The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-05-05

81 z :
him like dog, is not only inhuman, but cow
ardlv and there is no excuse to justify the
course.
Speech of MIR. Benton on the Nebraska
$50 Bill.
Mr. Benton rose and members crowded
round in order to hear him OH the Nebraska
question.
The galleries were crowded. -sy d -e.a
Mr. Benton said: Ifany bill! to impair the
| Missouri Compromise line of 1920 had been
brought into this House by member from
slave State or under the Administrations Of a
President elected from slave State, should
have sdeemedit my duty to have met it at
the threshold and to have made the motion
which the parliamentary law prescribes for
the repulse of subjects which are not fit to be
cons idered. l should have moved its rejec-
ton at the first readi2g. But tie bill before
us, for the two may be considered one,
does not come from that quarter. 1t comes
| from a free State and Under the adIninistra-
ton of President elected from free State,
and under that aspect of its origin deemed
| it right TO wait and hear W hat the members
of the free States had to say to it. 1t was a
proposition from their own ranks to give up
their half of the slavery compromise of 1920,
and if they chose TO do SO did not see how
the southern members could refuse To acce pt
il. 1t was a .ree State question, and the
members, from the tree States were the ma
jorty and could do as they pleased, 80 stood
aloof Whiting to see their lead, but without
the slightest Infection of becoming governed
by it. Ihad my Own convictions OF right AMI
duty, and meant to act upon them. I had
come into political life upon the compromise.
| had stood upon it above thirty years, and
intended to stand upon it to the end-sollitary
and alone If need be applause and laughter !.
but preferring company To solitude, and not
doubling Tor an instant what the result " as
TO be. have said this bill comes into Con
gress under the administration Of free State
President, but do not mean to say or insn-
uate that the President favors the BILL
know nothing ofhis disposition toward il, nd
Iif | did should not disclose it here. Il
would be supplementary and brea ch of
the privilege Of this House To do so. The
Presidents opinions can only be made know
to Us by himself, in a message in writing. In
that way it is his right and often h.s duty to
communicate with us, aud in that way there
is no room for mistake in citing his opinions;
no room for an unauthorized use of his name:
no room for the imputatlon of contradictory
opinions to him; in that way he becomes re-
: sponsible for the opinions he may deliver
all other modes of communication are forbid
10 him AS tending to an undue and unconsti-
tutonal interference with the freedom OF leg
slation. 1t is not bribery alone, attempted
upon membe-, which constitutes a branch
of the privileges OF this House. IL is any
, attempt TO operate upon members vote
by any considerable ofhope or fear, fa-
vor or affection, prospect of reward or dread
of punishment. This is parliamentary law
as old as the English Parliament, constantly
maintained by the British Houses OF Com
mons, and lately declared in u most singular
/, manner. 1t was during the Ieign of our old
master George III, aud in the famous case OF
Mr.. Fox's East India BILL report was spread
: in Parliament by one of the Lords of the Bed
chamber, that the King was opposed to the
bill, that he wished it defeated, and had said
that he would consider any member his en-.
envy who should vote for it. The House oil
Commons took fire at this report, and i'm
: mediately resolved
o That to report any opinion or pretended
opinion upon any bill depending in either
house OF Parliament is high crime Of mis-.
demeanor, deroga DRY to the hon,r of the
8 Crown, breath Of the fundamental priv.
e leses of Parliament, and subversive of the
a constitI tion OF the country"
, This resolve was adopted in full house by
majority OF seventy three votes, and was
only declaratory OF the existing parliamentary
law such as II ha J existed from the time tha,
J, the English Counties and boroughs first sent
knights Of the shire and burgesses to repre-
sent them in the Parliament House. II is
old English parliamentary law, and is SD re.
corded by Hatsell and all the writer's tina,
a law. tits also American law, as old as our
!. American Congress, and as such recorded in
Jefferson's III ,nual. IL is honest law, and az
such existent in every honest mans heart.
SIR, the President of the United States can
$ send US no opinions, except written mes
; sages, and no one can report his opinion to
D influence the conduct of members upon a bill
a without becoming obnoxious to the censure
e which the British House of Commons pro-
: nounced upon the Lord of the Bpdchamber
: in the case of the King and Fox's East India
/. bill. Nor can the Presidents Secretaries
/. This head clerks. as Mr.. Randolph used to
b. call them) send US their opinions, on any
, subjects Ut legislation depending before US.
t They can only report, and that in writing
8 on the subjects referred to them by law or by
: vote of the House. Nonintervention ID
= their duty In relation to our legislation, and
: if they attempt to intervene in any of our
{ business, must be allowed for one to repulse
i the attempt, and to express for il no higher
degree of respect than that which Mr.. Burke