The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-06
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House met al ~ o'clock, m.
Prayer by the chaplain of the Senate.
The Journal OF yesterday was read and approved
EQUALIZATION OF LAND GRANTS
On motion of Mr.. BENNETT, by unanimous consent,
the consideration of the bill TO equalize grants OF public
lands Tor certain public purposes was postponed until
MIR. PERKINS, OF louisiana offered an amendment
TO the BILL which was ordered to be printed with the bill
INVALID PENSIONS.
Mr. HENDRICKS, from the Committee on Invalid PEN
sons, leave made adverse reports sundry petitions
for pensions. and reported the following bills. with
Recommendation that they be passed They were referred
to the Committee OF the Whole:
bill Tor the relief OF Samuel McMike OF Kentucky
bill for the relief OF William Wallace. OF the State
OF illinois.
bill for the relief of George M Bentley of Indiana
On motion of Mr.. SEWARD, the President OF the
United States requested furnish copies OF all
respondence between the charge al Vienna and the State
Department, in reference 10 the OF the Rev J. c.
Richmond with regard 10 the rejection OF the exequatn
OF consul al Trieste.
Sundry reports were made from committees OF an I'M
important character
Mr. McDOUGAL reported, from the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads, bill providing for carrying
the mails from New Orleans to San Francisco.
Mr. CHURCHWELL showed the importance OF pass
ing the bill He said that no less than millions
of dollars worth OF gold brought from California to
New York during the last year II might be reasonably
expected that this would be increased during the present
year hundred millions; but 10 be within the line OF
probability be would suppose Ito amount 10 fifty millions
the present year. The mail at present detained at
Panama days. and the interest fifty millions OF dol
LIARS would amount N ten days TO one hundred thousand
dollars.
The morning hour having expired,
The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole
on the stale OF The Union, and proceeded Mr Orr in the
chair to the consideration OF the bills the calendar.
THE NEBRASKA AND KANSAS BILL.
Mr.. CHANDLER said, in rising 10 address the com |
mi,tee in opposition 10 the Nebraska and Kansas bill he
should confne himself TO The main principles involved
the bill There was not The interest in the remarks which
he would offer which attached 10 the remarks OF
southern gentlemen who opposed that bill could he
be charged with holding extreme abolition views but he
ready 10 welcome any gentleman who would assist
him, either with speech note for he had had eype-
rience enough 10 convince him that great craftsmanship
compatible with the possession OF abolition views
and that gentlemen might hold both religious and po-
cal views opposed 10 his own and yet be both pous and
patriotic.
Il was net with him question as TO the propriety OF
introducing slavery into the Territories did be make
il question to The abstract nature OF slavery itself
He placed the question the great principle OF national
faith He regarded the Missouri COMPROMISE as being
no less sacred in the hearts OF the people than The
promises oil the constitution Itself.
The principle OF "non- intervention had been made the
catching word with which this bill placed before
Congress and the country. He denied that this prnc
pie could ever be carried out 10 lis full extent The
great Empire State itself was, as il was well known,
subject 10 the laws OF Congress- and the Su rene Court
oil the United States could veto any which ii
might decide as contrary 10 the provisions OF the constu
ton The laws oil the federal government He asked
whether the people OF Nebraska had anything do with
the present BILL and conended that they could not adopt
constitution which did not meet with the approval Of
Congress The principle OF mon intervention and Stale
sovereignty therefore impracticabe so long they
subject to the federal government OF the United
States.
He called apon the opponents of the bill to stand firm
by the national faith and national honor He asked the
wings 10 give heed TO the insnaation that the wing
party rent in twain by this Nebraska question. The
wing party had 10 fear from the umbing ruins OF the
democratic party than IRON anything connected with lie
own afars.
The gentleman from North Carolina mir CIIseMASl
had referred to the decay of the wing party in The East
but he did 10 ignorance oil the news that was then
flashing along the electric wires from Connecticut. II
not the lie oil party that they ought consider
much its missioa. A party that had been led by a
Clay. and taught by Webster, had lofGer aims than ex
pedlency, and noble ends Than mere sepreservalion
they ready TO declare and TO upon the decafa
ton that the duties OF life Were greater than life itself
they washed their hands Of all necessity for connexon
with another party, and would for whatever they
deemed TO be rgb whatever course might be taken by
oilers II the party were 10 die they would be entitled
TO have placed over them the Spartan epsph that they
lay there in obedience the commands OF their country
Mr.. SMITH, OF Tennessee, rose 10 speak in favor OF
the bills for organizing Nebraska and Kansas He lie
clared himself willing TO support both The House and
the Senate bill, but designed 10 discuss The laer which
he more particularly approved of.
He proceeded 10 reply TO the objections 10 that bill
which be said were-hrst, that II would repeal the Mis-
sour Compromise; secondly, that II repealed the laws
which existed on the subject OF slavery in those Terrific
res previous 10 1920 and thirdly that ii would produce
agitation OF the slavery question.
FIRST, then, be would assume that the measure did not
propose TO repeal the Missouri Compromise of is2i but
II did repeal the restriction OF iS20 secondly that the
eighth section Of the act OF the 9th OF March, 1870 was
not compromise, wanting the essential element OF mutual
concession; thirdly that the Missouri restriction was IN
constitutional and consequently null and void, aud that
in order TO bolster uup had been conounded with the
Compromise OF s2l for the purpose OF attaching il the
and the influence Of Henry Clay He proceeded to
debate al length these propositions, sustaining Them by
facts from history and maintained that the South had a
right 10 carry into the Territories property which had
been bequeabed TO them by their ancestors and which
their laws and Institutions, supported by Congress-
acknowledged to be theirs He read extracts from laws
OF southern States which showed that slaves were de-
scnpon OF properly which could be sold for the benefit
OF creditors.
With regard TO the agitation 10 the North, he conended
that ii was attempt TO inmidate Congress from voting
for they deemed TO be right, for the sake OF
peasinga few abolitonists in the New England States
to the provisions OF the constitution and who were
semming the storm raised BY the Beechers, the Carl
sons, and others Il matter OF surprise that the
wing party Of the North had determined 10 oppose this
bill II in accordance with all their past history 10 do
He regretted, however, that the measure OPP
posed BY any gentleman from the South and that there
was also an objection TO h>Badger proviso from the
South. He called upon ALL Aheher from The, North or
the South, 10 establish, by passing This bill the great
principle of leaving 10 the people The decision to slave
ny or prohibition. Ihi> would set the question at rest
aud they could continue united together band Of
broihers legislang for the benefit Of great, powerful,
and united people
Mr.. NICHOLS said he would never vote for either
The Nebraska Kansas bill long the other
OF them contained repeal of the Missouri Compromise
or the Clayton amendment
He proceeded 10 sketch the history OF the compromises
and denied That any new principle established 10