Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-06
CONGRESS-.



Senate Thursday, April 8, 1854.
Mr.. Everett presented the resolutions adopt
cd by the town of Dedham, Massachusetts, re-
monstrating agsinst the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, and the introduction Of Slavery
into territory now free.
Also, the memorial of citizens of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, praying that freedom Of religious
worship be secured to American citizens in for
eign countries.
Mr. Clayton presented the memorial Of the
Agricultural Society Of Newcastle county,
Delaware demonstrating against the passage
OF the Homestead bill.
Mr.. Hamln presented the memorial Of G.
Is. Clarke Of Maine, praying that certain con-
tinental money held by him, DO redeemed.
The following named bills were considered
and passed:
A bill for tho relief Of Harriet Leavenworth
widow of the late Brevet Brigadier General
Leavenworth.
A bill to extend the limits Of the collection
district Of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and for other
purposes.
bill for the relief Of Joseph Smith
The Chair laid before the Senate commu-
nication from the State Department, transmit
ting certain correspondence, called for by a
resolution of tho Senate, between the Ameri-
can Consul at Smyrna and the State Depart
ment, concerning the imprisonment Of Martin
Rosetta. Laid on the table, and ordered to be
printed.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
alton Of Executive business.
House Of Representatives. April s, 1854,
The Speaker laid before tho House com.
munication from the President transmitting
the papers called for by resolution in relation
to the Black Warrior seizure; which were re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Churchwell, by consent, called up the
New Orleans and San Francisco semi monthly
mail bill reported yesterday, and addressed
the House in support Of it. A popularity Of
this bill il, that it proposes that the mail
shall DO carried by contract upon progressive
scale Of compensation highest price to be
paid for the quickest despatch.
Mr.. Smith, Of Virginia, also supported tho
bill with earnestnes. He commended that enter
prise was needed in the business.
Mr.. McMullen opposed the bill on various
grounds and, in the course of his remarks it
became apparent that the bill had not the
hearty sanction of the Post Office Committee,
who ha0 formally reported IT,
Pending the consideration of this bill,
Mr.. Phelps by consent, reported back from
the Committee of Ways and Means the
Deficiency BILL "a returned from the Senate,
with certain amendments; which was referred
to the Committee Of tho Whole and ordered to
be printed.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole, when Mr.. Preston, of Kentucky, said
that there were two bills before the committee
one of them contains the Badger and the Clay
ton amendments. But in both bills is deca-
ratory repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
The territory for which Governments are to be
established is twice as large a. France. There
is no question in this day and generation Of
more Importance. When the Union was
formed, Slavery was not prescribed The
South came into the Union under circumstan-
change He believed that the national flag
would protect Slavery wherein no positive law
forbids it.
Nor did he deny the principle of squatter
sovereignty. Congress has authority over the
national domain-over a territory as over a
dockyard, but not i'm derogation Of the rights
of the People. II was not proposed to affirm
that Congress may not have power to interdiot
Slavery, but he was clear that it was power
that ought not to be exercised.
He concluded by expressing the belief that
the bill will pass; and he appealed to Mr.. Cut
ting to keep faith with the House and fulfill
his promise. If he should, the measure is safe.
Mr.. Smith, Of New York followed. He said
the Slavery question was up again in Con-
gress. 1t will not keep down. The President
had tried to keep it down; members of Congress
had humbled themselves to aid him. But all
was of no avail II will rise.
This is not strange if we consider the power
of truth The grass will grow, the water
run. and it is needless for men to attempt to
control the morals of the world. Canute was
wise compared with those who attempt this.
Truth Is the power-that brings up the ques-
tioa. II lives and reigns forever Every ques-
ton in the eye Of truth is unsettled and must
be sgitated.
Slavery will be On unsettled question until
banished by Truth. Slavery is the hugest lie
on earth II makes chattels of man. In chat
telizing man, il denies that man is man, and
that God is God
But be was opposed to the Nebraska bill be-
cause il proscribes the colored man-because il
excludes or proscribes the immigrant; thirdly,
because il contains the deceptive idea Of non
inter vention. The bill does not recognise this.
10 gives n Government, 1t limits the power OF
tho people, and reserves to Congress the power
Of revising the acts Of the people.
But il it did embrace the principle OF month";
tervention, he would oppose il for that reason.
The Territory belongs TO the whole people, and
their interference with it through Congress is
~ necessary as that n State shall govern each
county.
Utah and New Mexico will not be exempt
from Slavery because of any laws of. Mexico
and il is equally absurd to say that Slavery
existed in the Territory Of Louisiana. Would
tho suffice and canibslism have been perpetu.
ated in our Territories, because Of any laws
sanctioning them before their coming into our
possession.
u il wrong to charge those who oppose the
Nebraska bill, with denying the right Of self
government to the people Of the Territories
The limited number who are to be there in the
beginning, should not bind the whole people
who are to succeed them.