The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, D. c, MARCH O. 1854

Ell 2, 1854.
Oregon bills, and in $50 the South proposed
and stood by it; in the latter two cases. the
North refused it and voted it down. Ia 1850,
the North allowed few people upon the Pa
cfc not only to be admitted into the Union,
but to take such portions of the public terrific
~ as they thought fit, and appropriate them to
their own use. In no other case did Congress
lay aside the right of determining the bounda-
ries of a State. The South acquiesced in those
measures, though it was practically excluded
from every foot of the Territory. In return
for this they got the assertion of the right of
the people to regulate their own domestic rela-
tions All that was now asked by this bill
was to carry that same prinuiple to other ter
ritory. 1t was asking the North to do nothing
more than be consistent.
He denied that the Missouri act was either
a compromise or a compact; it was the act of
the North, and opposed by the great body of
the South. But if it was Compromise, by the
subsequent refusal by the North to recognise it,
the South was discharged from all obligations
under it,
he read the votes on the several propositions
made from 1919 to 1921, showing that the
Missouri Compromise was the act of the North,
and not of the South If it was a compact,
how was it that the North had violated it in
1921, by refusing to admit Missouri.
He contended for the principle of allowing
the people of the Territories the full privilege
of regulating their own domestic concerns
| The South would derive no practical benefit
from this measure, for he had not the slightest
idea that Nebraska or Kansas would ever be-
oil fofo Ha fba
of the slaves now in the country would lead to
no danger to the North, and to the better con-
dition of both slave and master.
He at length portrayed the probable future
of this country, and the necessity for peace and
| harmony in our National Councils in meeting
! the exigencies of the future.
Mr.. Butler then followed in support of the
| BILL
House of Representatives., Feb. "a, 1854.
Mr.. Bissell moved the appointment of a Com
mittee of Conference, on the part of the House,
on the resolutions granting relief to the United
| States officers and soldiers on board the steam
or San Francisco in its late disaster; which
was agreed to-
Mr.. Stanton, of Kentucky from the Com
mittee on Elections, made a report on the con-
test of VIM. Carr Lane, for the seat as Dele
gate of New Mexico, now occupied by Jose
| Emanuel Gallegos, adverse to the claims of
! Mr.. Lane. A resolution in accordance with
| this report was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Orr, the consideration of
the bill granting lands to Wisconsin, for rail
road purposes, was postponed until Tuesday
| next.
The committees were then called upon for
reports beginning with the committee on Pub
| lie Lands
The House then went into Committee of the
| Whole on the Private Calendar, Mr.. Middle
swarth in the chair.
The resolutions of the Massachusetts, Legis-
lature against the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, were presented by Mr.. Appleton laid
on the table, and ordered to be printed.
The death of General Armstrong was then
formally announced, and the House adjourned
until Monday next.
Senate, Saturday, February 25, 1854
Mr.. Fessenden presented several memorials
from citizens of Maine, against the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise.
Mr.. Cooper presented the memorial Of men,
bers of the Society of Friends, against the ex-
tension of Slavery.
Mr.. Brodhead presented memorials against
the passage of the Nebraska bill.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution of Mr.. Stuart directing the
Committee on Commerce of the Senate to re-
port without delay bill making appropria-
tions for the improvement of rivers and harbors
Mr.. Hamlin desired the resolution should be
postponed till Tuesday
Mr.. Stuart opposed the postponoment. He
saw no probability of any bill of this kind
reaching the Senate from the House until the
usual late period of the session. 1t was there
fore the duty of the Senate to act upon this
measure.
Mr.. Cass agreed with his colleague. He
was in favor of the system of river and harbOr
transferring it to the States. He was opposed
altogether to the system of levying tonnage
duties
Mr. Benz amin supported the resolution.
Mr. Harnlin said the resolution proposed q
change in the practice of originating appropri-
alton bills, and several Senators desired to be
heard.
The resolution was then postponed.
Mr.. Cass presented several memorials pray
ing that Congress would take measures to se-
cure to Americans abroad freedom of religious
worship. He said he saw in an English paper,
an avowal by Lord Clarendon which struck
him as worthy of the attention of this Govern
ment. It was an avowal that the amcable
understandings between France and England
did not apply only to the Eastern question, but
extended to all questions arising in either
hemisphere. This avowal meant, that France
and England had q perfect understanding
unitedly to resist the acquisition By the United
States, of Cuba, or any other territory. He
had seen some resolutions offered in the House
of Representatives, to-day, and to which he
gave bis cordial assent. He thought it was
time for Congress To give its moral sunpOrt to
the Administration in upholding the honor of
tho country
Mr. Mason said he had seen the avowal
mentioned by the Senator. But 80 far as Cuba
was concerned, those nations had given the
United States fair notice more than a year
ago. 1t could therefore be nothing surprising
He had no doubt but that there was little DIFF
ference of opinion in this country, as to the
resistance by all means to any interference by
European nations in the affairs OF any portion
of the American continent.
He did not know what the Senator would
have the government do.
Mr. Cass said he would have declaration
by Congress-, such as was contained in the res
olutions offered in the House.
Mr.. Mason said that if such proposition
came from Senator representing more
Southern State, it would be called an abstrac-
ton. This Government had already received
notice of the European policy as to Cuba
MIR. Bell asked how the nation had profted
by the notice?
Mr.. Mason. By maintaining silence.
After some further remarks by Messrs
Badger, Mason, and Weller, the matter was
dropped.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the bill to establish Territorial Govern
l r NIL