Washington sentinel., 1854-02-26
/ believe there is no question

| before the senate
The PRESIDENT. There is not
Mr.. BADGER. ! wish TO ask q question.
Mr. WELLER. have seen several wars got
ten up on this floor with Great Britain; but hope
we shall settle this Nebraska question before we
seriously involve this government in war with
any government. Settle domestic affairs,
those which belong TO our own fresides, and then
we may be ready to break lance with Great
Britain
My distinguished friend from Michigan will
never be able to forgive the British for their
duct in the war of 1912. / have as strong preu-
dices. perhaps, against that nation as that disn-
guished senator, but would meet them elsewhere
than in the Senate Sufficient unto the day is
the evil thereof"
Whenever any of these practical questions come
up, | am ready to meet them; but have said
upon another occasion, that there is great deal
of time lost here in discussing abstract questions;
and my friend from Michigan will allow me 10 say,
that know of no one who has entered 10 greater
extent into the discussion of distractions than be.
Whenever he will propose practical measure,
the Senate will be ready to meet il. In the mean
time let US proceed 10 the decision of our own
domestic affairs. therefore call for the order of
the day.
NEBRAsKA-sLAvERY.
On motion of Mr.. DOUGLAS, the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration of the bill to establish
territorial government for Nebraska.
The last clause in the 18th section now is in
these words:
aThat the Constitution and all laws of the United
States which not locally napplicable shall have the
and effect within the said Territory Of Nebraska
elsewhere within the United States except the sth
ton of the preparatory the admission of Missouri
no the Unon approved March 9, 1920, whch being in
consistent with the principle of nonnervention by Con-
gress with slavery In the States and Territories
cognsed by the legislation Of $780, commonly called the
compromise measures, is hereby declared imperative
to egate slavery into any Territory State
exclude 1t thererom but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic nstu
ons in their way subject only to the Constitution of
the United States"
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 t
hbit slavery therein"
Mr.. BUTLER said that, though utterly opposed
to all comparisons between the north and the
south, still such had been made by the senator
from Massachusetts, and it was but just that some
facts should go out to dsabuse the public mind
from the false impressions which might be created
by such speeches. He read from a speech de-
livered in the House of Representatives by Mr..
Anderson, of Tennessee, in which was shown
from the returns, that so far as the number
of paupers insane persons, number of churches,
extent of crime, the south compared most favor
ably when compared with the north. He referred
to the many isms SO prevalent at the north, and
all the result of the sickly sentimentality prevail
This sentimentaty unknown to the hardy
forefathers of the north. In the days when Rome
was most corrupt, her legislation was most senti-
mental. He commented on the strong minded
womanism of the north, and condemned those
engaged in it.
What would be the result if these sentimental
lists could carry out their schemesa II the States
of Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia, would
each, to-day, emancipate five thousand slaves,
what would become of them? Would Massa-
chussetts take them and provide for them2 Ger
tany not. To emancpate the slaves at the south
would be an act Of greater cruelty TO them than
was the expulsion of the Jews from Spain by
Ferdinand. 1t would be more merciful to the
slaves to cut their throats, than to emancipate
them and turn them over 10 this kind Of philan-
throphy
He had objections to the bill He did not APP
prove of the unlimited power given by Congress
to the Territorial Legislature.
He argued that the institutions and laws Of the
United States did extend TO the Territories of the
United States, and were the supreme law of the
Territories. No law by the Legislature Of the
Territories could set aside the Constitution Of the
United States. But if Congress conferred full
power upon the people Of the Territory, how
could it object or control that legislation. He was
not believer in the doctrine Of spontaneous SOW
ereignty in the settlers in the Territories.
Notwithstanding these objections he was will
ing to take this BILL and that, too, under the as
sumption that slavery would never go to Ne.
brdska or Kansas. lie was willing to take the
bill because it would be the removal of thorn
which had been fostering in the side of the south
Mr.. BROWN followed in support Of the bill
He explained his views as to the unconsttution-
ality ofthe Missouri compromise, and in denial Of
the absolute sovereignty Of the people ofthe Ter
ritories as contended for by the senator from
Michigan in his Nicholson letter.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, then addressed the SEN
ate till nearly five o'clock, in earnest support Of
the bill. He maintained the right of sovereignty
in the people. He condemned the abolitionists OF
the north, and commented upon their disorgaIiz-
ing and dangerous sentiments, tendencies, and
principles. He replied to the objections to this
bill urged by the senator from Connecticut, and
asked the senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUM
NER,l who spoke so much concerning honor and
sacred compacts, if that senator did not reach his
present position by assauting the most sacred Of
all political compacts-the Constitution of the
United States
He was in favor of the acquisition of Cuba,
Chihuahua, and Tamaulipas, whenever they could
be acquired by proper means. He in favor
of settling this question forever, and leaving
the people of Nebraska and Kansas, and Of all
other territory which might be acquired, free to
regulate their own domestic institutions If
slavery would be profitable in new Territories, no
congressional or other prohibition could keep it
out of them. If Improbable, it would never go
there.
Mr. CASS obtained the floor,
And then the Senate adjourned.