Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18
SPEECH OF MR.. SMITH,
OF CONNECTICUT,
ON TIE. NEBRASKA QUESTION:
liz SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1854.

The Senate having under consideration the bill to
establish Territorial Governments for Nebraska and
Kansas '..
Mr. SMITH rose and said Mr.. President rise to
address the Senate the subject under considers
ton with unusual hesitation and reluctance. have not
in the habit Of obtruding myself the notice Of
the Senate and if depart the present occasion from
the which have prescribed to myself and ord
nariy observed it will be owing to OF the mag
nitude of the evils which must result from this measure
If il to receive the sanction of the Houses of Con-
gress and become the law of the land.
1t is now almost fifteen years since became mem
Der Of Congress- and have been almost necessarily pre-
sent in the body the other with the exception OF
the 2Sth Congress- during which was Mt home engaged
in the discharge of the duties of my profession ven
ture here that there is no member OF this or
the other House who has taken less part than have IN
the agitation of those deporabe sectional questions
which have from time to time and often unnecessarily,
been thrown into the two Houses to disturb IN high de-
gree the harmony of public councils, and TO put IN
hazard the peace of the country. have contened my
self with responding in the simple accents OF 'yea or
"nay the various propositions of agitation and dis
turbance which have been submitted in either House
Ordinarily, have cast my vote In conformity with the
matchmaking sentiment of my own section; for do not
pretend to be Northern man with Southern princ
Piles" and have confidence in any man who does set
up that pretension. On one occasion, Mr PRESIDENT
did address the Senate at very considerable length on
these topics and it is the only time have ever spoken
to them in either House; it on the 9Th July, $780,
when the apromise measures OF that year were pend
Taylor i undertook to demonstrate on that occasion
that there nothing Of practical Importance in any
or all of the questions then in dispute which occasioned
so much disturbance here and much irritation else
where Mr. Webster in speech delivered in this cham
Der shortly after paid the high compliment of say
ing that had fully succeeded in my object appre
ciate highly member OF this body can the great
principles of free government which lie at the founda
ton of this controversy but do not desire to have them
introduced here become subject of dispute except
when they can be made to have useful practical
plication AS then have not been agitator either
here or elsewhere trust honorable Senators viii
cord to patient hearing though they may possibly
differ from the views which shall have the honor to
present. ..& IL. =. =.
this bill in extenso and to dwell topics in the rstn
stance which have nothing to do with the slavery ques
ton Unfortunately that question has been thrust into
the BILL SHALL however, state other objections which
should in my Judgment exclude this measure by the
unanimous vote of the Senate and then can, if we
please, leave the question alluded to undecided.
say here in broad terms that there objections to
the bill which ought to- and believe would, crush it
there not mixed up with it that allpervert-
ing and binding eement-the negro controversy. | do
know that get the ear of those honorable Senn
tors who anxious to abrogate the 9Th section OF the
act for the admission Of Missouri into the unon but my
position is such authorize to make strong ap
peal their candor and their of justice unit
ed with Southern Senators in putting down the Nebraska
bill of the last session the very objections which
state, Notwithstanding it left the Missouri restriction
touched .,#.' ...-.'
In the first place, Mr. President, desire to inquire of
the Senate whether it is necessary expeden for US
now organize additional Territories when have
already less than FIVE, viz Minnesota, Oregon, New
Mexico, Utah, and Washington! desire honorable
Senators to point to any period in the history of this
country when We had SO large number on hand as at
present and yet it is proposed to add two How
we the last session suffer the bill to organize
the Territory of Washington to pass without objection is
incomprehensble to for, in my judgment, it to-
tally unnecessary. ...- ...
NV blp sand he Of he ttee
Territories, (Nfr DouGLAs,) started at this session
with proposition to establish territory, which would
give six. do not know how long that idea lasted
believe however, only about week. when the thought
suddenly occurred the chairman that would be
dent divide this into tpo Territories And now it
seems have Territories in fact complete
inter of the Sir beg
my earnest protest against this policy verify
believe that nothing could induce Southern Senators
to vote for this extravagaat proposition were not the
negro element mixed up with it, Where, sir is all this
TO end Encouraged by what has already transpired,
convention has been called, informed, in Oregon
to form another Territory there.
admit that the expanse within limits ought
to be opened for settlement from time time it is
needed but the policy hiss been already pushed far
existing exigencies require say in the first place. to
create Tertores-to carry them up to the unprece
denied number Of seven-is contrary to the interest Of
the organized States particularly the land States
What, Mr.. President, is their present condition? Are
they occupied Are the public lands in taem exhausted
and Arkansas vast bodies of public lands untouched!
Are there not large quantities in Illinois, considerable
quantity in Indiana and in Ohio to say nothing of
the States the Lower Mississippi and the Gulf of Mex
CO venture to that at least one-half of the
lands in these States remain unoccuped There
quantity of public land within their limits besides
quantity little less in the hands Of spectators.
say in the second place. that it is contrary to the in
terest of the organized Territories to sanction the policy
of this BILL There is sir, the Territory of Minnesota
open for settlement, comprising within its limits
panse large enough make three States like Pennsyva
MA Then there the Territories of Oregon and Wash
ngton, each sufficient for two if not more States The
Territory of Utah is good for State. 1t will hardly
do to count New Mexico, for do not believe that
sible wolf would go reside there Why should dis
perse population? Why not fill up to extent at
least the States and Territories organized? The
objection Of injury the and the other would to
nsurmountable If there be stern necessity, poll
tcal otherwise for this il it be desirable to
smash the Missouri compromise to relieve the present
Administration from the embarrassments in which has
involved itself by taking the Aboonist and Freesoers
OF the North to its bosom, your policy openly and
the motives of that policy and then shall know where
we are. '.'."
But sir, am anticipating. It is said that these Ter
rtores should be organized because by that the
transit of and property the continent would
be facilitated. In that have to say that this
could be done by establishing military posts along the
line Mt trivial expense. But there is much more eec
tual means of accomplishing that object which will
PROFOUND for the consideration of honorable members
and that is Pacific railroad, for which contended most
strenuousy at the last session | wish such road pro-
pery located, and believe central location the best
but may be disposed to concede that point and 20 for
southern route if you will agree to leave undsturbed
on the slavery question We have made several compro
misses with you already, gentlemen of the South, which