last night, recess W;
taken until nine D clock this morning, when Il
members re assembled. The att ndance ";
small, there not being more than one hundr
present.
'lhe debate on the Neb aska bill was resume
and Messrs. Harlan. Stuart of Ohio. and Goo
rich spoke against the repeal of the Nilsson
Compromise as VIC alton of solemn compaC
The latter said 'lf you strike down the leg
power Of that Compromise it W. uld strike dow
the moral force of the Compromise of 1850 X
peal the Missouri Compromise, land it would VII
out, as with sponge, all compromises at tn
North. Laws may b. made, and have the for
of laws, but til y will not be respected as col
promises
Messrs Santon, of Tenn, Hem, of Iowa al
White, of Penn addressed the flouse in law
of the bill The debate will continue until
o'clock, Mr.. Ric2ardso, occupying the hour pr
vlous thereto in winding up Amendments "
then D. offered during tn. afternoon and evrlhl
session, without any probability Of vote bein
tak"n on the bill.
The minority are determined to play the o
game, an there is bare possibility Of vote b
ing reached on Monday.
he general debate was closed at IL NJ. NJ
Dean of N Y, then moved that the commits
rise lost, yeas 81, nays 90. MIR. Edgerton,
Ohio, moved the bill for the organization of n
braska territory, which passed the asst Congress
AS substitute
Mr.. Gddings, of Ohio, moved to strike 0
from the House bill the provision that when a
lnlted as Stale or States, The said Territory,
any portion of the same, may BE- received wi
or without slavery. as its constitution may pi
scribe.
Mr.. Valley, of Massachusetts, moved
amendment to the effect that the Territory shi
not. during the year 1854, be erected into lie
rilorial government. 1t was II owed to act or Il
matter now. Ii gentlemen do not think 50, TIT
wi before the year expires. Rejected II again
1903 .-.-...
MIR. Mace, of Iowa, offered an amendment tn
the territural legislature sha have power to a