Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-29
Irha Nebraska BIZ.


and House of Representatives., seem to have got
into taugle about the Nebraska bill, and friends
and opponents Of the measure are so intermmgled
that it is almost impossible in many cases to dis
tinguish one from the other. The bill went
through the Senate swimminely. but had hardly
reached the House before some of its former
staunch friends were loud in expressing condem-
nation. On Tuesday, the 2lst, Mr.. Richardson,
of Illinois, moved in the House that the bill be re-
ferred to the Committee on Territories, and Mr.
Cutting, of New York, moved its reference to the
Committee of the Whole. The former gentle
man became very indignant, and accused the lat
ter Of desiring to defeat the bill by indirection.-
He stated thatifthe bill were referred to the Com
mlttee of the Whole, it could not be reached a.
gain during the session. Mr.. Cutting replied
that it would be in the power of majority in IA
vor of the BILL to take it up out of its order at any
time. His object in making the motion was, TO
give room for full discussion, aud, moreover, he
was opposed to the Badger amendment and the
provision denying the right Of suffrage in the Ter
ritory to unnaturalized foreigners. The motion to
refer to the Committee of the Whole was carried
by majority of fifteen votes, aud whether the
oil shall De taken up and acted upon, as suggest
ed by Mr., Cutting, or not, It's opponents undoubt-
edly believe that they have achieved triumph.
The following members from Southern States vo-
ted in the affirmative: Bugg, Cullom and Ethe-
ridge, of Tennessee franklin, of Maryland
Hunt, of Louisiana; Puryear, of North Carolina
Stanton, of Kentucky and Benton, of Missouri.
| The discussion on the bill was Unexpectedly
renewed in the Senate on Monday, the GOTH
Mr. Badger took occasion to defend his amend
ment, and also to deny that the bill recognised
and established the doctrine Of "squatter SOW
ereignty," as maintained by General Cass. He
entered into learned and able argument to prove
that the bill, even without his amendment, did
not revive the old French law recognising slave
ty in the Territories, but on the other hand ex-
pressly declared that it was the intention of Con
gress to assert the doctrine of 'non intervention,
and neither authorize nor prohibit slavery. The
only effect of the amendment was to relieve mem
hers from the free States from Misrepresentation
before their constituents. Senators Butler, OF
South Carolina. and Mason, OF Virginia, took the
same ground and supported Mr.. Badger through
out. Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, spoke in oppo-
sitiOn to the bill, although he had voted for it,
Mr.. Clayton held that the bill conferred upon
the Territorial Legislature the power to exclude
slavery, and thus established .'squatter sovereign
ty''-a name which originated with Mr.. Calhoun
So far, the true doctrine of 'tnon-intervention"
was violated, and hence he had opposed the pas
sage Of the bill s+s: rcgf roll 9l1.
Mr.. Stuart, Of Michigan, was very dubious in
reference to the whole natter He hesitated a
bout voting for the bill because he feared that the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise would hereaf:
ter be. taken as a preeedent0ior repeating other
compromises but finally voted for itin corside-
ration of the fact that citizens Of the free States
would emigrate into Nebraska and Kansas and
make them free Territories. = =:
! From these discussions and other indications OF
sentiment in Congress, we infer that the fate OF
| by Northern men only. but some Southern repre-
sentatives, from one cause or another, are array
ing themselves against it, On Thursday last,
Mr.. Millson, OF Virginia, and Mr.. Hunt, of Lou
isiana, delivered strong speeches in the House a
ganst the bill, the former objecting TO it on &C
count of the Badger amendment, and the latter on
account ofthe repea! of the Missouri Compromise
Mr.. Breckenridge, Of Kentucky, warmly advoca-
ted its immediate passage. e