Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-04


bers Of the Council, and Judges, was voted
down, only ten Senator'S recording their names
for it, The entire Southern vote was against
it; and the following Northern men, the ma
jority Of them full of anoble sentiments" about
the right Of self government, also voted against
-Brodhead Of Pennsylvania, Dodge Of Wis
cousin, Dodge and Jones Of Iowa, Douglas OF
illinois, Gwin Of California, Petit OF Indiana,
Stuart Of Michigan, Williams Of New Hamp-
shire.
The only concession made TO the PRINCIPLE
of self-government was an amendments moved
by Douglas, substituting a qualified for an ao-
solute Gubernatorial veto and striking out the
clause subjecting the Legislation OF the Terri
tory to the revision of Congress. This conces-
sion, however, is scarcely moro than nominal.
1t still remains true, that this Congressional
Bill proposes to ordain the principles, the form
and details of Constitution of Government
for the People Of Territory; to determine
who shall vote, who shall be eligible to Office,
what Offices there shall be, what shall be the
term Of Office; to vest the appointment OF the
Governor, the Secretary, and the Judges, 10 the
President Of the United States; and to secure
to this Governor veto power, not to be over
come except by two-thirds Of each branch OF
the Legislature land all this it does, without
pretending to consult the will or opinions OF
the People thus legislated for,--the supporters
Of the Bill all the while affecting profound in
dgnation against the opponents Of the Bill, as
enemies to the great American, Democratic
doctrine, of selfgovcrnment
The next amendment Of Mr.. Chase was, to
substitute one Territory, for the two proposed
by the Bill The effect ifnot the intent Of the
policy of two Territories, is, to double the
amount of Executive patronage, thus increas-
ing the chances Of the passage Of the Bill and
to secure to Slavery immediate practical bene-
fits in at least one of the Territories or course,
the amendment was voted down, as follows:
For tie amendment essrs. Chase, Fessen-
den, Foot, Hamlin Seward, Smith, Sumner,
and Wade-B.
against it--Messrs. Adams, Atchison, Bad
ger, Bell, Benjamin, Brodhead, Brown, Butler,
Clay, Dawson, Dixon, Dodge of Wisconsin,
Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Evans Fitzpatrick,
Gwin, Houston, Hunter, johnson, Jones. of
Iowa, Jones Of Tennessee, Mason, Morton, Nor.
ris, Petit, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Shields, Sill
dell, Stuart Walker, and Williams-34.
The two Senators from Wisconsin, who voted
on the question Of engrossment with the real
opponents of the Bill, in accordance with the
known will of their State, voted in this case, as
in several others, with tho supporters of it.
The argument that the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise would revive the old Slave
Code of Louisiana in the Territory, has been
used in New Hampshire and other quarters
with some effect We have never attached
much Importance to it. IL rather diverted at
tention from the real issue involved in the re-
peal Of the COMPREHENSIVE claim of the
Shareholders, in virtue Of the Constitution, to
carry their slaves into the Territory, Upon
the Constitution, not the old Slave Code of
Louisiana, do they rest the claim to people Ne
braska with slaves. The truth is, we suppose
they concurred with Mr. Douglas in his opin-
ion on this point. expressed in his speech Of the
both January.
Speaking of the condition of Nebraska at
the time of the admission Of Missouri, he said:
aSlavsry did not exist in, nor was il ex-
cludcd from, the country now known as Ne
braska. There was no code Of lays upon the
subject Of Slavery either way: first, for the
reason that Slavery had never been introduced
into Louisiana, and established by positive en-
actment; it had grown up there by sort OF
common Law, and had been supported and pro-
tected When common law grows up. when an
institution becomes established under a usage,
il carries it 50 far as that usage goes, and no
further
Remembering all this, the introduction Of
the following amendment by Mr.. Badger, and
its passage by Southern votes, aided by North
ern supporters Of the Bill, will awaken no sur
prise
nPropided, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed 70 revive or put in force any
law or regulation which may have existed
prior 10 the act Of the 9th Of March, 1890,
either protecting, establishing, prohibiting, or
abolishing Slavery"
In conceding this, reasoned the Southern
Senators among themselves, 1--WE concede moth.
ng--for the old slave code extended only 80
Tar as the usage OF Slavery went and that
never reached Nebraska. But owing to the
prejudice created against the Bill at the North,
by the apprehended revival Of this imaginary
code, this amendment will be received as
great concession, and produce reaction high
ly favorable to the measure In fact, il may
secure the election in New Hampshire"
General Cass was not slow in illustrating
the use that is to be made of He was pen
etrated with gratitude to Mr.. Badger for in
Producing such an amendment.
al wisb' said he in tho Senate yesterday,
TO express my qualification at the adoption Of
the amendment proposed by the honorable
Senator from North Carolina, Mr.. Badger,
and my thanks to him.for It Although it is
an act Of justice which believe almost every
Senator from the South who had touched upon
the subject agreed TO, u is no less an act of
oonciliafiop which will be very acceptable TO