Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11
SPEECH OF Mr.. BRODHEAD,
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
ON THE NEBRASKA @ UESTIOE

OF PENNSYLVANIA,
ON TIE NEBRASKA UESTI0N
In THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 20, 1854.
The Senate having under consideration the bill to or
ganize the Territories Of Nebraska and Kansas
Mr.. BRODHEAD said: Mr.. President, as / made q
speech in favor Of the principles OF the Dill now under
consideration nearly six ago IN inc House OF Ne
ons which have been brought to the notice OF the Senate
during this debate had Discriminate give silent vote
There is another sir why had determined to re-
main quiet did not at the commencement of the de-
bate feel the same interest in the question did when the
Wilmot proviso first brought to the notice of Con-
gress and the country; for have witnessed too great
willingness the part Of some parties South to unite
with the Wilmot proviso Wings and Buffalo platform De-
mocrats and Abolitoniss whenever suited their
yenience do felt that injustice had been done to
the true Of the North But sir, put these things
behind me- principle is at stake have duty to per-
form as well as feelings to crafty II
Mr. President, my honorable and respected colleague
and myself from and represent the same great State
which occupies SO important position between the d.
vidng interests, and may add between the dividing
anacsm of the North and the South and therefore
greet that he has taken position and advanced views
against this bill in which cannot concur. had hoped
that there Wing upon this floor from Northern
State who would not separate from his Southern Wing
brethren. No doubt he honestly believes all he says
difference Of opinion between renders 1t quite proper
and necessary that both should have fair hearing and
hence took the floor last evening as soon as he concluded
his remarks will endeayor to bring facts to the notice
Of the Senate and the country and will state the case as
understand 1t, and will attempt but little more; for
always endeavor to make myself useful workngman,
rather than conspicuous in the way Of speechmakng
Oraons for the benefit Of the galleries sentimental
readers at home out Of place here They serve no
useful purpose Debate in the true of the term is
one Of the objects for which we meet.
My honorable colleague r CoopER) last evening as
serted that the measure under consideration fraught
with danger; that it is creating silent feeling Of in
n
heretofore maintained the constitutional rights and nst
buttons Of the South that it is repugnant to the COM
promise of 1850 and violation of plighted
faith by the repeal Of the Missouri compromise after the
South had had the benefit Of the bargain He did not
assert do at the North that about to le
gsate and plant slavery in the Territory and proceed
hold meetings upon that idea
These are the positions which understood my col
league to assume and upon all Of which take issue
with him. and affirm, before this august body and before
common constituents
l. That the bill being based upon correct principle,
the right of the people communities to govern them
selves and regulate their domestic institutions it is
not fraught with danger Far distant States commu
mites should not be ruled by decrees star chamber de-
crees issued from the palace at Washington.
q That the same men who we're the opponents Of the
admission Of Texas and the noisy advocates of the Will
mot provso, with some few exceptions attempt
ing excite popular prejudice against it. No evidence
is needed upon this pont it is part Of the history Of the
country.
g. That it is far from being repugnant to the compro
mise Of 1866 it carries out the principle Of
those measures, and threeourths Of this Senate will
decide.
A. That the Missouri compromise was violated, repu
dated abrogated and annued by the advocates of the
Wilmot proviso, (and my colleague Of them in
opposition to the votes and earnest proestaons of the
whole South and in opposition to the votes and speeches
of men like myself who opposed the Wilmot proviso At
any rate the advocacy Of the Wmot proyso caused the
virtual repeal Of the Missouri compromise in 1850.
s. The bill recognises principle and establishes rule
better and more beneficial for the North than the Missouri
IL
pliedly to be admitted, or the compromise was cheat
and because have only about 900 slave in
population Of 600 000 that quite certain
that majority Of the people having interest in slaves
will 60 into the territory south of 500 30 and pass laws
and adopt constitutions prohibiting slavery wherever they
not prevented by the character of the soil and climate
IT, therefore, the Southern States content with the
present BILL and are willing to repeal the Missouri COM
promise, the North should be also. This bill gives
protection to slave property in Nebraska The Consu
ton which is the supreme law may may not give it in
opposition to local territorial legislation. That is left
open question for the Supreme Court Of the United States
10 decide
g. The Missouri compromise was ON expedient to get
the two Houses Of Congress out Of difficulty in which
the spirit Of abotonsm, fanaticism and demagogism
had involved them in 1920 and only acquired respect by
State Congressional and individual acquescence 1t was
intended to reach the Pacific ocean, and to divide that
which could not be peaceably enjoyed in common.
Before proceeding to discuss the points in issue between
my honorable colleague and myself beg to make few
remarks Of preliminary character.
whatever It is only important establishing perma-
nent rule by which Territorial governments hereafter
be organized that debates like the present may be
avoided We acquire territory North, but always
South from weak and defenceless nations Hereafter
Territorial will be organized south of 36o
3 well north Of that line In all territory belong
ing the United States wish the people of the North
as well as South to have fair chance.
have said that the present question of practical
Importance, for every sensible knows and every
candid man will admit, that soil and climate forbid the
introduction Of slaves into the Nebraska region which
all above 36o 30 Slaves cannot pro6taby safely be
taken where the winters long and the short
and where RICE cotton and sugar cannot be cultivated
where there is any uncertainty the length Of time
thsy may be held Capital is always tmid While we
have much vacant and unoccupied rich lands in Flo
rida Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Arkansas, and
Texas, slave labor will be employed upon the ele
waited grounds Of the Nebraska and Kansas country.
do not believe therefore, that there will be much excite
North South. The people Of the North who at
tend to their own business who do the work Of the
try, who raise the bread for the country, pay the
Of the country and do the sincere praying for the
try have too much to camor for the exclusion of
that which does not and cannot exist The truth is soil
and climate have to do with extension of slavery
than Congressional action. The honorable and dstin
guished Senator from Massachusetts, MR. EvERETT) in
his speech ct the opening Of the debate made very i'm
portant admission, which his colleague (Air SUMNER)
felt the force Of and which he did reply to in way
though right The Senator said
supposed that this is to become sayeholding
region The climate, the SOIL the staple productions
such as to invite the planter of the neghborng States
disposed to move to turn from the cotton regions Of
the South and establish himself in Kansas Nebraska
few domestic servants may be taken there few farm labor
ers, it sporadioay but in the long quite
that Is generally admitted that this