Washington sentinel., 1854-05-10
House ofRepresentatiyes. Of

The SPEAKER laid before the House a com
muncation from the Treasurer of the United
States, transmitting the accounts of the receipts
and disbursements for the year ending 1853, on
account of the Post Office Department. Laid on
the table, and ordered 10 be printed
NEBRASKA AND KANsAs-NEUTRAL RIGHTS.
On motion of Mr.. JONES' Of Tennessee, the
Senate's Nebraska bill and the substitute yester-
day offered by Mr.. RICHARDSON were ordered TO
be printed.
The SPEAKER stated the first business in
order TO be the bill granting lands to the several
States for internal Improvement and educational
purposes
MIR. HAMILTON was entitled to the floor but
yielded 10
Mr.RICHARDSoN,o on whose motion the House
resolved itself into Committee of.the Whole on
the state Of the Union
Mr.. OLDS was called TO preside.
The bill 10 organize territorial governments for
Nebraska and Kansas was taken up, when
MIR. INGERSOLL said il was not his intention
10 continue the discussion OF the territorial ques-
tion which has long been topic of debate His
views on the general question of slavery under
the Constitution, as connected with the rights OF
our citizens, whether inhabiting States or Terrific
ries, were well known to his constituents long
before they elected him TO seat in this honorable
body. He quoted from his remarks, delivered
during the last Congress, TO the effect that the
federal goverr,nent has nothing to do with slavery
either in the States Or Territories; and theNDro-
ceeded TO say he feared we are not, as naefon,
sufficiently aware of the Importance of what is
taking place on the other side of the Atlantic.
The war may involve the whole Of Europe in
its consequences. He thought he saw in all this
danger TO the interests of our commerce and TO
our citizens, if not 10 the peace of the nation IL
self Who is seer enough TO tell how long
the war will lasR Nomnally, ,}lhe war is against
the empire of Russia, but are we sure that it will
not prove one of conflicting interests, extending
throughout the organizations and ramifcations of
European society? As mere question OF war
between Russia and the Mussuman, there is little
either 10 excite our interests or sympathy In
commercial point of view, it would scarcely mat
ter TO us if Russia possessed the entire OF Turkey
because with the latter our commerce amounts 10
not Mbre than few cargoes of figs. lie express
sed no sympathy with Russia; but rather with the
Turks. because his sympathies with the weak
Who can suppose but that there is seltishness at
the bottom of the alliance Of France and England?
View the struggle we may, ii is not certain that
the United State may not be called upon to play
an important part. We may have our sympathies
aroused and our rights, honor, and interests may
be insuted, outraged, and abused To be fore
warned is to- be forearmcd; and.he then called the
attention Of the committee to what he conceived
TO be the duty Of the government, if we would
avoid the scenes which brought us TO the war of
1912.
He desired that there should be unanimous
declaration by Congress of neutral rights,
(and not by treaty, which would only have the
effect to disparage and complicate the question:
and a unanimous request that the Executive shall
proclaim our position, which he took to be in
cluded in the terms, free ships make free goods"
No papers overhaued but ships papers, not cargo
papers. This is good maritime law, acknow-
lodged at different times by different nations OF
Europe, England not excepted and, as American
law, asserted by the most eminent statesmen of
our own country It has been acknowledged by
treaties running over two hundred years, as COM
mercal usage, that free ships make free goods"
The policy Of England is supremely selfish.
With her might makes right, and it will so con-
tinue as long as she can bully other nations into
her ways. lie referred 10 recent English docu-
ments, to show that she intends TO act towards
neutrals Just as she chooses, processing at the
same time a regard for our interests. He inquired
of Mr.. PERKINS, whether the speech OF Mr.. Sill
DEL, in the Senate, on the subject of Cuba ex-
pressed the views OF the people OF Louisiana on
that subject.
Mr. PERKINS replied that the views of the
Senator did not extend much beyond his own opn
ions Louisiana has decided interest in the de-
clsion ofthis question. Scarcely paper reaches
the representatives from that State which is not
urgent on the subject He shared in that feeling
Ii the genieman's question extends TO the views
oil Louisiana as TO Spanish policy, he would say
he believed they were drawn from variety OF
sources, first asserted in the message of the gov
ernor. Although, as n nation, we have been pro-
testing that we will never submit TO the transfer
OF Cuba yet, at the very time, il has been particu
lary under the control of. France and England,
and has been used towards us annoyance;
He thought the conviction of his district was
Spain will never consent 10 part with this island
that, il severed by Spain, il must be by violence,
and that France and England unite in The sent-
ment declared bya Spanish statesman, we would
rather sink the island than transfer il to the United
States"
This feeling results from the hatred of free in
stitutons. He believed il will become us 10 con-
slider whether foreign governments shall exercise
this control, anG whether we have not the right
TO interfere for the protection Of the subjects of
that unjust and despotic Spanish power. Our citi-
sens have been subjected TO outrages and flag
rant wrongs, and we have not been able TO OBJ
tain a guaranty against repetition of those
offences. As France and England are united with
Spain IN acting on the institutions of Cuba to in,
f1uence our own, the time has come when the
principle and the fact is such, that should abate
the nuisance How would you abate the nuisance
Do i in an open, manly, aud direct manner. He
would let Il be understood that the-wrongs OF in
dividuals should be regarded national wrongs.
He would not only make such a sentiment, but a
conviction IN The national heart
Mr.. lNGERSOLL resumed. He was happy
the gentleman had expressed the views he had