Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-03
SPEECH OF Mr.. MILLSON,
OF VIRGINIA,
ON THE NEBRASKA UESTION

speak on this Nebraska BILL The subject seems to hay
caused much agitation in the North. The gentleman
from New York mr. CUTrISG) said that 1t had excited
Of civil instruction there not secure but to de
feat the passage Of the measure This would indeed b
strange if not accustomed to observe the mos
extraordinary mutations in politics Sir, there is moth
ing in this bill that ought to excite the approximations
the North IL may paraphrase the remark Of Mr. Fox
in his celebrated speech the Westminster scrutiny
woud say that il does not extend indulgence
admit that it grants bare justice to the South.
We have now before the Committee Of the Whole on th
state OF the Union two bills proposing organize govern
mcrts for our Northwestern terrtoryone reported by
my honorable friend from Illinois Mr. RCHARDsoH) anc
the other lately received from the Senate Sir of the
two, am for the bill reported by the gentleman from IL
lno lam not disposed into ecsaces even over that
but il is infinitely preferable to the other That bill viii
first be considered in the Committee of the Whole If in
deed we shall reach either OF them and there is
much reason to suppose that proposition will then be
made to amend it, by the insertion Of provision which
has been lately adopted by the Senate, and which
has become somewhat famous, under the name OF the
''Badger proviso." propose in the remarks which
design to submit to the Committee to discuss the effect
Of such alteration Of the b but before enter upon
that subject state the general relation Of the South
ern members to this whole question. ~...
This is not the first time the effort has been made TO
ganze Territorial Government for Nebraska II has been
attempted for series of years past commencing II the
year 1913. when bill first introduced by the Sena-
tor from Illinois, Mr.. DOUGLASS proposing 10 establish
Territorial Government for Nebraska What has been
in reference to these bills We OF the South
have stood in opposition to them and that IS our natural
normal position regard to them At the last Congress,
although did partc pate in the debate which then
took place. sxerted myself by remonstrance and yycte
to defeat the passage Of the BILL .@. s
Tie vote in the House of Representatives upon the Ne
braska bill then under consideration ninety in
the affirmative and forty-hree in the negative Of the
ninety-eiglt eighty were Northern members, and but
eighteen representatives OF the s!areAoding states
Only thirteen Northern gentlemen voted against the BILL
La the Senate the sectional division not less marked
Every Southern Senator present but the two Senators
from Missouri voted to lay upon the table the proposition
to take up the bill. What were the reasons that then
actuated Southern men They that the whole
sure was premature and that there not sufficient
population in the Territory to justify Territorial organi
cation. Ny friend from Tennessee MIR JoyEs opposed
the bill there not foot Of land there to which
the indian title was extngushed. Mr. Howard of Texas
insisted that the bill violated treaty spulations with
about eighteen Indian tribes and Mr. yenable of North
Carolina warmly and earnestly opposed because of the
injustice and oppression to which it would subject these
aboriginal inhabitants Of the country. My friend from
North Caroaa mir CLSGMAH objected to the great ex-
pense alleging that it would involve an expenditure Of
nearly 100000 o year
Mr.. CLINGMAN, (interrupting) viii the gentleman
from Virginia allow but word? moved an
amendment, which ! deemed necessary to protect the
rights Of the Indians and it being adopted then voted
for the bill.
Mr.. MILLsoN. Other gentlemen participated in the
debate and objected to the organization of that Terrific
rial Government upon the ground of want Of popula
ton there being only five six hundred persons there
and because indeed there not single person there
who was remaining in the country in violation OF law
The argument the other side was, that if the law pro-
hbitipg intercourse with the Indians should bs repealed
nd Territorial Government provided, there would be
liza short time very large population there Mr. VII
lar Hall, Of Missouri said that the why there
vase small apepulation that our laws would not
alowEhite to go there, and that white
man WIT into the country company of dragons would
run him Pass this BILL said he and in two or three
81
we must Pant government in the wilderness, and then
drive penhe take possession Of it, This is the spirit
OF the tns ssr at least Is the times are controlled
BY that n9nsideras portion If tie people who assume
a desianion that belongs to = bemisphere. Young
Amercraannot wait 1t is perpetually screaming Pro-
gress rogress " The of Nature is altogether
too SIS. Nature IS superannuated, a d-iveller-
tEMBER. An old fogy. #s .>,.a'..
\. MlLLS0N. Yes; old fogy All that is wise,
anprudent, and just and temperate and patriotic, and
rrpeetabls it calls tfogysm." Shallow, saucy, head
ropg fool-hardy it danger, and avoids none.
The disciple Of Young America would loose the avalanche
from its bed and leap to guide its down the
steep side of the mountain and the rocks against
which he would be hurled and which would throw back
his manged and feess body to the ground would echo
his wild shouts of triumph These advocates progress
would plunge into the swift current of Niagara and
their hands delighted while the rapids hurrying
them to their dreadful fate and when borne the
very brink of the torrent their song Of exutaon would
Iningle with the roar Of the cataract.
But had further objection to the establishment of
these Governments was unwilling to multiply the
Der Of freesoil and nonslavehodiug communities We
have already five organized Territories; and while am
ilberal and sectional to object to the introduce
ton of State into the Union because of the absence
Of the institution Of saveryfor declare in all sinceri
ty that would not allow myself to be influenced by such
unworthy reasons-yet sir, not willing to precpi
the formation of slaveholdng communities, and
force by hotbed process, their unnatural growth. We
in the South then unwilling establish this Terrific
ry Of Nebraska. All that then asked of us was to
form one Territorial Government, but called
upon to create tTo. Two States, Nebraska and Kansas
be carved out of the Territory which, only year
ago, we're reluctant to form into one.
And what, sir, are the inducements held out to
dsarm of further opposition to this measure? The
objections of Southern members to be removed by
preferred repeal Of the Missouri restriction That is the
inducement now addressed Southern gentlemen This
il is which is to make the dose paatabe to the South
do say that this consideration ought not to outweigh
objections especially have to believe
that cannot long prevent the organization of these
governments The question is only one of time.
But before determine the real value of the
consideration rendered. what will be the
advantages secured to by the passage of the bill
of my friend from Illinois, (Mr. RIcHARDsoS) Are we
TO make these two Territories slavehodng communities
No one expects it. No dreams that slavery will be
established there find, in the reports in the Globe Of
the Senate debate that Mr.. DOUGLAS said
Il do not believe there is man in Congress who thinks
it could be permanently slayeho!ding country have
idea that ii could" IT,.
Mr.. HUNTER said ,@... ...
"Does any believe that you win have slavehoding
tate Kansas and Nebraska, confess that for
/ permitted such illusion rest upon my mind"
Mr.. BADGER said
have no more idea of seeing slave population in either
them than have of seeing it n Massachusetts not
whit" '.'..... d. -.
a.