The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-24
rnr sxpKAsxA AND xANsAs BILL.

/ The House then went into Committee OF the Whole
on The state OF the Union, and proceeded Mr. HIBBARD
10 me ehal 10 me consideration OF me pls on Tue cal
endar
Mr.. MILLsoN alluded TO the remark Of the gentle.
man from New York, Mr.. CuTTRG,I that the Nebraska
and Kansas bill bad caused sort OF civil revolution IN
the North 10 defeat the passage sf that bill That woald
have ned strange they had no been accustomed TO
observe extraordinary mutations IN politics IN that sec
lion Of the country. There was, however nothing in
the question which ought 10 alam the appehensons oil
the nth. Tie might paraphrase the remark OF Fox on
the Westminster scrutiny aud say this bill does not ex
tend indulgence does Il grant bare justice TO the
South. Two bills were before the committee proposing
organize Nebraska and Kansas He most in favor
oil the bill reported by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr.
cHARDsoN but was not disposed 10 go into ecstaciea
even that. But he infinitely preferred the House
bill 10 that of the Senate II would probably be first
sidered in the Committee OF the Whole, ii either OF them
could ever be reached and there reason 10 suppose
tina, an attempt would be made TO amend that bill by the
insertion OF the amendments adopted by the Senate lie
proposed 10 discuss the effects OF such alteration in the
bill. Before doing he stated the general relations OF
southern members 10 the question TWAS not the first
time efforts had been made 10 organize territorial gov
eminent Tor Nebraska An aempt was made in lS4S
by Judge Douglas The South had stood in opposition
TO such efforts That was Their natural or normal posi-,
ton IN regard to all territorial bills The South had
hitherto been unwilling TO organize any Territory, but
they were now asked 10 organize two, and the repeal OF
,h re was proposed ~ oaaei % make
ever that the bill reported by the gentleman from Hi
nois was not calculated 10 introduce slavery into these
| Territories. He no more believed that slavery would
be established in Nebraska and Kansas than that il
would be established in Massacbusettsin this he was
borne out by the opinions OF distinguished senator's and.
so, why propose 10 repeal the Missouri restriction
| II the Missouri Compromise were right, he would say.
preserve lt II II were wrong, repeal IT. Il could not be
both right and wrong There was no middle ground
between right and wrong. IT, then, il wrong 10
adopt the compromise and the restriction let be
peaed They not responsible for the consequences
II slavery revived in these Territories, il wonld not be
by their act but by the annuIment OF their act. Ii he
could be assured that government would be formed
Tor this Territory Tor twenty years, ne would vote
against any bill but Tor causes, political and sectional,
ne must make his election between the TWO bills in the
committee
Il had been said in the northern newspapers that il
congress allowed the restriction TO be removed, II would
| be legisaung slavery into those Territories. He had
eeen statement OF similar purport made by an emf
nent cltizenof South Carolina He contended however,
that such would be the case that il would simply
leave the matter in the hands of the people of those Ter
rltores.
the Senate bill which related slavery. He said the
House and the Senate bills alike than the
well.fed and lusy aborer was like the "ean and slip
pered pantaloon."
Within the limits of the proposed Territory of Kansas
there was territory of 10000 square miles which was
by law sayehoding Territory 1t had remained slave
holding because il slaveholding when the territory
belonged to Texas and would continue savehodiDg I'M
III II applied for admission INTO the Union State He
continued at length to oppose the provisions OF the Sem
ate bill, which had been introduced during the debate in
the Senate and showed great anxiety for the passage
| oil either OF The bills.
| MIR. HUNT said il was his intention to address the
committee in relation to the bills for organizing Nebrask
| and Kansas He should do so on national and not on
sectional grounds He was opposed to those bills be-
cause they proposed to repeal the Missouri Compromise.
he opposed that repeal, because he considered would
be violation OF good faith contrary the true policy of
the country, engenderng dlscod and dssenson between
different sections, and putting to hazard the fortunes OF
this blessed and glorious Unicn He then proceeded 10
trace the history of the Missouri Compromise vindica-
ling the policy of Henry Clay, and called upon the
bers IRON The Souh IN the OF their country, keep
faithful 10 their promise. Repeal compromise. and
they would throw open the door 10 repeal every compro
mlse and perhaps ultimately to repeal thai greatest of all
The compFomises-ihe constitution OF the Union itself.
The voice OF the North clear and loud ganst thai
repeal II daily sounded in their ears in The
s'rances and resolutions OF large pablo meetings. and
from distinct bodies OF the most intelligent OF The
country The repeal of that Compromise he conlended,
Did not originate with the bill il was after thought
an unhappy after thought II condemned by the
previously expressed judgment OF those who had suppoft
ed is passage in the Senate lie would 90 further, and
say that the South had no ineres, in the reference TO
slavery IN the bill
Mr h then proceeded 10 reply 10 the various argu.
menis which had been advanced in support Of the bill
and declared that nothing would induce him to vote or
any measure that would admit slavery where does not
already exist II, however, majority approved Of The
bill, he would be Of the last 10 create disturbance,
and although the bill opposed 10 his ludgmen,
and conscience be should quietly submit 10 the will Of the
greatest number. He then referred TO the remarks OF
Daniel Webster in reference TO the natural impedlmeats
TO the admission OF slavery into the country an
could see no advantages that could the South
IRON The proposed repeal Southern honor pledged
TO the Missouri Compromise, and he said be relied upon
4
faith, and uphold that honor
To representatives OF the North he would say, Mani
fest your devotion 10 the constitution, and TO The Union
| BE hrm In your opposition TO The repeal Of this Compro
mise, and remember when you dealing with southern
men, you are dealing with your brethren"
| Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE, alter apoogzing TO the com.
mitee Tor not speaking the bill really before them,
said the Nebraska and Kansas bill absorbing much
the attention OF Legislators that it likely that
much business would be got on with until that question
was settled lie was sorry that two southern gentlemen
mad addressed the committee todayone in disguised and
the other IN bold, open, and manly opposition He mir
HUNT had come out against the bill like a man.
The other day, when the gentleman from New York
should be referred TO the COMMITTEE OF the Whole on the
state OF the Union many gen,emen-himself among the
numberenireaied him to withdraw the notion to enable
them to explain the real position OF that hill when so
ferred He refused to withdraw and be MIR. b. would
now say what he had desired to say then.
He wished 10 the friends OF the bill that, from the
previous conduct OF the gentleman from New York mir
CUTTING, ii they submitted be controlled by his move
mens in regard to the bill they would aid in it, desruc-
ton. With The motives OF that gentleman he had nothing
10 do but the movement the other day 10 kill
the bill by stab from protested friend Did batgen
tlemanknow that placing The calendar OF the Com
mee OF the Whole he placing under OF bills
which could be reached during this session OF Con-
etess The reason he gave that the " Rdger pro
yiso" as he had called 1t. might be discussed He was
gentleman from non -savehodins State; he arrayed
himself ~ friendship, particularly 10 the South and on
The ground that there were features in opposed south
ern interests, bad succeeded In obtaining majority 10
his motion. No matter what might have been his mo-
ives the whole tendency TO kill the bill Had that
come from an openly svowed enemy TO the bill he should