Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-22

resolve Itself into Committee OF the " hoe on
| state Of the Union.
Mr. BOCOCK inquired whether, II the House
should gointo committee the Nebraska bill could
be taken up without first laying other bills aside
among them that 10 construct six steam irlgates.
The SPEAKER replied that il would not be
competent TO take up any bill, except general
appropriation bill, it having priority To reach
any other description OF bill, those preceding il
must first be acted on in their order upon the cal
endar.
| Mr. CUTTING desired 10 make suggestion to
| the chairman OF the Committee on Territories
but objection was made.
The question was taken on the motion 10 go
into Committee ofthe Whole on the state of The
| Union. and decided in the nega,ive--yeas ST.
| nays los
| The House proceeded 10 the consideration of
business on the Speakers table.
I When The Senate bill organizing the territories
| of Nebraska-and Kansas was read by itsr.tle,
| Mr.. RICHARDSON Aoved that il be referred
| 10 The Committee on Territories.
! Mr.. CUTTING moved TINT il be referred 10 the
1 Committee ofthe Whole on the state of the Union;
| but the last named motion was not entertained.
/ The SPEAKER having first recognised Mr.
| RICHARDSON as entitled 10 the floor.
Mr.. RICHARDSON desired 10 have the bill
referred 10 the Committee on Territories for the
| purpose OF amending il in particulars /; and
| he said. likewise that 10 refer the bill 10 The Com
mittee of the Whole on the stare of the Onion
would be 10 kill il by indirectlon. II was useless
|
10 him that they favorable 10 the bill while they
wish place tin such position that il cannot he
(. reached during the present session OF Congress.
| There are bills enough on the calendar 10 engage
| the attention of Congress from now until the be-
| ginning OF another session. He repeated, fairly
and irankly that The effort to refer the bill To the
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the Union,
ifit should prevail would defeat bill altogether.
4 He was bound 10 respect The right Of every gem
tleman TO cast his vote as he pleased when the
E.r Ia
respect for those who profess 10 be for the bill,
| while they using every effort by indirection
10 destroy and kill it. IL gentlemen do not desire
10 vote for the bill, let them vote against il and
1 meet the issue fairly.
! Now. what are the facts in relation to this bill?
| What is the amount of business which already has
precedence OF it Everything nearly brought for
ward by the standing committees, from the begin
ming Of the session to the present time is in the
Committee Of the Whole on the state ofihe Union,
and many fthe bills will not be reached at all be-
fore the close Of the session BY referring this bill
TO the Committee Territories it will be report
ed, as amended, and if there shall be majority in
favor OF the principle, they can vote on IT. and Ell
Their pass defeat it or they go into commit
tee upon il. and there discuss the amendments.
/ Mr.. CUTTING now made the motion 10 refer
! the bill to the Committee Of the Who'll on the
state Of the Union. In doing So he said he was
animated by no sense of disrespect towards the
/ chairman of the Committee on Territories, (Mr.
RIcHARDsoN) nor any honorable member associ-
| ated with him.
1t was, he believed, matter distinctly under
stood, tina, the committee had discussed and elab-
Grated the subject. and, as far as respected any
views of theirs, they could be offered in Commit
tee of the Whole on the state OF the Union with
as much facility by going through the circuit
tous mode of referring il TO them and of again
i having it on the speakers table, where it would
be in precisely the same position that it was to-
day With regard 10 motives insnuated perhaps
against himself who had made the motion 10 re.
! fer this BILL he desired it TO be understood that
he stood on the great principle Of allowing the
! people Of every organized community or Terri
tory TO form for themselves the laws under which
they are 10 live, or which are 10 operate on their
! condition of life, and from the very outset. from
| 1917 10 this day; and he denied that there
! gentleman on this floor, coming from whatever
| quarter Of the Union he may, who was more sin
cerey or more devotedly attached to that principle
! than he was. His doctrine was 10 leave 10 Ore
4 gon and Washington 10 the intelligent occupiers
of those remote districts The right TO mo uld their
! own institutions in such manner as their expert
ence and knowedge'of the country and soil, and
as their requirements and necessities demand
/ and there be no reasonable doubt, except
with few fanatics and political agitators, that
| they will form laws for themselves better than we
| can do for them.
This measure Of the Senate commended itself
/ TO him for another reason. II is supposed to
| body and asserts great and cardinal principle
removing the Legislation Of Congress over the in
sttntion Of slavery from the halls of Congress.
! This, in one aspect of the case, renders this an
| important bill. II merits The deep consideration
Of every member of the House
1 There are provisions in this bill, as he had seen
it in detached portions, which are required 10 be
changed altered 10 make il worthy Of the
! House. He alluded 10 that part which restraints
the right Of suffrage, which takes from the people
| that which the people of Illinois, Indiana, Wiscon-
sin, and of other western States, have deemed
advisable, namely: 10 allow aliens who have de.
cared their intention TO become citizens and have
taken the oath 10 support the provisions of this
law. not only the right 10 acquire land, but 10 par
ticpate in the councils of the newborn Territory
This bill ought to go to the Committee of the
whole on the State Of the Union, that il may be
| altered. He presumed that the people Of the free
States would insist this sine ora non before
they would consent 10 It's passage.
But who are 10 tako the brunt of this contest
Is il the people of the south, where all are united
or are we of the free States 10 go before the peo
! pie, and justify the vote in favor Of this bill II
we are 10 stem the torrent of fanatcism should
we not have full opportunity 10 present our
views before them through the medium Of the
| Committee Of the Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union When we are called on to
assert those great principles found in the BILL are
| we not bound TO investigate them s.
| He mentioned, further. that there Were some
| doubts as 10 the effects OF the amendment offered
by Mr.. BADGER in the Senate, and inserted in this
bill, some supposng that il was an express inter
close and thorough investigation.
The people OF the north understand but little Of
| this matter. We have had innnnerabIe petitions
| one of Them from large number Of eergymen,
who have separated themselves from their fellow
citizens ms class. denouncng this bill. He ven.
tured 10 say not one Of those gentlemen most re.
spectacle in their proper sphere and proper class
has ever read the bill. He would say TO the PEG.
| pie ofthe north, that il they would throw aside
| anaticism and prejudice and give up for n mo. |
ment political agitation, and fairly examine the
| principles OF the bill, they wonld that il was
beneficial 10 them and of course calculated 10
restrict the principle of slavery. /, was bill
eminenty favorable TO the north, and full dis |
cussion would prove il 10 be so. For this purpose
| il was requisite 10 discuss ii.
| Mr.. RICHARDSON suggested that the gentle. |
| man move that the bill be made special order
| Mr.. CUTTING replied, that such an order !
would require vote Of two.thirds; and, AFTER |
further remarks, he moved the previous question |
Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE asked the gentleman 10 |
withdraw the motion.
Mr.. CUTTING said he had been applied to by |
a number OF members TO withdraw the demand; |