The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-05-03
THE NEBRASKA AND KANSAS BILL.
SnEECH OF
HON. GEORGE BLISS,
Detiusrcd in the House of Representatives
ApyH lS, 1854.

The House being in the Committee of
the Whole on the state of The Union
Mr.. BLISS said;
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Il is nv desire 10 say
enough upon the Senate bill for The organi,
zaliun of the Territories Of Nebraka and
Kansas 10 exhibit the reasons for the vote
which intend to give upon that measure.
And as know that upon that subject the
opinion of highly Intelligent and sound.
ly Democratic pStiuency, feel no en-
barrassment in declaring my opposition TO
what the whole country regards as the
most imporlanis features of the bill.
The objectionable clause regulating suf.
frage in the proposed Territories, contained
in what is known as the Clayton amend
menl, finds SO little favor in this body, that
il seems unnecessary for me to consume
time in lis discussion; but Il shall notice il
incidentally in the course Of my remarks
My purpose is principally to consider
The proposal to repeal the slavery reslric-
ton contained ia The act Of 1920, known
as The Missouri compromise. If ! did
not oppose This policy, should be under
the humiialing necessity of regarding
myself as an unl;i hful Democrai;lslse n,t
only 10 a higher beneficial measure, which
by the general voice of the nation, has
heen held sacred, beyond The touch of fleg.
islalion, for more than third Of a century
but false also 10 the last great pledge of
my party to the country in 1852 that the
laws then in force, without addition or
change, should be and remain final ad.
usment Of the slavery question. The
pledge then deliberately made against
further agitation Of the subject in Congress
or out Of it, applies, with the only real
force it was intended 10 have, TO those
who are in Congress, (orbidding all action
TO disturb any existing compromise or set
lemehl, and constituting an honorable bar
10 the legislation now proposed. OIhcr
gentlemen think differently. do not ar.
raign their motives. | speak Of my own
obligations and duties as they appear 10
my own judgment. .-a
Sir, there Is too much weight of charac,
ter in the dominant political party to
admit of its shufliipg thus suddenly (Iom
une position Id an opposite ene, while cir.
cumsianres remain Unchanged; and what.
ever individuals may feel constrained TO
do, the Democratic Of The nation will main.
tin the ground upon which they so signal.
ly lriumphed oyer seciionalsm aud lanali.
cism in lie greet canvass which placed lhe
present Administration in power. Vacilla
ZION in policy is not Ihe vice Of that party;
and thought the many thousands Of Demo
Gratis who verify believed that The louT
years Of this Administration would glide
smoothly away, without renewal of the
slavery controversy, are bitterly disap-
pointed at the throwing Of this frrbrand
among them, yet their viruous consistency
will he their safeguard. They will exor.
clse the snrm iened and alIay the TEN.
pest.
But have something more IN say abou
the Baltimore resolutions Of 1852. Both
The great parties Of The country assembled,
nearly al the same time, TO put in nomina.
lion their respective candidates for the
presidency. Both had experienced enough
Of The proilless quarrel upon the subject
of slavery, TO force upon Them a uniform
sentiment with respect TO it however much
they might differ in other matters. 1t i,
true that many Of the leading politicians o
the Wing party at The North denounced
their platform while they labored for lht
section Of their candidate. But the DemOc
racy came up at once 10 the support o
their platform, with its fiEality clause
Those among them who thought there
were faults in the compromise measuret
of 1850, especially in The fugitive slav,
law, which ought TO be corrected, smoh
cred their objections for the sake Of har
mony. All prejudices were sacrificed o
the altar Of the general good. The happ,
effect Of such patriotic action was yer,
so1n perceived. Democracy tiumphe,
everywhere. The Wings were sorely re
buked for their inG,ielily. Abolilionisn
became powerless. The greatest agitation
king in the land might well have exclaim
ed with the afflicted Moor, "Olhello's occu
pation's gone" Until the advent Of lhi
ipjudcious bill, Iaahty was the word. |
was heard on all the hills Of New England
and through all the praries of the West
II stands now the recorded language of tn
Administration. The democracy Of Ohio
} assembled in convention on the S,h o
January 1851, affirmed it with grea, una
. nimiy -ecohing back the voice which jus
before that time reached them from Wash
ington. ..t ....r..
Sir, great change has occurred in III,
aspecl.o( aifais-a change sudden and IN
looked for. We are astnunded at fndinl
) ourselves in the midst Of a seelhug agita
liom. 'Fhe dogs Of war are baying aroun
, US, and the Wild spirit Of dscord is poison
ing the very air The value Of the polio,
established in 1867 is more apparent, nov
that the Consequences Of an aIlemp, to de
4, part from il are seen, than ii ever was bo
! lore. Yet we are urged to kick our plat
: form from under us, and drop down in.
s the mud and slime Of hateful contes
I! which, however it may. .evenluale,oiiers u
nothing better TO be gained than an impair
ed character for political consistency.
Sir, itappears 10 me peculiarly sppropri
ale that the South should make her voic
heard upon the right side Of this question