New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-25
xyXuId CoNGREss-Fmsr SESSION.

SENATE =. WAsHISGTos. Friday Feb -, 1854.
The CHAIR presented a communication from the Score
taIy of War with statement of contracts made by tho
Dir. EVERETT presented the resolutions of the Legs
s.ure of Massachusetts, against the repeal OF the Missouri
Mr.. SUMNER preseated the remOnsrancs Of Mrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe and 100 women Of Andover,
Mass and also OF loo men Of the same place, against
the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
Mr. PETIT presented similar petition from Indiana.
Dir HAMLlN, similar petition from Maine.
The private calendar was taken up. Two bills were
passed
Mr.. WALKER reported bill extending the rights Of
Pre-, mpion to actual settlers. He said this bill would
probably take the place Of tho Homestead BILL and it
nearer than the other measure to securing home
stead 10 actual settlers
Mr. COOPER from the Committee Indian Affairs 10
whom certain charges against Alexander Ramsay late
Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Oregon, ade report
thereon unanimously acquitng Mr. Ramsey of all mpro-
pTiety OF conduct.
The resolution directing the settlement of Mr. Ramseys
accounts passed
The Nebraska bill was then taken up.
Dir. DOUGLAS said that the friends Of the bill sup.
posed that all discussion proposed by its opponents had
taken place and had considered when would DO the pro-
Ter time to vote upon it. They had to the concu
sion 10 continue the debate until Tuesday Wednes-
day he would move TO close the debate and the Senate
Mr. CHASE said as be had previously given notice he
had numerous amendments to offer lie would at the pro
per time offer them but would not throw obstacles in tho
way Of getting at the question.
Mr HUNTER said that complaints had been made
that the Slavery question had been thrust upon the SEN
desired revive the question: but it the nstu
raj result of circumstances following the adopted
Ia 1850, in framing what were called the Compromise
acts Of that year lie did not see how majority in the
Senate and in the House. and in the country, who APP
proved hose measures could vote against the repeal OF
the Missouri prohibition without great Inconsistency as TO
their former professions and actions The Missouri
troversy was settled by establishing line Of division
between the slave and the nOnsayeholding territory.
The South though always opposed it in principle had
always been in favor Of abiding by it, The South had
carried in the Of Texas The South had voted for
10 tIa uvhs fia North T., r,Bl
the North not only rejected 80 30 but admitted q
. State the feS people who, on the Pacific hal
without consent Of Congress taken up much Of public
territory they saw it, and called il State In 1850 the
South practically excluded from all the territory bu.
got in return the admission that was unconstitutional fof
Congress to exclude Slavery and also that the people
should have authority frame their domestic relations
AL that asked 10 extend the principle
TO enother Territorial organization about be adopted
The Missouri prohibition compromise was il
impact The Senators utterly mistaken in sayiDgt
from the South, supported by the South i
w6s Northern measure, and offered By the North.
majority of the South voted against IT, gave history
OF the various votes and proceedings on the Missouri
Compromsete show Il was not Southern measure IL
compact for majority OF the south were opposed 10 It,
Ii il was a compact and Missouri the price given to
the South why was it broken in 1921 by the North in
fusng admit Missouri In face of the fact that
Northern and the South had always adhered
and the North continually violated it, il strange to
hear Northern Senators talking about honor and good
faith ShRkspeIe had described sanctimonoIs pirate
who always carried the ten commandments with him. bat
botted out the he had desire 10 observe. The
Senator seemed disposed tnaf
should keep honor and faith when his advantage
but seemed little disposed to observe them himself fe
argued that the Constitution framed to perfect
equality among all the Sates. Congress had no power
given by the Constitution except power % pass laws
general in application and extent. The Constitution was
designed TO preserve domestic tranquility and secure the
blessings OF liberty 20 all citizens equally The objects
could not be carried out secured by laws Discriminating
in favor Of the North and against the South The states
had twofold interest in the Territoheshrst in pro
cCCds Of sales Of land and next in right Of citizens %
settle upon and possess Ii proposition was made ID
appropriate for the benebt Of the non slayehodlns
States the proceeds the sales OF the public lands tho
Territories oil would admit its unconstitJtonalty why
was it more just give to the people Of slayehodng
States theexclusiye privilege Of going TO- using AMI pos
sfssng the public lands in the Territories lie regarded
that that power to regulate all domestic relations niga.
safely be left with tie people The consttudonaty Oh
such course was admitted by all. He would place bal
one limit on their legislative powers and that was thai
they should pass act destroying the equality Of tho
citizens OF the several States How FAR the soyeregntyo
the people extended and to what subj cs their egisla2n
could be considered rightful was matter which this Oh
left 10 the decision Of the Courts. He argued at length
the urconsiuonGty Of the restrictions the ordinance
Of 1851 and Of the Missouri Compromise, citing ylO1'
dtcfions Of the supreme Court % sustain hin. lie "a
uicj tie south would derive practical siyan.iss