Washington sentinel., 1854-04-26

The Senate then, at an early hour, proceeded TO
the consideration Of executive business, and at
o'clock adjourned.
House of Representatives.
RIGHTS OF NEUTRALITY.
i Mr. EWING, by general consent, offered the
following resolutions:
Rsored That the President Of the Cited States be
quested if Incompatible with the public interests to
inform this House what steps any, have been taken py
msnt by treaty of the rights of neutras by the govern
Of Great Britain and France and what degree o
success has attended such efforts, II any have been
made. u 80,
states be requested if not incompatible with the public
interests inform this House whether in any
Of Great Britain has assumed to act Tor
Spain negotiation consequent upon the seizure OF
the Black Warrior what degree Of that gov
ernment has assumed in the matter and II SO assuming
to act for Spain, upon what pretext II any Is alleged
The question having been stated on the adop-
| tion Of the resolutions,
| Mr.. EWING said that he had drawn them up
and submitted them to members of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, and others, outside OF the
| House and they had agreed with him that the
subject was one of great Importance. He was
fully convinced that the time for practical acton
had come. II had been said our able representa-
tive at the court Of ST. James has been endeavor-
| ing 10 perfect such treaty, and intimated that
owing 10 mutual jeaousies, the negotiation may
| fail He believed that secret diplomacy is OF no
i advantage 10 us. The people OF this country
should plant themselves on their rights; and, as
serting, should yield no part Of them. This is our
strength, and we should yield nothing. Recently
a member Of the British Parliament asked Sir John
i Russell what course the government had taken
with regard to the Black Warrior, when he an
swered that instructions had been sent 10 Mr.
Champion, the representative of the British gov
! ernment in this country, but that no answer had
| been received He Mr. EwINGl thought there
fore, il was important we should know and act
forthwith. It was the purpose of Great Britain to
carry out its expressed determination TO interfere,
in connexon with France, in relation 10 the af-
fairs of this contiaent. He hoped that the House
would perceive that he had a practical purpose in
view.
Mr.. INGERSOLL moved that the resolutions
be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs ;
and the motion was agreed 10.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL-NEBRAsKA.
The House went into Committee of the Whole
on the state Of the Unon, Mr.. CHANDLER in the
chair, and took up the bill making appropriations
10 supply deficiencies for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1854.
Mr.. HARRIS, of Mississippi, was entitled to
the floor from yesterday, but, owing to bodily in
disposition, he declined it.
| MIR. BENTON then addressed the committee
He said he came into public life on the Missouri
compromise. He had stood on it for thirty years,
and meant to stand on it to the end oflife; sol-
tary and alone" ifneed be, but preferrng company,
and not doubling what the result would be. In
the course of his remarks, he said he was man
Of no bargains, but open to those whom he saw
acting for the public good, and would extend the
right hand of political fellowship TO every man TO
protect the responsibility of this House, and ele-
vate it in that high sphere TO which it is entitled
as the popular branch of the American govern
ment.
The Missouri act Of 1920, he argued, was not a
compact between the States, like the act of 17ST
and the clause in the Constitution relative 10
slaves. 1t was imposed by one-half OF the country
on the other. 1t was an imposition, in the imme-
diate sense of the word 1t was greatly against
the will of the north at the time. II was resisted
at the time, but afterwards acquiesced in; and,
| being acquesced in, became a compact. 1t was
imposed by the SOUTH and was not the less obiiga-
tory on them for being so imposed The Missouri
compromise continuation OF the principle OF
the ordinance of 1887; and now after more than
thirty years, it was plea that the party by whom
il was imposed proposed TO take it away. The
south have their half of the territory now.
It was proposed TO impair, not TO abrogate the
i compromise Of 1920. To be sure il was repeaable
on the statute-book, but uniouchable by statesmen
on account of circumstances. The Missouri
legislature as late as 1S47 had instructed their
senators and requested their representatives not
to disturb it. He believed this principle right then
as he did now, and should remain upon it.
If any distinct proposition to repeal the Missouri
| compromise had been introduced here, he should
have opposed il; much more the clause in the
Nebraska bill which seeks TO repeal II by indirec-
| ton and by an act of dexterity. He had marched
straightforward heretofore, and at this time of
| life he was not to march crooked The proposition
came in covertly, and in silent and secret way.
It was conceived in darkness, and came from the
hands of the midwife limpng, hating, impish. II
was sprung on Congress and the people in the
way that Guy Fawkes put five hundred barrels OF
j gunpowder under the parament-house.
He then proceeded to criticse the bill, looking
upon it as contradictory from beginning 10 end !;
but before he concluded his remarks, the hour TO
which he was limited in debate expired.
Mr. WENTWORTH, of Illinois obtained the
floor, and proposed to yield it TO Mr. BENTON that
the last-named gentleman might finish his speech.
Mr.. BAYLY of Virginia, said that If the gentle
man from Illinois did not want TO speak, he did,
Mr.. WENTWORTH remarked that he would
now give the floor to the gentleman from Missouri,
(Mr. BENToN)
There were objections in several directions.
Mr.. HUNT expressed the hope that the gentle
man from Missouri would be suffered to proceed
with his remarks
i Mr. CLINGMAN objected. II had been over
and over again decided that such course that
which the gentleman from Illinois suggested, could
not be pursued.
Mr. WENTWORTH asserted that he had a
right 10 Weld the floor 10 Mr.. BENTON and he
wanted the whole country TO know and under
stand that the Oldest man in Congress, the man
who was here at the time the Missouri compro-
| mise was adopted, was refused courtesy
which had never been refused TO any other man
living Let this be proclaimed everywhere.
Mr.. KElTT said that if the gentleman wanted
facts 10 go forth 10 the county, nc should STATE
them. The gentleman from Mississippi, (Mr.
BARKsDALE,) the other day, asked but for short
time TO finish his remarks, but was refused.
i There was much confusion in the hall during
the preceding and subsequent proceedings.
Mr. CULLOM expressed the hope that the gen.
tleman from Missouri, owing to the Importance oi
the subject and his great age and experience in
Legislation, would be indulged.
Mr.. CLINGMAN aid the gentleman from Ten
nessee had no right TO make speech inside OF
another.
Mr.. CULLOM replied that he was making an
explanation by The courtesy of the gentleman
from Illinois, and not by that OF the gentleman
r ~. ,h0,, hu, alaI