The daily union., 1854-02-17
IN CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty Third Congres-First Session.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY Is. 1854.
I'm coNTIsUArIos
SENATE.
TERRITORY or NEBRASKA.

TERRITORY NEBRASKA.
Nn CHASE moved TO amend the substitute by in
sefting The words
''iader which the people Of the Territories through
Their appropriate representatives, may IL they III.
hibi, the existence OF slavery therein"
50 that The clause would read, il so amended
--it being the and meaning this
70 eesate slavery ino any Terdoy State, nor 10
eiude II thefeo, but 10 leave the peopie thereof perfectly
tree % term ana regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way, SUBJECT only the constitution OF the United
States uader which he people OF tho Territories through
hibit the existence OF slavery therein."
[ Mr. SEWARD asked for The yeas and nays upon lh is
and they ordered.
Mr.. CHASE I will state. 10 few words, the design
oil this amendment The amendment which has Just
been adopted states that the object OF the bin to
gsIae slavery into lhe Territories out OF the Terri
torres but ai II The design 10 leave il the disposal
o The people OF the Territories subject only 10 The linn
aiions OF The constitution OF The United States II VIII
be observed that that amendment recites two PROPOSE.
tons as propositions OF history and OF law One OF
these propositions declares lha, the principle of
eTvenion recognized by the acts of 1850
with the lesisaiion ot 1920, commonly known the
Missouri, Compromise act The other Is, that il is not
the design OF tas provision TO have any particular effect
upon the condition OF the people ot the Territory, but
to leave them SUBJECT only 10 the limitations of the
stituan OF The United States. Now, desire TO have
the sense Of this Senate upon the question whether
or not, under the limitations OF the constitution Of The
United States, the people OF the Territories prohibit
the existence OF slavery there There be objec-
ton giving this expression OF opinion upon any ground
OF principle because the Senate has already undertaken
to deca It's opinion upon historical facts and upon
ers OF constitutional law want the opinion of the
Senate, then, upon This qaes.on-Can the people of
these proposed Territories themselves protect thense
against slavery And then desire TO know iurber--
and shall move amendments. if other gentleman
shall see M 10 do so, order 10 asceainwhether this
principle OF non-interyenion with the action OF the peo-
pie OF the Territories is to have u scope. Ii II is to be
adopted. desire to fully and clearly carried
do not desire to see an amendment passed here which
Will have different interpretations different sections OF
the couniry-be.ns considered section leaving
this whole subject completely al the disposition of the
people OF the Territories, and IN another section of the
country considered binding the people OF the Territories
so that they can III no case proiec themselves against the
institution OF slavery shall no, al present deain the
Senate further. All desire IL, that the Senate should
understand clearly the scope aud purpose OF this amend
msni, that The county may understand it, and that the
vote be TAKEN
Mr. PRATr The senator from Ohio has announced
the principle OF hs amendment, the principle that the
question shall be lett entirely to the people Of the Terri
tories WHISTLER they will prohibit, slavery or not Now,
Tor the purpose o testing the sincerity OF the senator and
for the purpose OF broging TO The test Tie question wheh
er he announces The principles OF his amendment correct
ly. propose amend by inserting alter the word pro.
hIbi" the words /" or introduce j. that il any amend
shall be adopted, aud il the amendment of The
from OHIO amended, shall be introduced into the
body OF the BILL the principle which the senator says he
desires to have carried out will be inserted in the
bill and the people OF the Territories will have the pow
either TO Introduce TO prohibit slavery, they shall
lhins proper ask that The question be taken upon the
amendment submit
MIR CHASE. My amendment was proposed 10 an
ameDdmeDt
The PRESIDING OFFICER The amendment is mol
in order, the pending question being amendment to
amendment.
MI. PRArr Will the senator from Ohio acccp, it,
thea. Is a modification OF his amendment
MIR JONES OF Tennessee. Tue object OF The SEN
sor IRON Ono must he obvious to The Senate Either he
intends perfect the bill, and 10 render accept
able or he intends TO emsarrass II by his amendment
0ne OF these two things is inevitable Now want to
ask the senator from Ohio whether IL will adopt his
amendment he viii vote for the bill.
He refuses answer the question and s, therefore,
obvious ha, !, s.his obec, 10 embarass the bin and
hope friend OF the bull will vote for an amendment
which will have that tendency
Mr. CHASE. do not " refuse 10 answer any ques-
ton which the from Tennessee proposes state
very distinctly that will no, vote for any bill contain.
ing these provisions win respect 10 slavery But the
amendment OF the senator from Illinois having been
adopted and there being desgn upon the part OF the
Senate pass the bill, apprebend that IT proper
and rig ht that any senator should far practicable
make the bill what be would desire IL 10 be- measure
OF legislation may not commend itself TO my udg
and yet that may be rendered vastly less obnox
,ous, placed in certain form, than would be ia us org
nal form. | therefore move this amendment IN good
faith wish to perfect this BILL according TO the prn.
cple which has been announced
As | have stated, have another amendment 10 offer !;
aud may well State 10 this neson, briefly what
The character o the amendment will be You say that
you have adopted the principle OF non.ineryention
What kidd OF non Intervention IA It You refer this
question OF slavery TO the people OF The Territories to
De aelsd upon by their legislature. That is very clear
Tnen The Legislature is 10 act epon this question, subject
10 the restrictions and limitations OF The constitution
Now, know perfectly well that there great differ
OF opinion here to what the ma ions and restrc
tons OF the constitution Some ltors think that
The constitution OF the United States has no operation in
the Territories, unless IL is extended to them by express
enactment 0iher senators OF opinion that The con-
sluon the UniIed States extends over the Territories
from the moment they acquired by the Union Some
senator's OF opinion that The constitution OF the Uni
ted staies. properly nterpreed would prevent The exist
of slavery 10 the Territories at ALL and make II i'm
possible that the territorial legislature should introduce
slavery into the Territories. Ober senator's are OF the
opinion that, under the constitution OF the United States
is not possible for the territorial legislature exclude
slavery, desire TO have the sense OF the Senate upon
this question, whether this territorial legislature TO which
you propose TO refer this great questonvila with the
taiufe destiny OF the people who 10 migrate those
Terrlioress under The restrictions and limitations Of
the constitution OF the United States, able to protect itself
ii il sha zee hL
The senator from Mary land TMr PRArTl proposes an
anendment TO my amendment 1t will be perfectly com
petenl ior The Senate 10 lngra the amendment hereafter
II they shall see ht, upon mine But do choose TO
accept il I, becapse--
Mr. SHIELDS. would suggest TO the senator that
if he wants to test The proposition, he should adopt the
OF ms amendment, proposed by the
from Maryland and Then II will be in the power OF the
Senate to adopt or reject II, they choose IL
to that that would be lair method OF testing the ques
ton.
Mr.. CHASE. was about TO suages, The reasons why
l could rot accept the amendment am perfectly willing
that ibe Senate should vote upon IL and s almost alb
solueIy certain that majority IN the Senate would
for the proposition OF the senator from Maryland But
w,h my views OF the constitution OF the United States
could for IT. do believe that the people OF the
Tar althpurh