Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-17
DEBATE In THE SENATE.
THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.
In THE SENATE, MAY rs, 1854.


The Senate having under consideration the House bill
to organize the Territories Of Nebraska and Kansas and
the pending question being on the amendment OF Mr..
PEARcE to the fifth section, to strike out the words
TAnd those who shall declared oath their nten
become SUCH and shall have taken oath support
the Constitution of the United States and the provisions Of
this act"
80 that the proviso shall read:
"Povidcd That the right Of suffrage and Of holding Office
shall be exercised only by citizens Of the United
Mr. BADGER said II is proper Mr. President, per-
haps after the remarks which have been made by the
honorable Senator from Tennessee that should submit
few observations to the Senate. shall do it upon
particular subject matter in which concerned and
shall not enter into any discussions about the
tive patriotism of the people Of the different sections Of
the Union or the degree of reliability in the support of
the National Union to be placed upon Northern Wings
Northern Democrats.
left the Senate chamber yesterday while the Senator
from Tennessee making his remarks under the i'm
preston that going to have long session. that
we might probably be here until late in the night left
theSenate for the purpose Of getting something in the
way OF refreshmen that might be prepared with more
ease and convenience to myself to endure the long
tnued process of sitting up sent for two three
times with the information that the Senator from Tonnes
see proposed to say something with respect to me- and
desired my presence. When had completed the very
essential purpose for which left the Senate returned
and found that the honorable Senator as told by
Others, had been disputing the authority upon which
made my statement to the Senate the 18th day Of Feb
ruary last that the Southern Wing members Of this body
united in the support of this bill When in
and ascerained the Of remark pursued by the
honorable Senator took the opportunity which he a
forded to Of stating what grounds had made that
representation. But, for some reason other, know
not Why the honorable Senator yesterday to be
exceedingly impatient Of allowing any body get through
with complete statement OF what necessary to make
his remarks understood DESIRE therefore, to state
again distinctly what understood to have been the facts
in relation to that transaction.
We had meeting Of Southern Wing Senators, called
not at my instanceI knew nothing about the purpose
of having such meetDg-but called, as understood,
at the instance Of the Senator from Delaware attended
that meeting we were there informed that certain arti
ces had appeared in the National ntelgencer taking
very strong and decided ground against this measure
involving breach Of national faith that that paper
had been for many years the generally recognised organ
of the Wing party this difficulty likely to be pro-
duced that Southern people might suppose that upon
this particular subject that paper spoke the sentiments
Of the Southern Wing members of this body. knew
nothing about those articles In respect disadvan
tageousy and probably in many more with like disad-
vantage do not resemble my friend from Delaware.
not in the habit Of reading long editorials which dis
cuss the merits of questions pending before this body
Whether ily-paced not, still have sufficient conf
dence myself suppose hat find out how direct
my public without calling In the assistance Of the
public journals of the day; and when need help which
often do and which seek promptly, as find
the need of it, generally have to such sources
of information as think will be best calculated to aid me-
But my friend from Delaware seemed to entertain the
opinion that this was producing Misrepresentation in the
public mind Of the South to the views Of those who
represented that section Of the country this floor
Well, sir, resolution adopted at that meeting, which
my friend from Georgia has read. That resolution de-
cared that the National Integencer did represent
the views Of Southern Wing Senators this question
assented to that resolution not because had read the
articles but because understood from brother Senators
what those articles were.
Now Mr. President, at that meeting, assembled at the
call of the Senator from Delaware, present among
Others the Senator from Tennessee So far know he
did not dissent heard dissent from him as to agree
ing in the resolution proposed by the Senator from Geor
ga After these proceedings done suggest
ed that had the floor upon the Nebraska bill for the
next day. the most prompt and convenient method Of
the pAsi4ien ssa4As.- Ai a4-.ss-s hs.., sheaia
take occasion my remarks that united
upon the subject Of this bill
Now sir, whether the honorable Senator from Tennes
present at the time when this request was made
of course cannot undertake to determine Against his
denial do not undertake to assert it, considered all
Of us who were there known friends Of the bill. We
had met to treat of article which likely to do
wrong, by leading to unjust conclusions posi-
ton upon that bill WE'LL what the position assumed
said to have been assumed by the editors Of the Ma
tiona Intelligencer which might produce this mischev
impression? The position assumed by the National
Intelligencer that this bill violation of national
faith that it ought not to be passed. and necessary
consequence, that not in favor OF passing what
was thus announced to be breach OF national faith.
Why sir by the adoption of that resolution every gentle
present declared himself to be in favor OF the BILL
understood, and as suppose every other man
would have understood, unless suggestion quail
fcaton had been made by gentleman present
We met to rectify mistake likely TO be committed in
the South In consequence of the statement Of the Inte
gencer against the bill II against the bill ALSO
how was that likely to hurt US? If we against the
BILL far from having right to complain of the course
of the Intelgencer owed it thanks for promptly
ing forward before could and denouncing this viola
ton Of national faith The only possible motive for
planning Of the Intelgencer that it represented
set Of opinions while entertained another The de-
claraton which it proposed should make was not
for the purpose Of letting know where were. 1t
not for the purpose Of preventing mistakes the Sen
ate chamber to where 1t for the purpose
of preventing the of the South from being impressed
with mistaken idea to our position
Well sir such being the state Of the case it being dis
the resolution which adopted that in favor
of the principle of the bill denounced by the Intelligent
Ger, Why of course, when requested at the close
of those proceedings to make this announcement did
not my eye around to who was present or who
might have left the took it for granted we were
oil agreed upon that. Independent of any such request
being made, if had been asked How are the Southern
Wing Senators this subject p? should have sad with
hesitation, "united to man." Several of the gen.
tlemen were absent. My friend from Maryland (Nir.
PEARcE) absent. Therefore, could not infer from
bill but still satisfied that he would be in favor Of
the BILL and ohould have said if had asked the
question, that all united in favor Of this
measure.
When therefore, made the statement which did to
the Senate, supposed speaking what would meet
the general appreciation of all the Southern Wing Sena
tors, the Senator from Tennessee included could have
had no wish, purpose object to accomplish by mis-
representing his position. If had had desire, for any
purpose to present him in false position before the
country, Why without setting up any very high claims to
mt hava heon IN