Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-01-28
consider the resolution submitted by him on the goth


December last:
Resolre That the following rule be adopted the regula
ton of the proceedings the Senate and that's much Of the
SSth and seth rules be inconsistent with the rules
hereby established be rescnded:
All sessions and all proceedings Of the Senate shall be pub
lie and open, except when matters communicated in conf
dence by the President shall be received and in such other
the Senate by resolution from time to time pe-
cialy order.
Mr.. MASON moved to lay the resolution the table
Mr.. CHASE demanded the yeas and nays; and the re-
solution laid the table by the following vote:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Badger, Bell Butler, Glass; Cooper,
Dawson, Dixon Evans, Everett, Fish, Fitzpatrick, Foot
Johnson Jones of Tennessee, Mason, Sebastian Shields,
Smith, Stuart Thomson of New Jersey, Toombs and Tou-
NAYs-Messrs Chase Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of To-
wa, Douglas, Gwn, Hanlin, Norris Petit, Sdell, sumner,
Wade, Walker, Weller and Wliams--l4.
On motion by Mr.. JONES, of Iowa, the Senate pro-
ceeded consider the bill for the relief of Pamela Brown
widow Of Major Gen. Jacob Brown.
Mr.. CASs passed handsome eulogum upon the merits
of this distinguished General and in favor Of the BILL and
it was read third time and passed.
This bill gives Mrs Brown halfpay during her lfe..
The engrossed bill granting FIVE years haf-pay to the
widow Of Capt John ~ Gunnson was read third time
and passed
NEBRASKA TERRITORY.
Mr. DOUGLAS moved to take up the bill to organize
the Territory of Nebraska which after brief
in which Messrs. DOUGLAS, CHASE, JONES Of Ten
nessee, Glass; DIXON and others participated made
the special order of the day for Monday next.
due to the Senate that they should have opportun
ty of understanding precisely the bearings and the effect
of the amendment which has been recently Incorporated
into the BILL originally reported by the committee
that portion of the amendment which audes to sla
very within the Territories proposed to be organized Ne
braska and Kansas So far am individually concerned
perfectly satisfied with the amendment reported by
tke Senator Illinois, and which has been ncorporat
ed into the BILL if understand it, 1t reaches point
which anxious to attanthat is to say, it vr-
tuay repeats the act of 1920 commonly called the Mis-
souri, compromise act declaring that slavery should not
exist north Of the line of go 30/ north latitude.
There take occasion remark, merely with view of
placing myself right before the Senate, that think my
position in relation to this matter has been somewhat
misunderstood .,."E .* ...H&
have been charged through one Of the leading jour
mails Of this city with having proposed the amendment
which notified the Senate intended to offer with view
to embarrass the Democratic party 1t said that
Wing from Kentucky, and that the amendment pro
posed by should be looked upon with suspicion by the
opposite party. Sir, merely wish to remark that upon
the question of slavery know no Whiggery and know
no Democracy l am pro-sayery | am from n
slaveholdng State represent slavehoding consti-
tuency and am here to maintain the rights Of that peo-
pie whenever they presented before the Senate.
The amendment which notified the Senate that
should offer at the proper time has been incorporated by
the Senator from Illinois into the bill which he has
ported to the Senate The BILL as now amended, meets
my views and have objection to it. / SHALL at the
proper time far able to do SO, aid and assist
the Senator from Illinois, and others who anxious to
may be able bring bear upon it. think it due to
myself to make this expla laton because do not wish
to be understood that upon question like this have
could have, any motive except that which should in
fuence anxious to what he believes to be
great prncipe-that is, Congressional nonntererence
in all the Territories, far this great question of sa-
very is concerned. ..." ...H...."
never did believe in the propriety of passing the Mis-
souri, compromise. thought it the result of neces
sity never thought that the great Senator from Ken
lucky Mr. Clay, when he advocated that measure did
because his judgment approved it, but because it was
the result of combination of circumstances which drove
him to the position he assumed and have thought
that that received the sanction of his heart
his head.
The amendment, then which gave notice that would
propose and which intended have proposed if it had
not been rendered wholly unnecessary by the amend
ment reported by the Senator from Illinois from the Coz.
mtee Territories Of which he is the honored chair
man. intended to offer under the firm conviction that
carrying out the principles settled in the compro-
mise 1850 and which leave the whole question of
slavery with the people, and without any Congressional
interference for the subject OF slavery either in
the States Territories Of the United States, never
have believed and have always tended that Congress
had power whatever and that consequently the act
of 1920, commonly known the Missouri compromise
act is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and at the proper time shall
endeayor to satisfy Senate and the country OF the truth
Of these propositions. ... A.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. AS this discussion has begun feel
it to be my duty to say word in explanation am glad
to hear the Senator from Kentucky say that the BILL
it stands accompshes all that he desired to
psh by his amendment, because his amendment seemed
10 myself and to with whom have consulted, to
mean more than what he explains 1t to mean, and
what am glad he did not intend it should mean.
We supposed that it not only wiped out the legislation
which Congress had heretofore adopted excluding slave
Try, but that it armatively egslaed slavery into the
Territory The object of the committee neither to
legisate slavery in out of the Territories neither to
introduce exclude it but whatever obsta
Giles Congress had put there and apply the doctrine Of
Congressional nonnterventon in accordance with the
principles of the compromise of $780, and allow
the people to do they pleased upon this well as all
other matters affecting their interests.
The explanation Of the honorable Senator from Ken
lucky shows that his meaning was what many sup
posed to be who judged simply from the phraseoogy of
the amendment deem this explanation due to the Sc
nator and to myself
Mr. DIXON. / am obliged to the Senator from Illinois
for placing right that point Surely the phrase
oogy of the amendment which proposed by me would
authorize any such construction that which seems
to have been given it-that it would legisate slavery
within the limits of the Territory proposed be
ganzed Now, sir the language Of that amendment is,
that the law itself shall not be construed to prevent
persons from taking their slaves within that Territory
but that they shall have the right to do if the
law had never been passed What is the effect of that
1t only places them in the position that they would have
occupied the law had been passed 1t does not
them any right at all by legislative enactment
here, but merely obstacle which legislative
enactment here had thrown in the way of the Shareholder
in taking bis property within the proposed limits If it
construed otherwise, it could have been my
intention the principle which is suggested for
will here take leave remark that have aways believed
and maintained as sound proposition, and expect to
maintain in the discussion in this that the power Of
Congress did all the subject of slavery
either within without the limits of the Territories