Demoine courier., 1854-06-22
VAR. TfcntoE ON the GaGs-
dcn Treaty.
The Secret Motive for the Me-
braska Pressure.

Mr. hnoX was assigned the floor.
Mr.. Wright, of Pennsylvania--If The
gentleman from Illinois will give way
for a moment, | will move thai the com.
m:ttee take a recess until seven o'clock.
Mr.. Benton-If no gentleman wants
the floor now, | wish to occupy il for
about ten II inu,es.
The Chairman-The gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Knox is entitled to the
floor; The Chair having recognized him.
If the gentleman from Illinois will yield
the floor for ten minutes, and if the com
mit.eo will be willing that the gentleman
from Missouri (Mr. Benton) may pro.
coed, he nay do so.
The gentleman from Illinois yielded
the floor, and general Assem-, was given
to the gentleman from Missouri to pro-
coed:
MR.. BENTON'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Benton said: Mr.. Chairman, |
have nothing more TO say TO this bill on
account OF lis interference with the Mis-
souri, Compromise. On hat point |
have spoken my share, and shall not re-
cur to it again. pass on to a new poin.
one significantly revealed TO us some
Ten days ago by a representative from
Georgia, the member from the first Con
gre~ssional District of that State, (Mr.
Seward.) That gentleman spoke a.
gainss the bill in a way entirely accord.
an. to my W opinions: but came to
the conclusion that he would vote for it,
and gave his reasons Cor doing so; reas-
ons which had not been mentioned by
any other speaker, and which struck
me as momentous, and worthy TO arrest
Inc attention OF the House and of the
country.
He objects TO the bill because il il un-
founded and contradictory in its state
ments and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
with itself, with the act of 1920, and
with acts of lS50-because it was man
ulactured for a particular purpose, and
is of no value in Itself to the slave
States; but which commands his support,
as a Southern man, on account of It's ui-
terror operations, as containing a pfinci.
pie 10 be asserted in future, and which
was puE into the bill to become the basis
Of some grand movement in this couu-
try. | will read what he said, as the
proper way of doing justice TO his clear
and well expressed ~opinions--to his mo-
menions reveiations-and as the best
way OF awaiting myself of his important
declarations. | find them thus in the
official copy of the speech:
IL oppose the details of this bill, be-
cause they are no! consistent with them
selves or with the transactions to which
they relate; and the bill itself shows
that it was manufactured for a particular
purpose. Some OF the clauses embra-
ced in it, conflicting as they are, were in
troduced for the purpose. IN my opinion,
of setting up a principls,o be asserted in
future, and which the acts of 1850 new
er contained. Now, sir, lei us see
We are called upon here now TO voie
for this bill, which is not drafted in the
ordinary shape Of legislation. But the
trainers Of this bill. have furnished the
reason, within the bill itself. and which
they call upon us 10 subscribe to. What
is il! They tell us that the law of 1920,
being inconsistent with the legislation of
1850, therefore lha, the act of 1890 is
imperative and void. | take issue with
them; and, for myself, occupying my po-
silion as a Southern an, | never have
subscribed, never will, and never can
subscribe to the doctrines contained in
The acts of 1850. My objections to the
acts Of 1850 are known at home. They
are recorded in the proceedings of the
convention which took place in Georgia
in 1850. was a member of that con-
veE.ion. voted against the Georgia
platform or principle. And now, when
that portion of the South, having feel
ings in common with me on this 9ues-
ton, have waived their objections TO it
for the purpose OF uniting with the
South, and ~harmon!zing public feeling
on this great question, 1t is put in here
as the basis of some grand movement
in this country. know not what that
movement is.'
| concur in the truth and justice Of
everything which the member from
Georgia has here said. but differ from
him in the conclusion 10 which he ar.
rives-that of voting for the bill; and
find in his reasons for that vote, adti.
lional reasons for nv own vote against,
II; but he votes as 4 southern man, and
votes ~seciionally. | also am a South
ern man, but vote nationally on national
questions. He sees in i. a principle Sc,
up which is false and useless in lis APP
piicalion to Nebraska, but which is to
be asserted in future. and which is put
into the bill as the basis of some grand
impending movement in this country
Of the naiur OF this movement, which
is to be SO grand, and at the same time
sectional, the member declares himself
to be ignoranl; and tina. ignorance, |
would suppose, should be a reason for
holding back from a bill which commits
its supporters 10 great unknown things.
That is the way il works with me.
am also ignorant, that is to- say. IN.
ipfapnol af tb.s ur,nd ,novomapt which