Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-21
C0ngrfss10Mal.
senate- -NIonday, February 20. 1854.
FEST SESSION.

EEL FIEsT SESSION.
senate Monday, February 90. 1854.
The chair laid before the Senate communica-
ton, which was referred 10 the Committee on FL
nance, and ordered TO be printed
MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
Memorials demonstrating against the passage of
any act for the repeal The Missouri compromise
were presented by Messrs. SEWARD, WADE,
EVERETT, FISH, CHASE SUMNER, and
BRODHEAD.
n E88 INDIAN TERRITORIES.
Mr.. JOHNSON introduced a bill 10 establish
three Indian Territories out of the territory "
ing west of Arkansas. He said this bill had been
prepared with care, and had some reference 10
The question what was 10 become of the In
dams; Il proposed 10 give The Indians at this time
END OF government, under which their present
partial civilization would be encouraged and pro-
NOTED; il had in contemplation that when they
shonid become civilized TO admit them as citizens
OF the United States, and 10 extend TO them self
government He knew these tribes well and if
The experiment did nor succeed with them il
would not succeed az all. He moved that one
thousand additional copies ofthe bill printed in
order that they may be distributed among the chief
men OF the tribes, IN order that their views and
suggestions may be received from them.
The motion 10 print was agreed TO- and the bill
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
Mr.. BENJAMIN. from the Committee on Com
merce reported bill making an appropriation
for the improvement of the mouths OF the Missis-
sippi; and moved that il be now taken nm for
consideration.
Mr.. STUART opposed taking up the bill. be-
cause he was opposed 10 passing particular bills
for particular works he was in favor of a gene
raj measure tor all the works. He had offered n
res hal
10 report general bill, and the resolution he
wond call up AT an early day.
The motion was Withdrawn
Mr.. SHIELDS introduced bill to make Cairo
port OF entry.
Mr.. BAfARD reported back the resolution
from the House, to authorize a supplemental con
tract for the supply of marble for The capitol ex
tension; and the same was considered and passed.
MISUNDERSTANDING
On motion OF Mr.. DOUGLAS. the Senate nro.
ceeded 10 the consideration Of the bill to establish
atcrrltoral government for Nebraska
The last clause in the Nth section now is in
these words.
g That the Constitution and all laws of the United
States, which not locally inappcable, shall have the
elsewhere within the United States except the Sth sec
ton OF the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri
nto the unon approved March O. 1890 which, being in
consistent with the principle of nonntervention by Con-
with slavery in the States and Territories as re-
cognised by the legislation of $780, commonly called the
compromise measures, is hereby declared imperative
and yoid ii being the intent and meaning of this
act not to egate slavery into any Territory State
to exclude therefom but leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic nstit,
tons in their way subject only the Constitution Of
the United States
1 The question pending was on the motion of Mr..
CHASE 10 amend the same by adding thereto the
following:
Under which the people Of the Territories, through
their appropriate representatives may if they m
hibit slavery therein"
i Mr.. PETIT read a despatch from New York
announcing the arrival Of the Baltic with intel-
gence ofthe probability ola general European war,
and thanked Providence that his country was ex-
empt from this horrible catastrophe. The daywas
gloomy and lowering one. but being a man not
Of prejudice and passion, and being ruled entirely
by the stern dictates of duty, the weather would
have no influence upon his feelings. His duty to
the States OF this Union and to their people. re-
CURED of him that action which would lead 10 har-
mony and peace and the promotion of the equal
rights and interests of them all
There seemed 10 be but one provision in this
bill which elected much opposition, and that was
the one providing for the repeal of the Missouri
The provision giving the people
full legislative power and control over all subjects
not excepting slavery, met his cordial appreciation
He was opposed, however, 10 Congress retaining
the power of dlsapprova of the acts of the terrific
rial legislature.
These territories were the common properly of
the whole people of all the States. Shall they be
given up TO the exclusive possession of either
north or southa To exclude either would be an
act of gross injustice. There was no objection to
giving the people full power to legislate upon all the
social and political rights of white people Were
the rights OF negroes too sacred TO be left to their
management and controls He did not think Con-
gress could Judge Of the proprety or necessity of
slavery in the territories with any degree OF the
fairness and justice that could be exercised by the
people themselves. To say that it was the inten.
ton that all negroes who went TO these territories
should be Free was preposierous
The history of the world had shown that no two
races could live in equality inthe same land. The
Almighty had SO declared in thunder tones 10
Moses from Sinai, when he gave him the order
10 destroy the Canaanites. Negroes did moi live
on an equality with the white race in the free
States. The bill introduced to-day by the senator
from Arkansas, having in view the civilization of
the Indians, and their ultimate admission into the
Union would prove fallacious. A higher law than
any act Of Congress had declared the doom of ex-
tinction TO the Indian, and no act of man could
avert it. When Moses arrived in sight ,of the
promised land, and yielded his power TO his sue
cessor, Joshua, he handed over 10 him the COM
mands of Heaven. Joshua, when he crossed the
Jordan was met by one of the petty rulers who
sought that he and his people might be incor-
porated among the favored race, and become
a part of them. Joshua yielded, and in perfect
fitness of the command from on high made
treaty with them In less than one year civil
strife, tumult, and broil ensued, and then was
Joshua forced TO execute the comma nds of God
and put the Canaanites 10 the sword. The In.
dians could not be civilized. The partridge deer.
and buffalo could not be domestcated.
This bill did not legisale slavery into the terrific
ries. Upon the acquisition of Louisiana that coun.
Try was was governed by the civil law under which
slavery existed tina, law remained in force until
Congress, in the exercise Of the clear unguestion-
able power OF sovereignty, repealed il by the Mis-
souri, compromise prohibition This bill repealed
that prohibition but would not revive the old law.
In his opinion slavery could not be carried there
without express authority of law
T Much had been said about the Declaration Of
and the statement in it that all men
were born free and equal. He never thought Mr.. |
Jefferson had used this expression in the sense
which had been placed upon it,. All men were moi |
BORN free and equal II was d seEevident lie 10 |
,ay so. Men might by law lie permitted 10 have |
equal political privileges, but there could be no
moral, mental, or social equality. The lame,
blind, idiotc, lunaic, and deformed were moi The |
equals of other men. The slaves at the south with
,ne-third of the intellect ofthe northern man were
lot his equal The degraded creature who night
y twaowed in the gutter was not his equal The
Russian serf was not his equal Il was impossi
DE 10 establish by any law mental, moral social.