Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11
MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1854.
THE sENATE.-FRIDAY.

Our paper Of Saturday morning stated that when
il went to press at II o'clock Friday night the SEN
ate was still in session on the Nebraska Bill. At
Eve o'clock in themorning debate ceased, the hnal
question was taken, and the bill was passed BY al
vote Of 81 to IA. OF the debate itself no report
has yet been given, nor ca be for sone Gays 70
come the official reporters hayiag stated TINT y Will
sll perhaps ,ae hundred neFspspsr oclunli n Those
vho engaged in it were Messrs. BELL, CAss, Doud-
J]rAs DAWSON, NORRIS, WADE, PETIT, ToUoEY,
FrssENDEr WELLER, and HoUsToN. The debate,
Il isunderstood, vas very excited, occasionally an
cyy. and not fee from personality This evil, the
ospring Of intolerance, seems an incident to tree
fnstitutioas small, indeed, compared with the great
GOOD Of which it is the accompaniment but still to
be dsplored and ever to be deprecated. 1t exists
pehaps in greater degree in the legislative halls
ofour country than in any other win representa-
I've government from the fact that the habit Of de-
late Of our Legislators is almost wnoiiy formed by
the early practice Of the county bars in the local
courts. We have seen no Improvement in this re-
gard in our day, and the evil must, we suppose, be
considerei incurable.
The following is the vote on the passage Of the
bill:
YEAs-Messrs. Adams Atchison Badger, Bayard, Bepja
min Bodhead Brown, Butler Cas Clay, Dawson, Dixon,
Dodseof Iowa. Douglass Evans, Fitzpatrick, Geyer Gwin,
Hrnt< johnson, Jones of Iowa. Jones of Tennessee Ma
SON. lorton Norris Petit Pratt Rusk, Sebastian, Shields
sDtl, Stuart Thompson Of Kentucky, Thomson Of New
Asey, Toucey, Weller and Williams-37
NAYS-Messrs Bell Chase, Dodge of Wisconsin, FesseR-
en- Fish, Foot Hamn, Houston, James, Seward Smith,
Dumner, Wade and Walker--l4 .,....
. Considering the exhausting length Of the sitting
The lateness of the hour at which the vote was
taken that the strength of the bill had been tested
on the question Of its cngrossment and the sense of
almost all the members expressed on that vote or in
their speeches. the Senate remained very full to the
last. Several members were known to be absent
from indisposition among them Messrs. EVERETT
TooMBs, and BRIGHT. The first named gentleman
remained till half past o'clock, when illheath
/ compelled him to retire. Had he been present he
would, we are authorized to say have voted against
the bill the two last named, it was stated on the
floor, would have voted for it, would MIR. PEARcE
of Maryland, we are requested to say, had he been
present After the bill was passed the Senate ad-
iourned over to Tuesday.
The Senate having performed its Office IN regard
to this important measure we have, so tar as that
body is concerned, nothing further to say. The
bill has passed that ordeal by majority SO impos-
inc tina, it might well give US pause" in the ex-
preston Of any further regrets at its passage But
could we yield those regrets even to this weight OF
authority, our Judgment would refuse to go with
them. Our opinions on questions of such gravity
are not formed lightly, nor expressed hastily; and
on this-one Of the most important which has come
up for decision in our day, and on which we differ
from SO many whose judgment we habitually re-
spect-we must say that our opinion and our re-
prets remain unshaken. Whatever measure ap-
pears to us to be fraught with more evil than good
especially with that greatest of evils to our favored
country, sectional strife and hatred-we shall ever
while we live regard with instructive dread and
aversion. That this may not prove such q
measure we dcvoutly hope, but our fears that it
will prove so are painfully strengthened, and our
objections to the bill sustained even by the admis-
sions Of some Of the most eminent of its sup
norters. One example we will tite from the speech
of venerable and distinguished Senator, (Which
we shall give entire at an early day) and we have
done. Mr.. CAss said:
Mr.. EvERErT) frankly ayow that was filed with
doubt and alarm during the troubles and contests which
were terminated by the Compromise Measures Of 1850
and he who was unmoved had more apathy or less ap
prehension than had But though the omnous cry of
voe woe to Jerusalem is more heard do not be-
ieve that the country in any danger, not the least
but still do deny that these frequent almost period
cal renewals andrepipas Of this threatening subject must ne
ccssayily produce irritation and ercsnen tending 10 array
one section Of the country agrnst another and thus to weak
en- those ties of confidence and affection essential to
the permanence and tranquility Of this mighty Confede
racy. Events connected with territorial aggrandize
ent scanned their necessary consequence to lead to the
former agitation; but the has burst upon
MS without warning, and, think, from causes uhich
might haze been aooided."
"Mr President have not withheld the expression Of
py regret elsewhere shall withhold il here that this
question of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise which
opens oil the disputed points connected with the subject
Of Congressional action upon ssvery in the territory Of
the United States, has been brought before Us. do not
think the practical advantages to result from the mea
sure will outweigh the injury which the i'll feeling fated
70 accompany the discussion Of this subject through the
country is sure to produce"
aTbus believing should hare been better content had
Tho Whole subject been left it in the bills when
6rst introduced by the Senator from Illinois, Uom any
,ropson regarding tho Missouri Compromise am aware
IL was reported that intended to propose the repeal
that measure but IL My intentions were
vboly misunderstood had design whatever to take
-. s,en and TINS resuscitatng from its quetude u