Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-10
COngrfssional.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate-Thursday, February o. 1884.

Senate-Thursday, February o, 1854.
Mr.. SEWARD presented some tables OF postal
and commercial statistics, bearing upon the pro-
position to establish line of steamers between
Brooklyn and several ports in continental Europe
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
Mr. .BAYARD presented memorial numer
ousy signed by citizens Of Delaware remohslru-
ting against the passage OF the NeorasEa OH WIN
any repeal Of the Missouri compromise.
Mr.. BAYARD said that he did not agree win
the sentiments ofthe petitioners, nor did ne mink
thew expressed the sentiments of the majority OF
the people Of Delaware.
LAND FOR THE INSANE.
Mr.. FOOT moved that the bill granting land TO
The several States of the Union for the support
and maintenance Of the INDECENT insane be taken
mn He said that ii any senator desired TO debate
il, he world move 10 postpone il. The motion TO
take up was agreed 10, and the bill was read
MIR. PETIT moved 10 amend the bill by pro-
yiding that the grants of land made by the bill
should be confined 10 those States in which public
lands are situated.
Mr. FOOT said the proposed amendment was
in conflict with The whole object of the bill.
He moved that the bill be postponed and made
the special order for the Goth instant which mo-
tion was agreed TO.
FRENCH sPOLIATIoNs.
On motion by Mr. HAMLIN, the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration of the bill providing
for the ascertainment and satisfaction of claims OF
American citizens for spoiations by the French
prior to 1901 The bill was ordered 10 be engrossed
for a third reading and on the question of its pas
sage,
Mr. DODGE ofIowa, opposed it, and Messrs.
PRATT, HAMLlN, and PETIT supported II.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.
NEBRAsKA-sLAyERY.
On motion Of Mr. DOUGLAS, the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration Of the bill to establish
for abro SLp
The las clause in the l4th section is in these
words
&C That the Constitution and all laws Of the United
States which locally inappcabe shall have the
MS elsewhere within the United States except the sth
ton Of preparatory to the admission of Missouri
into the Union approved March O. 1920 (which
perseded by the principles of the legislation Of $780,
monty called the Compromise measures, and Is hereby
declared inoperative'l
The question pending the motion OF Mr..
DOUGLAS 10 strike out the words within brackets,
and insert in lieu thereof the following:
(which being inconsistent with the principle Of
ntery by Congress with slavery in the States and
Terrtories as recognised by the egsaon Of ieoo com
imperative and void being the true intent and
meaning of this act not to egsate slavery into any Ter
the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the
Constitution of the United States"
Mr.. SMITH said that he was induced 10 take
part in this discussion because of the magnitude
Of the evils which this BILL if passed. would infict
on the country. During the long period he had
been in Congress, he had participated as little as
any other man in the agitation OF the sectional
questions which had so frequently disturbed the
public councils and the peace ofthe country. In
all the votes he had given on the question of sla-
very. he voted in accordance with the sentiments
of the people of the north He had never been
northern man with southern principles. He had
no confidence in those who said they We're. The
slavery provision which had been unfortunate
ly thrust into this bill, he hoped would be struck
out by unanimous vote OF the Senate. But he
had overriding objections 10 the passage OF this
bill, independent of the slavery clause. II was
not wise expedient 10 organize these two ter
ritorial governments, while there Were five Ter
ritories now organized Never before in the his
tory Of the country had there been at one time
such number OF organized Territories The pas
sage of the Washington territorial bill, without
objection, was incomprehensible TO him. 1t was
now proposed 10 increase the number to seven.
There was no necessity for such an act unless 1t
were to force through the slavery provisions.
One-half of the land in the new States was still
public land, and much that had been sold was I'M
occupied and held by spectators. These States
or the Territories afforded ample room for the
present demands of emigrants. The Territories
of Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon, were all
unsettled they had room within their borders for
all who would be likely 10 desire homes in the
Territories Tor years 10 come. As 10 Utah and
he did not believe sensible wolf would go and
settle there. Utah was one ofthose five bleeding
wounds which were said to have been healed by
the compromise Of 1850; and that healing had re-
suited in nothing else than the establishment III
Utah Of the supreme dominion Of Brigham Young
and his forty wives. Polygamy was great an
evil as African slavery. He saw but little differ
ence between them.
Il was said that the establishment Of these
Territories would secure the transit across them
and IN fhp fir he
TO secure the transit TO construct the railroad
He did not care where the road was constructed;
it might be down in Texas, so il was constructed
somewhere Although all other compromises had
been broken, he would almost consent TO make
another and in consideration of the railroad give
this BILL
He examined in detail the expenses incurred
by the establishment of territorial governments
and the annual exp nse of each while it should re-
main territory, the consequent expenditure Tor
postal communications, for military detences, NC;
and said the creation or these two additional Ter
ritores would greatly enhance the amount of these
annual expenditures.
The appropriations which had been in the bill
were now stricken out. For this he knew no rea-
son; but it looked very much as measure pre-
paralory TO the application ofthe gag in the House
when the bill got there.
The bill provided for the qualifications of voters
and officers in the Territories 1t required that
they should be inhabitants of the Territories. 1t
ii
the Territories at this time. This country had
been set apart as Indian territory. BY the laws
Of the Uuted States no persons except traders
duly licensed by The War Department, were per-
mitted to reside or inhabit the Indian country.
There were, therefore, no legal inhabitants what
ever in the Territory.
A member of the House of Representatives, in
answer To an objection that there were no inhabi-
tants in the territory said the reason of that was
that as soon as person not licensed trader en-
tered the territory he hunted ont of it by the
United States Dragons. He had always under
stood that TO be an inhabant of a country re-
CURED 10 gain that title by permanent settlement
by the person with no determination to return.
How could there then, be any inhabitantsto choose
officers or officers to be chosen, when under the
laws Of the United States, there were no inhabi-
tants therea Another act of Congress requiredthe
President 10 use the military force Of the nation 10
drive out any persons who might enter upon any
Of the unsurveyed lands ofthe United States.
He looked upon the senator from llinoi as the
most prolific mar in the way of territories he
knew. Every year he called upon Congress to
notice the parturtion of one Territory, and occa.
sionaly two at a time; and that, too, when he had
whole litter of them on hand He suggested TO