Washington sentinel., 1854-04-26
Wasbingtnn geutinel.
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
SPEECH OF HON. WIN. BARKsDALE,


hthe House Of Representatives, March 80, 1851.
The House being in the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union
Mr.. BARKSDALE rose and said:
/ propose, Mr.. Chairman, to devote the brief
period of time to which am entitled, under the
rules Of the House, to an investigation Of the
bill to organize territorial governments for
Kansas and Nebraska to answer o portion at
least of the objections l have heard urged
against the bill, and to declare my opinions as
to certain amendments which have been ineor-
porated in it. @
And it is, perhaps, proper for me to say that
it is not my purpose, in this connexlon, to en-
gage in discussion of slavery. So far as the
argument / design making is concerned, it is
necessary that should do so. 1t is sufficient
that / should say that, whatever in my opinion
may be the benefits and blessings of slavery to
the master and the slave, not only iii the
southern States where il exists, but in the non
s!aveholding States, which both manufacture
and consume the articles produced by slave
labor, we rest its defence, in this discussion,
upon the Constitution of the country, where
it was placed by the sages and patriots who
formed the government and moulded our insti-
tutions. Shielded by that instrument, we may
safely bid defiance to those whose business here
is to assail 1t, and whose political existence
depends upon the agitation Of this question
Nor do / design discussing the general pro-
visions of the bill. They are similar to the de-
tails Of all territorial bills which have from
time to time been passed by Congress- and
take it, will meet with but little, it any oppos
ton, and certainly none upon principle
The first objection have heard urged against
this bill is, that it is premature; that it is an
-. 4l<,lt L., IL 10, Ia
ton in these Territories is not sufficient to de-
mand it. These objections, however honestly
entertained, or plausible they may appear, will
not stand the test of facts and scrutiny. And
however much we may have doubted the pro-
priety or questioned the policy originally of in
PRODUCING this bill, it is here without any agency
Of ours; the public mind is engaged with its
provisions; and now That it is before us, it is
our solemn duty to examine it dispassionately,
to discuss it frankly, fully, and freely aud to
act upon it with an eye single to the best in
terests of the country.
Those who have had the greatest facilities for
acquiring correct information on this subject
assure us that there are American citizens in
that Territory; and the most indubitable evil
dence of the fact is, that delegate is now here,
elected by the people themselves, asking in the
name Of those he represents the protection OF
this government.
alo the Senate and House Of Representatives.
"At an election held in that country known as
Nebraska north of the 40tho of north latitude, on
the llih day Of October last, had the honor TO re-
ceive quite large number OF votes, "a certificate
Of such fact having been referred TO the Commit
lee OF Elections in the House of Representatives,
some time i'll December last,) as delegate from that
Territory, 10 represent the interests and make
known the wants OF that country before Inc ma
tiona legislature.
No law being in existence authorizing that
election, and none giving 10 that Territory any
representation here, of course the people, IN thus
selecting me as their agent, 10 urge upon you The
early consideration of their wants, did not claim
for me privilege equal TO that of a legal repre-
sentative upon the floor of the House; but they
expected me 10 use all honorable means to seek
an early organization Of said Territory
| call the particular attention Of the COM
mittee on this point to paragraph which |
find in late st. Louis paper:
aNEBRAsKA TERRfroRY FILLING Ur.-The St.
Louis republican, of the llth instant has the fol-
lowing:
".During the pastthree days large number of
persons have arrived in this city from various
quarters, on their way to Nebraska Territory; and
as but few boats were in port from the Missouri
river they have been compelled TO wait for boats
to get ready to start 30 great IS the rush ior
massage that although there are several boats in
port their cabins full, even before they are ad-
yertised 10 leave.
But sir, if the evidence of the gentleman
who claims to be delegate from the Territory
of Nebraska be rejected on the ground that he
is an interested party-if you reject the para
Graph have Just read because it is the mere
statement of newspaper, designed to have ct.
feet on this bill-all must admit, and believe
all have admitted who have thus far participat-
ed in the discussion in either branch OF Con-
oress. that this is mere question OF time. AT
some period and, as / believe, an early period,
n government must be organized for that Ter
ritory. and Congress will be forced to act or
the people will act for themselves. And it
seems to me that no southern man, with the
light which the last few years has shed upon
this subject, and the experience which the
stormy period of 1850 furnishes, particularly
in the admission Of California, can hesitate as
TO the Importance of promptly passing tins bill.
read the following extract from the speech
of an able, enlightened, and eloquent opponent
Of this bill in the Senate, Hon. EDWARD Ev-
rRFTT.1 to show that in his estimation this is q
mere question Of time
al will however, before enter upon this sub
iect, say that the main question involved IN the
massage OF bill Of this kind is well calculated TO
exalt and expand the mind. We are about 10
take a first step in laying the foundations OF two
new States, oil TWO sister INDEPENDENT IepuOHeSt
hereafter TO enter into the Union, which already
embraces thirty-one of these sovereign States,
and which, no doubt in the course OF the present
century will include a much larger NUMBER.
think Lord Bacon gives the second place among
the great Of the earth 10 the founders OF the state
rondttores fmperiornni. And though 1t may seem
10 us that we are now egislating for remote par,
of the unsubdued wilderness, yet the time wlll
come and that not a very long tlmc, wheh these
SCARCELY existing Territories, when these almost
empty wastes will be the abode of Of hundreds ana sis
,he fonntains that trickle from the snow-capped
crests Of the Sierra Madre flow in one direction to
the Gulf of Mexico in another TO the o. Lawrence
and in another 10 the Pacific"
Em;pration is rapidly making its way to the
-. and but n few years will elapse before
that that vast country win become the permanent
abnde of our hardy and adventurous American
people John Jay, one Ct the great men men, Of h;
sl.h"., nomo Is linked with the Constitution it
self self BY his associate With Madison and Ham
t ;,ton n expounding it, ridiculed the idea tina
1