Washington sentinel., 1854-02-25

at Rio Janeiro and The Brazilian government re-
specting certain charges for repairs Of the United
| States steamer Susquehanna at that port in 1851.
| Ordered TO be printed.
Also communication from the Secretary Of
War, transmitting statement Of the contracts for
| that department for the year 1888
Also list ofthe civil employees of the War De-
partment.
MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
| Mr. EVERETT presented the resolutions of the
legislature OF the State of Massachusetts, remon
straling against the repeal Of the Missouri COM
| promise.
| ] pMr.SUMNER presented several remonstrances
OF similar character from the citizens Of Messa-
chusetts, one of them signed by Harriet Beecher
Stowe and eleven hundred women Of Andoveri in
that State.
Messrs WADE. PETIT, and HAMLIN pro-
sented similar memorials.
BILLS PASSED.
Bills of the following titles were taken up and
passed:
Bin Bin for the relief Of Ira Day; q Vermont;
Bill for the relief of Gray, McMendo and Com
pany, of New Orleans.
[ GOVERNOR ALEXANDER RAMSEY.
Mr.. COOPER, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, 10 whom were referred certain charges
against the Hon. Alexander Ramsey late super
| intendent of Indian affairs in Oregon, made re-
port thereon, wherein the committee entirely ex-
onerated MIR. Ramsey from all impropriety of con-
| duct. Ordered to be printed.
NEBRAsKA-sLAyERY.
On motion of Mr.. DOUGLAS, the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration Of the bill 10 establish
| a aterritorial government for Nebraska.
The last clause in the l4th section now is in
these words:
"That the Constitution and all laws Of the United.
same and effect within Territory of Nebraska
elsewhere within the United States except tho Sh
ton Of the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri
nto the Uno approved March g. 1890, which, being
consistent with the principle Of noninterventon by Con-
cognised by the legislation 1850 commonly called the
compromise measures hereby declared imperative
egslate slavery any Territory or State nor
to exclude therefrom but to leave the people thereof
ons in their own way subject only to hs Constitution Of
| the United States"
| The question pending was on the motion Of Mr.
CHASE 10 amend the same by adding thereto the
| following
their appropriate may il they fit
| hibt slavery therein"
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that the friends of the bill
supposing that its opponents had all taken
part in the discussions TO be had on ii, had como
TO the understanding debate il to-day Saturday,
Monday, and Tuesday, and on Wednesday he
would reply, and then the Senate would proceed
| to vote on il.
Mr.. CHASE said that he had already given no.
tice of his intention TO offer several amendments.
These amendments he would o1er, but at the
same time he would do nothing for the purpose OF
throwing obstacles in the way of taking the ques-
| ton.
Mr.. HUNTER said tha, il had been complained
that this question had been thrust upon the Senate
unnecessarily. He did not think so. II came up
| as natural consequence Of the course pursued
in 1850, in framing what were called the compro-
mise acts. He could not conceive how the ma
jority in Congress- or Of the people who approved
those acts, could vote against this bill without
great inconsistency.
The Missouri question was settled by establish
ing dividing line between slaveholdlng and nom
savehoding territory. Though opposed 10 that act,
the south had acquiesced in it, and had ever besn
disposed to abide by il. When Texas was annex
ed they agreed to it. In the Oregon bill they
| favored it, but it was voted down by nearly
| unanimous vote of the north. In 1850, the north
refused it, They admitted a few people settled
on the Pacific, not only as State, but gave thenl
| the sanction of Congress TO their taking all the
territory they desired or thought proper to include
within the limits of their State. The south got in
| those measures declaration that Congress had
no power 10 prohibit slavery the Territories, and
that the peope there should have tue right regu
late their own domestic institutions. Practically
the south was excluded from the whole of that
Territory, yet il acquiesced and all that was now
| asked was that The same principle adopted in tho
Utah bill should be extended to other territory.
He did not regard the Missouri act as COM
pact, or as compromise; or if it was compro-
mise, il was one from which the south had long
the north TO observe it. He gave a history Of the
compromise OF 1920, showing that the great
body Of the south in both houses opposed and
voted against il. II was northern measure.
The north broke il in 1921, by refusing TO admit
Missouri, and had constantly since then voted il
down on every occasion when il was offered
How could the north then call upon the south, in
the name Of honor, and sacred faith TO observe a
bargain which il had repudialed? It reminded
him OF the sanctimonious pirate mentioned by
Shakespeare, who carried with him 10 sea the len
commandments but blotted out the one which he
bad no desire 10 observe The senator from
Massachusetts was in favor Of observing tbe.con-
tract when il was to his advantage to do SO, but
not otherwise.
The constitution of the United States was
framed TO secure equality among the states, 10
preserve domestic tranquility, and secure the
blessings of liberty 10 all How could these OBJ.
jects be carried ont, if section of the country
was 70 have an unjust discrimination made against
its citizens! The whole spirit of the constitution
secured TO all the states equal share Of its pro-
lection and benefits. The states were interested
In these Territories in two-fold manner--irst in
the proceeds Of the sales Of the public lands and
secondly IN the right of the people 10 settle upon
and use them. II a proposition were made to
give to the free States all the proceeds o the sales
Of the lands, its unconstituiionalty would be ad.
mittcd But there was difference between
such proposition and one 10 give the people Of
the north the exclusive right 10 settle upon and en-.
JOY them.
ne thought the people of the Territories ought
to have the power over all rightfnl subjects Of
Legislation, subject only 10 the condition that they
should pass no act destroying the equality Of the
STATES Whether the people had airy right 10
sovereignty, was question which this bill left to
the courts to decide
lie then referred 10 various decisions of tho
Supreme Court to show the thsunconstitutionany Of
the exercise Of sovereignty by Congress over tho
territories, aud held that under these decisions
the ordinance of 'S7 and the Missouri compromise
were both unconstitutional
he admitted that there was no reasonable
ground for supposing that either Nebraska or
hansas would become slave States. He urged.
however, that the dispersion of the slaves into
greater number of States would be beneficial not
only TO the slaves, but 10 eirowners, and would,
by reducing the comparative ratio of population
with the whites, disarm the question Of much of
its cause for excitement.
He supported this measure as one promising
peace and tranquility 10 the country He depict.s
ed the grand events in which this nation would be
called upon 10 take part in, and urged the necess-
" for union and harmony at home, and the folly
Of being distracted upon such miserable tribes M
whether there should be a few more slaves west