Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-05-05
Speech of Col. Benton on the
Nebraska Bill.


The House having gone into Committee on
the Deficiency bill Mr.. Benton addressed the
House.
Mr. BRxroN--If any bill to impair the
Missouri Compromise line Of lS3O had been
brought into this House by member from
Slave State or under the administration oi
President elected from Slave State, should
have deemed it my duty to have met 1t at the
threshold and to have made the motion which
the parliamentary law prescribcs for the re-
pulse of subjects which are not ht to he con
sidered. should have moved its rejection at
the first reading But the bill before uS--ior
the two NAV he considered as unr-doGS not
come from that quarter it comes from Free
State, and under the administration OF Il
President elected from Il Free State ; and
under that aspect of its origin deemed 1t
right to wait and hear what the members oi
the Free States had to say to 1t. 1t was II
proposition from their own ranks, to give up
| their half Of the Slavery Compromise oi lN-u,
and if they choose to do so. did not see how
the Southern members could refuse to accept
it. 1t was a Free State question, and tn"
members from the Free States were the malo-
rity and could do as they pleased; 50 | stood
alnor. waiting to scr their lead. hut without
the slightest intention of becoming governed
| by it. | had my own convictions OF right
and duty, and meant to act upon them. !
| had come into political life upon that Com
promise | had stood upon 1t above thirty
wears and intended to stand upon it to the end
solitary and alone, if need be; ; Applause and
laughter , but preferring company to soil
tude, and not doubting for an instant what
tho result was to be. | have said this Dil
comes into Congress under the administration
of A Free State President, but do not mear
to saw or insinuate that the President favor'
the bill | know nothing of his disposition
towards it, and if did | should not disclose
it here it would be unparliamentary and {
breach of the privilege of this House to do so
The Presidents opinion can only he mad
known to us by himself, in message IL
writing In that way it is his right and oftei
his duty, to communicates with US, an'
in that way there Is no room ior mis-
take in citing his opinions no room for al
unauthorized use of his name, no room 10
the imputation of contradictory opinions u
him, and in that way he becomes responsible
for the opinions he may deliver. All othe
modes of communication are forbid to him, a
tending to an undue and unconstitutional In
| reference with the freedom of legislation
II is not bribery alone attempted upon
| member which constitutes breach OF tn
| priyileres of this House it is any attempt I
operate upon "a member vote by any cons
deration Of hope, fear, favor or affection
prospect Of reward, or dread Of punishment
This is parliamentary law AS old as the tn
glish Parliament, constantly maintained b
| the British House of Commons, and latel
declared in most signal manner. 1t va
during the reign Of our old master GkoRc
the Third and in the famous case of NJ
Fox's Fast India bill, report was spread
: Parliament by one Of the lords OF the Be-
Chamber, that the King was opposed to I!
bill. that he wished it defeated, and had sal
that he would consider any member his en-
my who should vote for 1t. The House
Commons took fire at this report and lmln
s dately resolved, THAT to report any Opini'
or pretended opinion upon any hIll dcpcndil
in either House of Parliament, is hil
crime of misdemeanOr, derogatory to
honor of the Crown, breach Of the fund
mental privileges of Parliament, and suhyc
4. siye of the constitution of the ecountry,' II
,e resolve was adopted in full house 10y IA ma
pt ritv of % votes. and was only declaratury
the existing parliamentary law such as 1t Ii
existed from the time that the English cou
ties and boroughS first sent Knights OF t
Shire and BurgeS,es to represent them IN
Parliament House Ii is old English parl
mentary law, and is 50 recorded by Hats
Il and all the writer's on that law. IL is a
American law as old as our American G,
rress, and as such recorded in jefferson
Manual 1t is honest law, and as such, eN
tent in every honest mans heart. Sir,
President of the United States can send us
opinions, except written messages ana
one can report his opinion to influence
conduct OF members upon bill without
coming obnoxious to the censure Whlrh
British House of Commons pronounced III
the Lord Of the bed-chambcr in the case
the King and Fox's East India bill. Nor
- the Presidents Secretaries, his head cler
~ las Mr.. Randolph used to call them send
IT. their opnions ON any subject of lcgislat
,le depending before us. They can only reP'
for and that in writing, ON the subjects refer
on to them by law, or by vote OF the lluu
ler Non-intervcntiun is their duty IN relation
W. W. our legislation, and if they attempt t. mi
he vene in any ui our business, | must be
lowed for one to repulse the attempt, anc
Il, express for 1t no higher degree of respect q
N, that which Mr.. Burke expressed for
. opinions of British Lord Chancellor delIye
10 the House of Commons in a case in VIII
he had no concern. Sir, | suppose | can
~ allowed u repeat on this floor any degree
- comparison OF figure OF speech which
- Burke could use ON the door OF the Brl
House of Commons. lie WAS classic speal
' and besides that, an author OF treats,
the sublime and beautiful. | do not cons
the particular figure which have to rep
although just and picturesque in itself L
'iA' a perfect illustration Of either branch OF
iins admired treatise. IL was in reference to ]
~ rhurlpw, who had inter,ened in some le
lat ldtiyc business contrary Ia the orator s.
ioc, Of right and decrnry MIR, Burke repu
;cs, the intrinsic opinion, and declared tina
tes' did not care three jumps Of IL louise lur
ctO- - 4 s,v tho sam. nI ot,inions which ma