The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-16
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON, D. c. FEBRUARY 49, 1854


Mr Haven, of New York, moved an appro.
pIistion OF S5500o0 for the purchase Of an
edihce for the assay Office at New York.
Mr. Ravens amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Lane, Of Oregon, moved an appropria-
ton of $4,000 10 defray the expenses of the
indian war in that Territory.
Senate, Wednesday. February 7, 1854.
MT Brodhead presented the memorial of the
hehgious Society of Friends, of Pennsylvania,
new Jersey, and Delaware, complaining of the
Institution of domestic Slavery, demonstrating
AGAINST the repeal of the Missouri Con,pro.
mise.
Mr.. B. said that these memorialists were not
political Abolitionists that while he differed
from them as to the power of Congress over
this subject, he still had the highest respect for
their motives
He also presented six other memorials from
the State Of Pennsylvania, demonstrating
against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
MIR. Hamlin moved to take up the French
spohation bill, which motion was agreed to
ayes 19, noes IL.
postponed
The Senate proceeded to the amendments Of
the Nebraska bill.
hr. Everett said that he regretted that the
short time which had elapsed since this bill
stsi.s Ivportcd had not afforded him time to ex-
anime the great constitutional questions in
voiyed in this Territorial subject, nor even to
examine the historical questions necessarily at.
tached to this matter. AS he could not enter
into these subjects, he would content himself
with giving expression to the reasons why be
could not vote for the bill as reported. He was
-, g. deaf ysrporterbf the Compromise of 1850
}Thls bill Eas m importaat measure it was
the layin ! of The foundation of two States here
after 10 become part of this Union, in what was
now a wilderness.
He had serious scruples as to the expcdien-
cy of forming any Territorial Government of
the highest order for these Territories at this
time. The latest accounts of the population
did not give white population there of over
SIX hundred and at the election for delegates
there were not over two hundred voters He
entered into this diff ,ulty with some detail,
but admitted that the objection was one of
time only These Territories would eventually
become as familiar names as States, as Vir-
ginia or Ohio.
was the condition of the Indians. They had
been placed in these territories, carried there
from their original homes, under the policy
of General Jackson, which had for its cardinal
point, that there they were to have a perma.
nent resting place. He could not do anything
to disturb the guarantee to the Indians.
Ii was true that the establishment of State
on the Pacific would, under the necessity of
some communication over the continent render
it impossible to preserve that Indian barrier
intact. But if the Indians were to be dispos-
sessed, he desired that more than Justice and
equity should be done them. But before acting
on this subject, he desired full information. If
the Indian rights were secured, he had no
doubt but he could have voted for the bill
passed at the last session by the House.
He regarded the language Of the amend
ment and that part of the bill relating to the
Missouri Compromise, as indistinct and objec-
tionable. If it was right in saying the Mis-
souri, act was imperative and void, it would be
more direct and parliamentary to say it is
hereby repealed. If it was to be repealed,
why not say 20 directly? The substance of
the paragraph was more Objectionable than
its phraseolOgy.
He understood the New Mexico and Utah
acts confined entirely to those specific meas
ures, and as not carrying with them any prin-
ciple by which all former Territorial Govern
ments and regulations were to be governed and
controlled. He saw no principle in those meas
ures, which by implication or otherwise was to
act prospectively or retrospectively upon all
other Territories then or to be acquired.
He then entered into review OF the position
assumed, that the principles of the acts of 1850
extended to all other territories and contro-
verted it in this particular.
that the operations of the acts of $50 were con-
fined exclusively to these acts
House Of Representatives., Feb. 8, 1854.
Mr. Cutting asked the unanimous consent of
the House, to enable him to present remon-
STRANGE to the Nebraska bill, made by a meet
ing recently held at the Tabernacle, in New
York, and explained that his sentiments were
not in harmony with those who composed that
meeting.
Mr.. Mcdonald, of Maine, objected and per-
sisted in his objection, notwithstanding several
appeals were made to him to permit the pre-
senta,ion.
On motion of Mr. Houston, of Alabama, the
House resolved iteelf into Committee of the
Whole on the Deficiency Bill, Mr.. Seymour in
the chair.
Several amendments were moved and adopt
ed but few of which are of public Importance.
On motion to appropriate S., 99l.64 to COM
ponsate the mixed military and civil commits
sion appointed to inquire into the subject of
governing the armories of the United States by
military or civil officers, Mr. Ingersoll spoke
with earnestness and effect in opposition to the
military government.
The motion for the appropriation was finally
adopted.
The Committee proceeded to the considera-
ton Of motion to insert in the bill an appro-
priation of 81 900 for finishing a marine hos
pital at Napoleon, in Arkansas, submitted by
Mr. Greenwood, of that State, and ably sus-
tanned by Mr.. Perkins who proposed to in
crease the sum 10 So 900 Pending its consid-
Grafton, call of the House was asked.
At which point our report closed.
Senate, Thursday february 9, 1854.
Mr. Bayard presented petitions from Della
ware, against the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise.
On motion of Mr. Foot, the Senate proceed
ed to the consideration of the bill granting
land 70 the several States Of the Union, for
the support and maintenance of the INDECENT
insane
Mr. Petit moved an amendment, that the
grant of land should be confined to those States
in which the public lands now lie.
The bill was then postponed to, and made
the special order for, Monday week
On motion of Mr. Hamlin, the Senate pro-
ceeoeu 10 the consIucraSioh vi 'ho fien0h oP"-
iation bill, and, after being amended in some
verbal particulars, was ordered to be engrossed
for third reading.
On the passage Of the bill,
Mr.. Dodge, Of Iowa, opposed it, and Messrs.
Pratt, Hamlin, and Petit, supported it.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera
ton of the Nebraska bill.
Mr. Smith said that his departure from the
usual course marked out by himself Of refrain
bag from debate, was oecasioned by his sense
of the magnitude of the evils to result from the