Washington sentinel., 1854-03-30
the aforementioned subject nominally, Mr.. HAM
ILToN in the chair.
NEBRAsKA-KANsAs BILL.


ILToN in the chair.
NEBRAsKA-KANsAs BILL.
Mr.. BARKSDALE said he proposed to devote
the brief period of time TO which he was entitled
under the rules Of the House, TO an investigation
of the bill 10 organize the territorial governments
of Nebraska and Kansas, and answer portion,
al least, of the objections which he had heard
urged against its passage, and IT might be proper
for him to remark, at the commencement OF what
he intended 10 say, that in this connexion il was
not his purpose 10 enter into discussion Of the
abstract question of slavery. So far as the argu-
ment he designed making was concerned, il was
not necessary that he should do So 1t was suffi-
cient for him TO say, that, whatever in his opin-
ion might be its benefits and blessings to the mas
ter and the slave, not only in the southern States
where II exists, but in the non-slaveholding States
which both manufacture and consume the pro-
ducts OF slave labor, he rested its defence, in this
discussion, on the Constitution of the United
States, where il was placed by the patriots and
sages who called forth this government and
moulded our institutions Shielded by that instru-
ment, the south might safely bid defiance TO those
whose business il is TO assail slavery, and whose
political existence depends the agitation Of the
subject. Neither did he design discussing the
general provisions of the bill. They were similar
in detail to all bills organizing territorial govern
ments, which have been from time TO time passed
by Congress; and he thought there would be but
little, any opposition TO it-certainly, none on
principle.
The first objection he had urged was that the
introduction Of this bill was premature that it was
an anomaly in legislation, there not being white
population in those territories sufficient TO demand
it. This objection, however honestly entertained
or plausible, will not stand the test of fact and
10 and doubted the propriety of the policy gener-
ally of introducing such a bill, il was now here
without any agency ofthe House, and now that it
was here il was the solemn duty of gentlemen TO
examine it dispassionately and discuss il frankly,
fully, and freely, and act on il with an eye single
TO the bests interests Of the country.
He proceeded 10 show, in answer TO arguments
Of several gentlemen, that not only are there many
white people now in those territories, but that
persons are continually emigrating thither; that
the bill contains full and ample provision for the
protection of the Indians in those territories; and
that il was not true, as had been so repeatedly as
serted, that the Missouri compromise so called
was a compact made between the north and the
south, forever to be observed invioably. The
south acquiesced in it, but never endorsedthe COM
promise. II was the last resort 10 preserve the
Union, but its justice was never acknowledged
by the south.
He discussed these points until the expiration
Of the hour to which he was limited in debate.
Mr.. NORTON said the Nebraska and Kansas
measure, which had been thrust upon the House,
proposes "a fundamental change in the policy of
the country heretofore observed, and involves in
its consequences the distant future The BILL he
insisted, was mass Of verbiage and rubbish.
He devoted his remarks more especiallyto that
clause which declares that the act known as the
Missouri compromise is inconsistent with the
compromise measures Of 1850, and contended that
there was not single line, feature, proposition
in those measures which affects in any degree
the Louisiana Territory, SO far as Nebraska and
Kansas concerned. He said that non-inter-
yenton was the letting of things alone not inter-.
fering with them, and he undertook 10 assert that
the doctrine of non-interventon was not estab-
lished by those measures, nor by the Nebraska
bill itself
Mr. N. having exhausted his hour,
Mr.. KEITT obtained the floor, when the COM
mittee rose,
And the House adjourned