The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23

haDsdS mlSnt Dc, 20 uXeC DIS not 10 lnctuQo
them within any Territorial Government.
He repeated his views of the high character
of the Indians for honor and probity, and as
serted that no instance could be found wherein
the indians had ever broken treaty He was
for civilizing and Christianizing the Indians.
He was opposed TO the bill because it connect
ed three great subjects into one bill. These
subjects were Nebraska, where no sufficient
population existed the Kansas Territory,
which was entirely Indian country; and the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise.
He read a letter published in the Richmond
Enquirer, in which his opposition to the bill
was anticipated and denounced He replied to
the charges and said that he would not de-
grade himself to the level of the writer by
hating him.
He was opposed to all the provisions of this
bill relating to the Indians and if anything in
the bill could be more repugnant to him than
those provisions, it was the one relating to the
repeal OF the Missouri Compromise. He was
opposed to the repeal of that measure because
We had always stood upon it. He stood upon
1t on the Oregon bill, and the South had sus-
tanned him. That Compromise formed part of
the supreme law of Texas. He stood firmly
upon the Compromise acts of 1885, He was
the only Senator now present who had voted
for every measure embraced in the Compro-
mise of 1850. In voting for it he never sup
posed he was voting for repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise Ii was a fnality of this
Slavery agitation. 1t had been so accepted
| and approved by the. people of the United
States. Would not the repeal of the Missouri
compact lead to excitement and agitation If
one compact was to be set aside was it not an
authority and sanction for trampling the other
under foot?
Though party lines no longer existed to any
great extent he would support this Admins
tration by voting against this bill, on the prin-
ciples avowed by the President in his letter ac-
cepting the nomination at the hands of the
Convention at Baltimore. That Convention
laid down platform, that the Democratic
party would forever resist slavery agitation in
any shape or form.
The President endorsed this resolution so
did the candidate for Vice President He read
the resolutions of the Baltimore platform, and
the letters of Messrs Pierce and King, and con-
tended that in preserving this compact, he was
supporting the principle of non-agitation of
Slavery then avowed by them.
The South had not asked for this measure.
1t would be no benefit to the South. Ii would
be measure which would apply the knife to
| the throat of the South. He came into Con-
gress over thirty years ago, upon this Missouri
Compromise There were but three in Congress
now, who were then in Congress-they were
Messrs. Benton, Everett, and himself
He continued his remarks till halt-past two.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Doug
lass amendment to the 14th section, and it was
agreed to-yeas 35, nays 10.
Mr.. Chase then submitted an amendment
to the effect that "the people Of the Territory,
through their appropriate Representatives,
| n he III
Slavery therein"
Mr.. Pratt proposed to amend by inserting
or permit" after the word prohibit :" pend
ing the consideration of which, our report
closed.
House of Representatives, Feb. Is, 1854
After our report had closed yesterday, MIR
Shelton, of New Jersey, made in Committee Of
the Whole, very earnest and effective speech
in opposition to the Nebraska Bill
The Speaker laid before the House a com
munication from the Treasury Department,
transmitting report relative to receipts OF
customs
Mr.. Bissell, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported back the House bill referred
to them, with the Senates amendments, which
bill awards four months pay to each officer and
soldier among the San Francisco sufferers. An
Navy, was approved of. An amendment,
granting pensions to the widows and heirs Of
those who persisted, in like manner as though
they had died in battle, was approved of. An
amendment, ordering that advance payments
made prior to embarcation be not deducted
from the foregoing award, was not agreed to,
Mr.. Bissell having alleged that it would oper-
ate unequally, many having drawn no advance
pay If the Senate shall insist on this amend
ment, a Committee of Conference will be ne
cessary
Mr.. Dean moved suspension Of the rules,
and that the House resolve itself into Com
mittee Of the Whole But the morning hour
having not yet expired,
Mr. Breckenridge asked that he might first
be allowed TO state that he was instructed
by the Committee Of Ways and Means to say
that that committee was ready to report a
Deficiency bill.
Mr. Dean renewed his motion and the
House went into Committee of the Whole on
the Homestead bill, Mr.. Olds in the chair
when
Mr.. Meacham commenced a speech in op-
position to the Nebraska bill He was inter
rupted by Mr. Richardson, who stated that
debate was not in order upon other than the
special subject under consideration.
The Chair decided in accordance with this
opinion.
Several gentlemen arose to controvert the
decision of the Chair and reminded him Of the
usage of the House.
The Chair stated that the usage Of the House
was TO admit of wide latitude of debate, but
that the usage and the rules did not CORES
pond, and he would decide according to the
latter.
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, appealed from the
decision Of the Chair, and the House overruled
the decision; when
Mr.. Meacham resumed his speech, and en-
tered into an elaborate argument in opposition
to the Nebraska bill, reviewing the condition
of the Territories, their history, the history Of
the removal of the Indian tribes inhabiting
them, the means by which these Indians were
removed thther, our guarantees to them, &c.
Mr. Fenton made brief reply to the speech
made some time since by Mr. Smith, of Vir-
ginia He denied the right of that gentleman
to prescribe test for members on this floor ;
and if the Nebraska bill should be presented
as that test the gentleman would find Softs y
springing up all over the North.
Mr.. Fenton gave his views on the Nebraska
bill, and earnestly opposed the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise of 1920.
The Committee then rose, and
Mr.. Breckenridge, by consent, from the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, reported bill to
supply deficiencies in the appropriations for
the service of the fiscal year ending June 80,
1854; which was read twice, and committed
Mr. B. also asked leave to report from the
same committee bill to provide for the COM
pletion of certain custom houses and marine
hospitals therein mentioned.
Mr. Hamilton objected.
Mr. Haven, after stating that the Committee
of WAYS and Means desired this bill and the
Deficiency bill to be introduced and referred