Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-03

injustice rlenQs the South, mucn less
would perform any Office that would have the appearance
of desertng my friends from the North
Mr.. BELL. understand that, and assure the Sena-
tor that appreciate his feelings will say that 1have
considered seriously whether could separate myself from
my friends from the South when there seemed to be ge
tender from the North of the principle which is
proposed to be established by this bill But that is mel
ther here nor there just now.
But another Senator who sits near me Mr.. BADGER
spoke also Of the high principle, the higher and more i'm
portan and fundamental principle that viii induce him to
vote for this bH though the amendment in support OF
which he he's argued ngeniousy and ably, giving very
strong and cogeM for it, to which many people
Of the country vii respond be not adopted. He has
not stated what thai principle is which he wishes 70 es
tablish
Mr. BADGER mot only slated it, but Ireally thought
if my friend from Tennessee had either heard my speech
on the Nebraska BILL read it heard Of it he would
have known what il was. lLaughter.l -
Mr. BELL. want to know 1t now, If the honorable
Senator win please to state it.
Mr. BADGER. The honorable Senator can send for o
copy of the speech which delivered aud see what II is
Mr. BELL. heard the honorable Senator make his
speech but wanted to know whether he corresponded
in sentiment with the honorable Senators from Virginia
South Carolina and Georgia. and if it was his great OBJ
ject to that stigma from the legislation Of the
United States that violation Of the Constitution rather
Mr.. TOOMBS. That is my great object.
Mr.. BELL. That understand. The honorable Sen
ators will remember that do not reproach them have
the correctness Of them They have perfect right to
act on their principles; but want to know the cor
that exists between these honorable gentle
men now. The honorable Senator from Indiana MIR.
PETTT has another consideration which sways him for
he expects that the cauldron which is boiling if we do
settle the question now will continue to boil and that
there may nnumerable other Influences set in motion
the North before the next Congress He Of opinion
that if the bill goes back the House with the amend
ment it will not carry; and if do not pass the bill
now he says that the country will never again have an
opportunity establish this great fundamental principle
Mr.. PETIT. did not say ''neyer." said 1t would
endanger it for years to come
Mr.. BELL. The honorable Senator drew description
of the country, at the North particularly now was
struck by his views do not know but that he is right
regard to the question: and whether 1T would not be
for the interest of the country settle the question
if this great principle is to be established That is what
say if it is important to the welfare OF the country ana
the Union Of these States that the principle should be
or can be established by this BILL If that is so agree
with the honorable Senator.
But want know what that great fundamental prin-
cipe is which the honorable Senator from Indiana thinks
so important to establish in this country that if we do
not get it he does not know whether we can ever
get it. because do not know what will be the condition
of the next Congress
| Mr.. PETIT. The fundamental principle to which
referred was substantially that stated by the Senator
from Georgia. that is the carrying Of the same policy
and the political rights all our territory the
giving to the people of the whole Union the same pot-
rights every foot Of the territory north and south
Mr.. BELL. Is that what the honorable Senator from
Michigan by the term g squatter sovereignty
Mr.. PETIT. No, sir
| Mr.. BELL. am at loss again. Perhaps the homo
rabe Senator from Mississippi (r BRowN enlight-
en- me upon this subject What is the great fundamen-
tai principle to bo established by this bill which makes
Ii important that we should pass the bin 4St the
! House Honorable Senators will understand me Z
mean conduct myself with perfect fairness towards
them They have expressed the greatest apprehensions
that the principle will escape and which the Senator
from Indiana seemed to nsinuate would escape forever
if established at this time. want to know now whe
ther that is the principle of squatter sovereignty do
not dsparage the principle OF the right OF the
people govern their concerns ana esabsh their
own domestic institutions. do not to state any
thing inconsistent with the principles which held on
the legislation of 1850. do not to involve myself
in any inconsistency as to the doctrines that held or
practiced upon but what want to do is to see If can
reconcile the arriEg opinions, or what seem to be the
arrng opinions of those honorable Senators who have
/ expressed so great on interest on this question.
| Mr.. PRATT. The principle of this bill, which de-
nominate the great principle, which ought not to
render was in the first place, that struck out the Mis-
compromise line; and in the second place, that
adopted in its stead the principle that the people nhabit
ing the Territory should decide for themselves the gov
ernment under which they should live.
| Mr.. BELL. Well, inferred as much as that though
did know that the honorable Senator had such
objection to the Missouri compromise thought it was
another great principle which he had in vcwthe prin
cple of nonnterventon in the affairs of the Territories
by Congress- which have not heard mentioned to-day,
that remember. That great principle of non-inerven-
ton in the affairs of the Territory the origin of this
BILL That is the principle which understood to be aim
ed at originally by the honorable Senator from Illinois
did not think there much disposition to set
aside the Missouri compromise, because it hated
thing in any section Of the country, but only to give
them liberty get this abula rdsa this plain sheet Of
paper which could carry out the great doctrine Of
| non Intervention.
Now, if have done injustice to what were the opinions
and views of the honorable Senator's the of this
argument beg their pardon, and shall be ready to
admit it when they explain. l thought it the prn-
ciple Of intervention which held to be import
ant thought that the doctrine of the Senator from
North Carolina at that time, and that he had hostility
particularly to the Missouri compromise On the
trary thought that the honorable Senator held that
was perfectly constitutional and that only
sary repeal the compromise in order to give place to
the principle of non-interventon.
In regard to this amendment, mstook the Senator
from Virginia. in the outset of his remarks in relation
its being abstract question. But would ask that
honorable Senator, and will also ask the honorable Sc
nator from South Carolina if they have not yielded up,
after another in the support of this BILL every prin
cpe conended for by the ultra State rights party ofthe
South except the simple repeal of that compromise whe
her they have not made general freew offering and
sacrifice to our Northern friends? j.
Mr. BUTLER. Mr.. President, certainly would not
undertake to be the exponent of the State rights party
from the South but do not know any constitutional
principle that we have yielded.
Mr. BELL Then understand again. That is new
revelation I understand that the honorable Senator
thinks that the Constitution win protect slavery in these
Territories pass it when you viii.
Mr.. BUTLER understand if you take away all re-
strictions and give fair chance, good as
any body else. Laughter.
Mr. BELL. That brings me to another question. |
thank the honorable Senator because it enables to
introduce little gracefully the idea wanted to
hay taEa