The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23
he Senate adjourned till Monday.
House of Repre,entatires Feb H. 1854.

House Of Representatives, FEB. II, 1854.
After our report had closed, yesterday, Mr.
Sapp addressed the Committee, in favor of the
Homestead bill. Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia
then obtained the floor, and the Committee
ros, and the House adjourned
This morning, after the reading Of the jour
ma,
Mr. Dean presented communication from
the Governor of New York, enclosing the reso-
lutons Of the Legislature of that State, in oppO-
sit on to the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, and asked that they be read.
Mr. Mike Walsh objected to the reading
as did also Mr.. Clingman.
Tho resolutions being received, the Speaker
ruled that the reading of them was in order
and they were accordingly read.
Mr. Dean moved that they be laid on the
table and printed and it was go ordered.
Mr. Hillyer moved that the House resolve it
self into Committee of the Whole On the Pri-
vate Calendar.
The Speaker said that the special order of
the day was the bill to indemnify the State of
Indiana for failure to convey to it a township
Of land and that the motion was not in order.
The bill was then read second and third
time, and finally passed-yeas ia, nays AZ.
Mr. McMullen moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the Whole, when
Mr. Matteson arose, and stated that, during
the discussion of the Nebraska question on
Wednesday last, his inquiry Of the Chairman
of the Territorial Committee, whether certain
amendments could be made in the bill at a
future time, and the Chairman's answer in
the affirmative, were omitted from the pub
shed report in the Globe.
Mr. Richardson arose and repealed the impu-
tation (which Mr.. Matteson -yehemently denied
having made) with great severity but did not
deny that the omission had been made.
Mr. McMullen's motion REQUIRED, and the
House went into Committee Of the Whole on
the state of the Union, (Mr. Odds in the chair J
MIR Stephens Of Georgia, arose, and spoke
on the Nebraska bill, in opposition to the views
of Mr. Meachem, on Wednesday.
Mr. Stephens denied that the Missouri Com
promise was contract or compact The line
of 36 deg 30 min was drawn by legislative
enactment, and nothing more. Missouri had
previously been admitted.
The North was the first to violate this law
Upon the admission of Arkansas, the North
renewed the contest The North and the
South had agreed, as Abraham and Lot had
agreed, in the compact or law. Mr.. Stephens
reviewed the history Of the events upward to
1850.
MIR. Stephens was strenuous in his opposi-
ton to all legislation by Congress on the sub
iect of Slavery, and contended that no repub-
iiean could claim the right of our Government
to govern freemen after they had gone to dwell
in the Territories.
Mr.. Stephens compared the present mani
festations of the opponents of the Nebraska bill
to the hissings of demons-to the rebellion of
spirits expelled from heaven-to the manifest
atoms In Pandemonium. He feared no excite
ment. The North would not resist. The ad-
der would hiss in vain IL had never been
killed. The laws had been opposed in the
North-Southern blood had been shed there.
He spoke of the threats of disregardng the
Compromise with respect to Southern terrific
ry. Bat the South asked for nothing with this
respect
MIR. Campbell arose to reply. He yielded to
none in reverence for this Union, and never,
until lie shall witness the subvers0n Of the