Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-06-09
Nebraska and SIavery-Propa-
gaudisw. a Grand Move
ruent."
Speech Of THOS. II. BENTON.

On Friday, the 10Th inst, the
Nebraska bill being under discussion
in Committee of the Whole House,
Mr.. BENTON said Mr.. Chairman,
| have nothing more to say to this
bill on account of its interference
with the Missouri Compromise. On
that point | have spoken my share,
and shall not recur TO it again. |
pass on to a new point-one signi-
ficantly revealed to us some ten
days ago by Representative from
Georgia, the member from the first
congressional district of that State,
Mr. SEWARD. The gentleman
spoke against the bill in way en-
tirely accordant to my own opin-
ions but came to the conclusion
that ne would vote for it, and gave
his reasons for doing so reasons
which had not been mentioned by
any other speaker, and which struck
me as momentous, and worthy to
arrest the attention of the House,
and of the country. He objects to
the bill because it is unfounded and
contradictory in its statements and
aSSumptlons-inconsistent with it.
self, with the act of 1920, and of
the acts of 1S50-because it was
manufactured for partclar purpose,
and is of no value in itself to the
slave States but which commands
his support, as a southern man, on
account of its Interior operations, as
containing principle to be asserted
in future, and which was put into
the bill to become the basis of some
grand movement i'll this country
| will read what he said, as the
proper way of doing justice to his
clear and well expressed opinions
to his momentous revelations-and
to the best way of availing myself
Of his important declarations.
find them thus in the official copy
of the speech;
81 oppose the details Of this bill,
because they are not consistent with
themselves or with the transactions
to which they relate aud the bill
itself shows that it was manufac-
tured for particular purpose. Some
of the clauses embraced in it, con-
flicting as they are, were introduced
for the purpose, III my opinion, of
setting up principle to be asserted
in future, and which the acts of 1850
never contained. Now, sir, let US
see. We are called upon here now
to vote for this bill, which is not
drafted in the ordinary shape of leg
islative acts. But the trainers of
this bill have furnished the reasons,
within the bill itself, on which we
must act, and which they call on us
to subscribe TO. What is it They
tell1ls that the law of 1920, being
inconsistent with the legislation of
1850, therefore that the act of 1920
is imperative and void. take is
sue with them ; and, for myself, oc-
cupying the position that | do as u
southern man, | never have sub
scribed, never will, and never can
subscribe to the doctrines contained
in the act of 1850. My objections
to the acts of 1850 are known at
home. They are recorded in the
proceedings of the convention
which took place in Georgia in 1850.
| Was a member of that convention.
| voted against The Georgia platform
on principle. And now, when that
portion of the South having feelings
III common with me on this question,
have waived their objections to it
for the purpose of uniting with the
South, and harmonizing public feel
ing on this great question, it is put
i'll here as the basis of some grand
movement in this country. | know
not what that movement is"
concur in the truth and justice
of everything which the member
from Georgia has here said, but diff
fer from him in the conclusion to
which he arrives--that of voting
for the bill; and find in his reasons
for that vote, additional reasons for
my own vote against it; but he
votes as southern man, and votes
sectionally. | also am a southern
man, but vote nationally on national
questions. He sees in it a princi-
pie set up which is false and useless
in its application to Nebraska, but
which is to be asserted in future
and which is put into the bill as the
basis Of some grand impending
movement in this country. OF the
nature of this movement, which i,
to be so grand, and at the same time
sectional, the member declares him,
self TO be ignorant I; and that ignor-
ance, | would suppose, should be &
reason for holding back from bill
which commits its supporters tc
great unknown things. That is the
way it works with me. am
ignorant, that is to say, uniformed
of this grand movement which is lc
be in this country but | believe il
it, and SO believing am the more
against the bill. am against any
thing that | do not understand, and
which nobody will explain to me
and which, according to my own
short dubious lights, is dangerous to
the peace and honor of the country
l believe in the futility Of this bill
its absolute futility to the slavehold
ing States-and that not a single
clava will avar he held in kausa,