Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-29
SPEECH OF Mr.. BENTON,
OF MISSOURI,
ON THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.
House. OF REPRESENTATIVES, ArRIL 25, 1854.
OF MISSOURI,

House OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 70, 1854
Mr. BENTON said: If any bill to impair the Missouri
compromise line of 1920 had been brought this House
by a member from slave State, under the admins
traton Of President elected from slave State should
have deemed my duty to have met it at the threshold
and to have made the motion which the parliamentary
law prescrbes for the repuse Of subjects which
ft be considered should have moved its rejection at
the first reading But the bill before us for the may
be considered one does not come from that quarter
1t from free State, and under the administration
of President elected from free State and under that
aspect of its origin deemed it right to wait and hear
what the members of the free States had to it, 1t
proposition from their own ranks to give up their
half of the slavery compromise of 1926 and, if they
Shoose to do SO, did not see how Southern members
could refuse to it. 1t was free State questions
and the members from the free States the majority
and could do they pleased. So stood aoo waiting
their lead but without the slightest intention of
being governed by it, had my convictions OF right
and duty and meant to act upon them had come into
political life upon that compromise had stood upon 1t
above thirty years. and intended stand upon to the
end-sohtary and alone if need be; but preerring
pany to solitude, and not doubling for al instant what
the result was to be. ..... . #....
have said that this bill comes into Congress under
the administration of free State President; but do
not to say insinuate by that remark that the
President fayors the bill know nothing of his dispos-
ton towards it; and if did should not disclose it
here. 1t would be unparamentary, and breach Of the
privileges of this House do The Presidents opin-
ions can only be made known to by himself in
sage in writing In that way it is his right, and often
hls duty to communicate with us; and in that way
there is for mistake in citing his opinions
for unauthorized of his name no room for
the mpuation Of contradictory opinions to him and in
that he becomes responsible to the American people
for the opinions he may deliver All other modes of
muncaon forbid to him, as tending to undue and
unconstitutional interference with the freedom of legisa
ton 1t is not bribery alone attempted upon member
which constitutes breach of the privileges of this House
1t is any attempt operate upon members vote by any
consideration of hope fear favor Affection prospect
of reward dread Of punishment. This is parliament
tsry law old as English Parliaments constantly main
tanned by the British House Of Commons and lately de-
clared in most signal manner. 1t was during the
reign Of our old master George the Third and in the
famous of Mr. Fox's East India bill report was
spread in Parliament by of the lords of the bed cham
ber that the King opposed to the bi that he wish
member his enemy who should for it. The House
Commons took FIRE at this report, and Immediately
solved: >....s ,sos.
That to report any opinion or opinions of his
Mnesty, upon any bill depending in either House of Para
ment, is high crime and msdemeanor, derogatory the
honor of the crown breach Of the fundamental privileges
Of Parliament and subversve of the Constitution of the
rountry' ..
This resolve adopted in full House by majority
Of seventythree votes and only declaratory of
isng parliamentary lawsuch had existed from the
time that English counties and boroughs first sent knights
Of the shire and burgesses represent them in the Par
Iament House. 1t is old English parliamentary law and
is recorded by Hasel, and all the writer's that law
1t is also American law old Congress- and as
SUCH recorded in Jefersons Manual 1t is honest law
and as such existent in every honest heart Sir the
President Of the United States send opinions
except in written messages, and report his
opinions to influence the conduct Of members upon bill
without becoming obnoxious the censure which the
British House of Commons pronounced upon the lord of
the bed chamber, in the of the King and the Fox
East India bill. .a.
Nor can the Presidents Secretaries head clerks as
Mr. Randolph used to call them-send their opinions
any subject Of legislation depending before u.s. They
can only report and that in writing on the subjects re-
ferred to them by law by vote Of the Houses Non
Intervention is their duty in relation to legislation
and if they attempt to intervene in any Of business
must be allowed, for one, to repuse the attempt and
TO express for it degree Of respect than that
Mr.. Burke expressed for the opinions of British Lord
Chancellor, delivered to the House of Commons case
in which he had Sir, suppose can be al
lowed repeat this floor any degree Of comparison
figure OF speech which Mr. Burke could on the floor
Of the British House of Commons He classic
speaker and besides that author Of treatise the
Sublime and Beautiful though do not consider the
particular figure which have to repeat, although just
and picturesque in ITSELF to be perfect illustration of
either branch of his admired treatise 1t in refer
to Lord Thurlow who had ntervened in legis
lave business contrary to the orators Of and
decency. Mr. Burke repulsed the intrusive opinion and
declared that he did three jumps louise for it.
Laughter Sir, say the same of any opinion which
may be reported here from Secretaries any bill
depending before and that in any form in which it
may come from them, whether as a unit as integers
Still less do admit the right Of Intervention in le
gsatve duties in another class of Intermediates and
who might not be able to medde at all with business
it not for the ministraton of bounty speak
of the public printers who get their daily bread and that
buttered both sides) by daily printing, and who
require the Democratic members Of this House, under the
instant penalty Of political damnation, to give in their
adhesion every bill which they call Administration
and that in every change may undergo although
changeable than the For that class of intermed
oilers have parliamentary law to administer any
quotation from Burke apply nothing but little fable
TO Iead the value of which, in all good fables, lies in
its moral 1t is in French, and entitled " ane ct son
ssaitrs which, being done into English, signifies, 4h
and his master and runs thus
"An ass took into head his master and put
lions skin and and stood in the path and when he
his coming be commenced roaring rs he thought
but he only brayed and the master knew it his
he up him with cudgel and beat him nearly to
death" -....".
This is the end of the fable and the moral Of it is,
caution all to take how they undertake to
their masters" Much laughter and applause
Mr. Chairman this House will have fallen far below its
constitutional mission if it suffers itself to be governed
by authority dragooned by its own hirelngs. am
man of bargain, but openly with any man that
acts for the public good and in this spirit offer the
right hand Of political friendship to every member of this
body that will stand together to vndcate its privileges,
protect its respectablity and maintain it in the high
place for which it ntended-the master branch Of
the American Government s& H.
The question before is get rid of the Missouri
compromise hne and to lawyer that is easy ques-
ton. That compromise is in the form Of statute and
statute is repeaabe by another That short view
enough for lawyer To statesman it is something diff
fcrent and refers the question Of m repeal TO law
books but Of State policy the circumstan-
under which enacted and the consequences which
are flow from its abrogaon This compromise of 1S20
is not statute to last for day il was intended
fer perpetuity and so declared itself II Is an
md and