Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-05
Speech OF Col. Benton
ON THE
NEBRASKA BILL,


Chair:
The Chairman The question be-
lore The committee Is on the Senate
amendments to the deficiency bill
aud on that question the member
from Mississippi [Mr. Harrisl has
still the fpor.
Mr.. Harris not availlng himself OF
his ri-bt
Col Benton rose and addressed
the committee.
THE BILL COMES FROM A FREE STATE.
II any till to impair the Missouri
Compromise line of 1920 had been
brought into thus House by a mem
Der from a slave state, or under the
administration of President elected
from slave state, should have
deemed It my duty to have net 1t at
the threshold, aud to nave made the
motion which the parliamentary law
prescribes for the repuse of subjects
which are not fit to be considered
should have moved its rejection a,
the first reading. But the bill be-
fore us, for The two may be consider
ed as one, does not come fro n tina,
quarter. 1t comes from free state,
aud under the administration of
President elected from Tree state /;
ana under the aspec, of its origin, !
deemed II right to wait, aud hear
what tn, members of the free states
had to say TO il.
1t was a proposition from their
own ranks, to- give up their half Of
the slavery compromise Of $50 and
it they choose to do so, | do not see
how southern members could refuse
TO accept It. |, was free state
question ; and the members from the
free states were The majority and
could do as they pleased. So |
stood aloof, waiting to see their lead,
but without The slightest intention of
being governed by it. had my
ewn convictions OF right and duty,
and meant to ACT upon them. | had
come into political life upon thai
compromise. had stood upon II
above thirty years, and intend 10
stand upon 1t to the end, solitary
and alone, If need be-" Applause
aud. laughter but perierring COM
pany 10 solitude, and moi doubling
for an instant what The result was IL
be.
| have said, that this bill comes
into Congress under the admInisIra-
ton of free state President /; but
do moi mean 10 say, or inslnuaie 10y
iiiat remark, that the President iav.
ors Tie hill know nothing of III.
disposition towards It; nd # | did
| should not disclose II here. i
would he supplementary, and d
breech at the privileges of tins House
% do SO. The Presidents opinions
can onl, be made known TO US b,
that way II ms right, and often IN.
duty, to communicate wIth US. Ana
IN that way there Is no room Tor mis-.
take IN citing his opinions; no roou
for the IlnpulaIlon Of contradictory
oplnlons 10 INN aud ~ that way he
becomes responsible 10 the American
people for the Opinions he may de-
liver.
All other modes Of communicative
ore forbidden To hln,as lie ndlDg TO al
undue aud unconstitutional inlerler-
ence with the freedom OF legislation
1t is not bribery alone, atte.. pit upon
member, which constituents 1
breach OF the privileges OF tins House
II is any attempt TO operate upon 1
members vote by any consideration
OF hope or fear, favor or affection
prospect OF reward, or dread OF pun
lshment. This is parliamentary law
as old as English parliamenls, con
slanlly maintained by the BrllIsl
House Of Commons, and lalely de
Glazed in most signal manner. |
was during the reign OF our old mas
ter, George the Third, aud IN the Ia
nous case OF Mr.. Fox's East Indu
bill, report was spread IN parlla
ment by one Of the lords OF the bed
chamber, that the king was oppose.
10 the bill-lhat ne wished II defeat
en-, aud had SAID that he should con
sider any member his enemy VIII.
should vote for it. The House 0
Commons took lire at this report, an'
Immediately resolved
THAT to report any opinion. o
{ pretended opinion of his Majesty
| upon any bill depending III eihe
louise of Parliament, is a high GRIM
aud misdemeanor, derogatory 10 tn
honor of the crown, breach Of lh'
fundamental privileges o! Parliament
aud subverslve of the constitution @
the country"
This resolve was adopted in fu
House, by a majority OF seventy
three votes and was only decIara
tory OF existing parliamentary law
such as il had existed from the ilIn
that English counties and borough
first sent knights OF the SHIRE an
burgess to represent them IN In
!. Parliament House. 1, Is an old In
gIish parliamentary law, and is SO re
corded by llalseli, aud all the wit
: ers on that law. Ii is also American
law, as old rs our Congress, and, a
such, recorded IN Jeiiersan's Manual
] Il is honest law and, as such, exist