Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-03
REMARKS OF Mr.. BENTON, or Missouri.

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REMARKS OF Mr.. BENTON, OF Missouri
In the House Of Representatives, on the 10Th May
Mr. KNOX having been assigned the floor, Mr.. WRIGHT
proposed if the gentleman would give way, for
recess until the evening. ,....
Mr.. BENTON said II no gentleman wants the floor
now, wish to occupy it for about ten minutes
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Illinois (Nr.
Knox is entitled to the foor the Chair having recogns
ed him. If the gentleman from Illinois will yield the
floor for ten minutes and if the committee will be willing
that the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. BENroS) may pro-
ceed, he may do so.
Mr. KNOX yielded the aoor and general assent was
given Mr.. BENTON to proceed. 4
Mr. BENTON said: Dir. Chairman, I have nothing
more to say to this bill OF its interference with
the Missouri compromise On that point have spoken
my share, and shall to il again l pass to
new pont-one significantly revealed to us some ten
days ago by Representative from Georgia, the member
from the first Congressional district of that State Mr
SEwARD.) That gentleman spoke against the bill in a
way entirely accordant to my opinions, but to
the conclusion that he would for it, and gave his
reasons for doing reasons which had not been
toned by any other speaker and which struck
mentous and worthy to arrest the attention OF the House
and Of the country He objects to the bill because it is
untounded and contradictory in its statements and as
with ITSELF with the of 1920
and Of the acts of 1850 because it was manufactured for
particular purpose, and is of value in itself the
slave States, but which commands his support South
of its uteror operations, contain
ing principle to be asserted in future and which was
put into the bill to become the basis of grand
ment in this country. will read what he said, the
proper way Of doing justice his clear and well express
ed opinions to his momenous revelations, and the
best WaXof avang myself Of his important declarations
find them thus in the official copy Of the speech go:
oppose the dcssils q this biz bssause they are
s',fsnt sth M S.,; 8 I
particular purposes Some of the clauses embraced IN IT,
conflicting they introduced for the purpose in my
opinion Of setting principle to be asserted IN future and
which the 1850 contained Now sir let US see
We called upon here vote for this BILL which IS not
dfanghted in the ordinary shape of Legislative acts Bn the
acs of this bill have furnished the reasons, within the bill
ITSELF which and which they call on US TO SUI
scribe What it? They tell that the law of 1920 be
ing inconsistent with the legislation Of 1850 therefore that
the act of 1920 imperative and void take issue with
them and, for myself occupying the position that do as
Southern man. never have subscribed never will and
subscribe to the doctrines contained in the acts OF oo
Ny objections to the acts of 1850 known at home Iney
recorded in the proceedings Of the Convention which took
place in Georgia in 1850 member of that Conven-
on voted against the Georgia platform on principle. ana
when that portion Of the South having feelings in COM
mon with this question have waived their objections to
it for the purpose uniting with the South and harmonzing
public feeling this great question is put IN here as the
basis Of grand in this country know not
what that movement is" .M.
concur in the truth and justice of every thing which
the member from Georgia has here aid but differ from
him in the conclusion which he arrives that of voting
for the b and find in his for that vote add
onal reasons for my own vote against II; but he votes
as Southern man, and votes sectonally also am o
Southern man. but vote nationally national questions
He sees principle set up which is false and useless
in its application Nebraska but which is to be assert
ed in future and which is put into the bill the basis OF
some grand impending in this country. Of the
nature Of this movement which is to be so grand and at
the time sectional the member declares himself to
be Ignorant and that ignorance would suppose, should
be for holding back from bill which commits
its supporters great unknown things That is the way
it works with also am ignorant-that is to say un-
informed-o this grand movement which Is to be IN this
country; but believe in it, and SO believing am the
more against the bill. against any thing that do
not understand and which nobody will explain to me- and
which, according to my short and dubious lights, Is
dangerous the peace and honor of the country De-
ieye in the futty Of this bill; its absolute futility to
the slayeholdng States and that not single slave will
ever be held in Kansas Nebraska under It, (eyen ad-
mitting to be passed Though adapted to slave labor
in of its great staples hemp and tobacco do not
believe that slaves will be held there Inc popular
vote will expel them. Kansas is contiguous to middle
and southern Missouri where slave labor is profitable
and slaves held in great number, single owner wltnn
two hours ride Of the line holding one hundred more tha
the Ave hundred of Randolph of Roanoke and Ave thou
sand his county aone but the holder OF slaves Will
have but vote, and will be beat at the polls by the
many who have In relation to Kansas and Ne
brsska them hold the bill obe deception and cheat;
what gamesters call CANNON Congressman buncombe,
and tub to the whale that is to say, an amoi-
dextrous operation upon the senses OF conndng people,
by which they made to what is not and not TO see
what is This is what believe; and not being oblging
enough to Join in scheme of sefdeception or to suffer
game of deception to be played upon me, must now
turn my back upon the illusions of this Nebraska bill and
look out for its real object the particular purpose for
which il was manufactured and the grand movement Of
which it is TO be the basis.
In this search naturally look about into the signs an6
rumors of the times and into the contemporaneous events
which may connect themselves with the grand movement
in question and think find them in two diplomatic mis-
sons Of which the country has heard much but not all
speak upon rumor, but neither tell nor believe the
half of the half of what hear but believe enough tc
excite apprehension and TO Justify inquiry What is
State secret in the city of Washington is street talk IL
the city Of Montezuma.
j First The mission OF Mr.. Gadsdcn to Santa Anna
It must have been conceived about the time that this bill
was and according to rsnspirng accounts must have
been grand in ITSELF $50 900 for much
Mexican territory southern border would make
FIVE or six States Of the first class The of the
quisition understand it. to extend from &c
sea- on line that would give Ssntander, Monterey
Saltilo Parras, Sonora and all Lower California Th:
was certainly large movement both in point Of money
and of territory and also large in political consequence
and clearly furnishing theatre for the doctrine Of non
intervention if there should be any design to convert
the newly territory from free soil that II is into
slave soil that it might be desired to be- Here, then,