The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-21

SATURDAY, NAY 20, 1854.

Mr. HARLAN Of Ohio who said he was opposed to this
BILL because il proposed 10 repeal the Missouri Compro-
mise and in his opinion the South in honor bound to
respect and the free States bound both by honor and duty
maintain that Compromise The legislation of 1850 was
not inconsistent with that OF 1920 and the principles OF
the legislation Of 1850 would be transcribed and violated
by this bill.
The platforms of both political parties in 1852 he
tended would be violated by this MEASURE and had it been
understood that the democratic platform either warranted
justified the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise Franklin
Pierce would be private citizen. lie declared his
decided opposition the further extension of slavery
Mr.. STUART of Ohio, had desired to address the
committee on this subject but finding that he would not
have an opportunity he asked and obtained permission to
print his speech in the official report
Mr.. STANTON of Tennessee, replied TO the opponents
Of the II had been said that the Missouri restrc
ton of 1920 solemn compact and therefore rrepea
able and this ground twas alleged with great earnest
ness, and he had doubt with great deal OF sincerity
that would be gross violation of fthan nnwarranta
BILE aggression the rights OF the northern peopeto pass
this bill in its present form He could not view the ques
ton in this light There nothing in either the con-
the laws which justified the looking any
actment of Congress anything more than enactment
He did attempt to deny that there circumstances
attendant the passage of the Missouri Compromise
something of solemn and important charactersome-
thing which stamped that act with character somewhat
different from the character of ordinary acts of legislation
and if the attending it the at this
day he would be the last that would attempt to raise his
hand to disturb settlement which, in that point fvew,
would be considered as settled and binding. The pas
of that act in that day originated under circumstances
of great excitement and the Importance and necessity of
the act had passed away with those circumstancescer
anly rs binding succeeding generations under
cumsances wholly changed.
We now stood in the midst Of circumstances and scenes
wholly dierent--a generation had succeeded He con-
tended that under present circumstances if attempt
were made now into similar partial and unequal
contract as the Missouri Compromise 1t would be mme
datey rejected Would be possible he asked that they
could apply the principle of unequal and unfair division
small portion of the territory and suffer the rest of it
to be organized upon wholly different prncple-prin-
cipe upon which northern men might acquire the whole
WE'LL such compact proposed at the present day would
be considered unfair unequal and absurdf it would be
in utter conflict with the principles adopted by the majority
in later meshow could any say that the act of 1920
should not be now repealed +?
Mr. s. proceeded to reply at length TO his colleague Mr.
ErHERIDeE and declared his determination support the
BILL although he confessed that the Badger proviso
Objectionable feature which, however should not deter him
from voting in favor of the bill itself
Mr. GOODRICH declared that if the Missouri Compro-
mise TO be repealed there would be end to all
promises would make all equally repealable. The
statement that the of 1850 had rendered imperative and
void the act of 1920 regarded in the North cheat
and a swindle.
Mr.. HEM gave his reasons why he should give his
warm and uninchng support to the substitute proposed
by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. RcHARDsoN lie de-
clared himself in favor of the great principle of nonte
venon by Congress in the domestic affairs of Territory
or State.
Mr. WHITE said the principle involved in this bill was
simple that he thought it ought to go the people
stripped Of the mysticism which had been thrown around
by tsopponents twas the principle Of congressional
Intervention 1t perfectly simple however much some
gentlemen might differ to its extent They must fall
back upon the sovereignty Of each State to settle the que
ton to what to be the of the institutions
which to be established in State He believed that
if the democracy of the North divided in sentiment
upon this subject it because they did not understand
| the proposition.
There feeling of strong opposition in the North to
the institution of saveryand there good ground for
IT. perhapsbut those feelings were the result of early
moral education and to be respected but should
be allowed TO stand in the way of the of inn
| portant patriotic principles
He said northern he held that strong confed-
Grafton could only be established by the exercise Of the
principle of sovereignty in every State and he would be
willing if desired by the majority that every foot of soil
should become slave territory and the contrary II the
sovereign people desired that should an become free
rory he would be equally willing to acquiesce with that
majority This was the popular sovereignty which the
friends Of the bill desired to establish and he believed that
northern democrats all sound upon this principle
the democrats of the South. lie believed Il was
principle which sought the safety of the South and what
would promote that would also the safety Of
the North He predicted that the democrats in the North
who opposed this bill would have issue settle with
their constituents, which he thanked God he should
have TO contend with.
l Mr.. CHASTAIN said he in hopes that the whole
democratic party would have been found battling for the
bill passage by passage against the enemy But
IL had been corery assaled under the mask Of friendship
He therefore felt IL bis duty stand forth in It's behalf and
10 urge its passage strictly in accordance with
the constitution just TO the North just the South and
just TO the people who shall hereafter nbab those terrific
1 in their own time
/ Mr.. EDMANDs asked permission TO print his remarks
| agreed to-
/ The CHAIRMAN announced, at IL o'clock m that de-
bate the Kansas and Nebraska bill had closed and the
gentleman from Illinois Mr. RcuaRDsosl entitled 10
| the floor.
/ Mr.. RICHARDSON gave way to
Mr. PENNINGTON who stated his reasons for opposing
| the bill
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia asked and obtained permission
to print his views in reply in relation TO the controversy
relating TO Henry Clay agreed TO.
On motion Of Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia II agreed
by unanimous consent that every gentleman who had
bad opportunity speak this subject should have
permission, he desired to print his remarks in the official
| record.
Mr. RICHARDSON said IL was not his intention to 20
into all the features OF this discussion becwse " he did
he should follow fields that had been reaped by ADLER
hands With the principles Of this bill he content
go TO the country for verdict doubling what that
verdict would be proposition that secured equality
all the States and the rights under the constitution Of the
people, must certainly triumph in this country and must
ultimately triumph everywhere
During the progress Of this debate gentlemen represent
ing what they pleased to call northern States had
said that they had supported for the sake Of the South this
proposition and the other proposition, and sometimes
when u did not meet the approval Of that section Of the
country. Now, he fMr. RouARpsoN) occupied such po
son that He had stood by the South upon questions
when they met the approval Of his Judgment opposing
such did not All he asked himself when he considered
question, whether n for this
portion Of the Union that but he asked il right
Would advance the great interests and contribute the
renown Of the republic When he had determined this
question in his mind in the Affirmative he had been
| content always to give il his support
Aner replying TO the remarks Of the gentleman from
Mssour Mr. BssTos he addressed the opponents of the
bill lie said If they desired political fight let IL come
They should have H. so far he concerned their
hearts content
The safety Of the friends Of the bill consisted IN stand