The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-01


pou Of the committee IN order that may be known how
much, OF rather how te truth there is for the allegation
which has been so often made and repeated this floor
that the idea OF allowing the people IN Nebraska to decide
the slavery question for themselves was sheer afer-
thought" conceived since the report made and
al the senator from Kentucky proposed his amendment to
{ the bill.
read from that portion Of the report ia which the COM
mtee lay down the principle by which they propose to be
governed
"ln the judgment of your committee those measures
Compromise of 1901 intended 10 have far more
comprehensive and enduring effect than the usment
OF the difficulties arising out of the recent acquisition of
Mexican territory, They designed TO establish
tain great principles which would only furnish adequate
remedies for existing evils, but all time come, avoid
the pers OF similar agitation by Withdrawing the question
Of slavery from die halls of Congress and the political
ARENA and committing 1t the arbitramen of those who
were Immediately Interested in and alone responsible for its
/ consequences"
After making rlef argument in defence of this principle
the report proceeds as follows:
" From these provisions it is apparent that the compro
mise of 1850 affirm and upon the following
/ propositions
First That all questions pertaining slavery in the
Territories, and in the States be formed thereom
TO be left the decision of the people residing therein
y their appropriate representatives to be chosen by them
| for that purpose"
And, in conclusion the report proposes substitute for
the bill introduced by the from Iowa, and concludes
as follows. .5#E.
"The substitute for the bill which your committee have
prepared and which is commended 10 the favorable action
these
cpes Eto practical operation the precise language of the
compromise measures of 1850"
Mr. President there has been much misrcpresenta
ton upon this pint must be permitted to repeat that the
doctrine OF the report of the committee, has been concu
svely proved by these extracts is
First That the whole question of slavery should be with
drawn from the halls of Congress and the political arena
and committed the arbitrament Of those who imme-
datey nteeste in and alone responsible for its existence
Second That applying this principle to the Territories
and the Safes to be formed heefrom all questions
we In he
| ding therein.
Third That he committee proposed carry these prop
osons and principles into effect the precise language of
the compromise measures of 1850.
Are not these propositions identical with the principles
and provisions Of the bill your tsbes' If there
hairs breadth OF discrepancy between the two ask any
senator to rise his place and point Both upon
the great principle which forms the basis of all nsu
onsthat the people to decide tho question for them
| selves, subject only to the constitution.
But my accusers attempt to raise false ISSUE and there
by divert public attention from the real one by The that
the Missouri Compromise to be repealed violated by
the passage of this BILL WE'LL if the eighth section of the
Missouri act, which attempted fix the desnies Of future
generations in those Territories for all time come,
disregard of the rights and wishes of people when they
should be received the Union States be
with the great principle of segovement and the constu
ton of the United States, it ought to be abrogated. The
legislation of 1850 abrogaed the Missouri Compromise, 30
far the country embraced within the limits of Utah and
New Mexico was covered by the slavery restriction 1t is
true, that those acts did in and by repeal the
act OF 1870 as originally adopted as extended by the
resolutions annexng Texas in lS45 any than the re-
port of the Committee Territories proposes repeal the
this session. But the of 1850 did authorize
the people of those Territories exercise a rghtfu pow
ere OF legislation consistent with the constitution not ex
nose ie,ssion Of slavery and did provide that when
thereof might determine the date ofther admlsaioh hess
provisions direct conflict with clause IN any former
enactment declaring that slavery should be forever prohbit
ed any portion of said Territories, and hence rendered
such imperative and void TO the extent oil such con-
c This was inevitable consequence, resulting IRON
the provisions those acts which gave the people the right
to decide the slavery question for themselves IN conformity
with the 1t not necessary to gofurther
and declare that certain previous enacments winch are IN
compab with the exercise Of the powers conferred IN the
bills ''are hereby repealed" The very act oil granuhg
those powers and rights have the legal effect OF removing a
TO the of them by the people, as pre-
scrbed in those territorial bills Following that example,
the Committee Territories did not consider u necessary
declare the eighth section of The Missouri act cpeaeu
We were content to organize Nebraska in the precise Ian
guage of the Utah and New Mexican bills Our OBJECT was
to leave people entirely free to form and regulate the
own institutions and internal concerns IN their own
way under the constitution and we deemed wise 10 ac-
complsh that object in the in which the same
thing had been done Utah and New Mexico by The acts
of 1850 This was the principle upon which the committee
voted and our bill supposed and Is now believed, 70
have been in accordance with It, when doubts were fseu
whether the bill did fully carry out the principle land down
ia the report amendments made from tune 10 Tune, IN
order 10 avoid ali msconsructon, and make the true intent
Of the act explicit The last OF these amendments
adopted yesterday, on the mouon Oh .ne ~
senator from North Carolina, Mr. BADeEn IN regard TO
the revival of any regulations which may nave ex
listed prior 10 ls20 That amendment was not intended 10
change the legal effect OF the BILL us oplec was W
the SANDER which had been propagaed by inc eneues Oh
the measure in the Norlhba the southern supporters OF
he I'M d,sired 10 Iegislae slavery into these Territories
The South denies the right Of Congress either To- egsm
slavery into any Territory State, out Of any Territory
or State Non-ineenhon by Congress with slavery IN me
States or Territories is the doctrine OF the b ana an inc
which have been agreed 10 have been made WIN
the view of removing all doubt and eay ~ TO inc une mean
ing and object Of the measure
Mr. President l think have succeeded IN yindicanng
myself and the Of the committee from The assaults
which have been made us IN consequence OF hese
endmens IL TO be the tactics OF our opponents
to direct their Arguments against the unmportant points
and questions which TO be affected by carry
ing out principle with the hope OF relieving themselves
from the necessity conroyering the principle itself Inc
senator from Ohio Mr.. CHAsE led of CALAMITY IN inc
CHARGE thar the committee the report and bl hrst sub
mtted did not contemplate the repeal of the Missouri Com
,oae and could not brought TO that point until after
H. senator from Kentucky offered his amendment The
senator from Connecticut Mr.. SMrB followed his lend
and ,epeacd the same statement Then came the Other
senator from Ohio, Mr. WADE and the senator from New
York mir SrwARp,1 and the senator from Massachusetts
mr. SUMNER, all singing the same song, only varying inc
tune. 49,,
lei me ask these senators what they by this state
men3 Do they wish be understood saying that The
snort and first form OF the bill did not provide for leaving
he aavery question the decision of the people ~ thu
terms Of the Utah bli Surely they will not dare to say
that for already shown that the two measures wer
identical principle and enactment DO they mean 70 va,
that the adoption Of first bill would not have had IN
ogn effect 70 rendered the eighth section OF the MIS-
sour act noperave and void TO the language OF tn
If this be their meaning, VIII they rise
thar places and inform the Senate what their meaning was
l,,, k.i oh, in plV