Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-09
CONGRESS-.


Mr. Seward presented several tables of postal
and commercial statistics having reference to
the importance Of establishing line Of mail
steamers between Brooklyn IN. w and seye-
raj ports in continental Europe.
Mr.. Bayard presented petitions from Della
ware. against the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise.
On motion Of Mr.. Foot the Senate proceed
ed TO the consideration Of the bill granting
land to the several States of the Union, for
the support and maintenance Of the INDECENT
insane
Mr. Petit moved an amendment, that the
grant OF land should be confined to those States
in which the public lands now lie.
The bill was then postponed to- and made
the special order for, Monday week
On motion Of Mr.. Hamlin, the Senate pro-
decided to the consideration of the French sp0-
liation bill, and, after being amended in some
verbal particulars, was ordered to be engrossed
for third reading.
On the passage Of the bill,
Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, opposed it, and Messrs.
Pratt, Hamlin, and Petit, supported it,
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera
ton Of the Nebraska bill.
Mr. Smith said that his departure from the
usual course marked out by himself Of refrain
ing from debate, was 0ccasioned by his sense
of tho magnitude of the evils to result from the
passage Of this bill.
During the fifteen years he had been in Con-
,gress, no man had participated less than he
in the agitation Of sectional questions, which
had disturbed the national councils and the
quiet Of the country
On all these controversies he had voted in
accordance with the preponderating sentiment
of the people Of the North. He was not q
Northern man with Southern principles, and
he had no confidence in any man who was
He had overrnling objections to the bill, inde-
pendent Of the slavery provision and the lat
ter ought to be excluded from tho bill by q
unanimous vote.
II was an unwise and inexpedient policy to
organize two additional Territories, when there
were FIVE on hand at this time. No reason
provision might be carried through
One half Of the new States were now public
land, and the larger portion Of that sold was
held by spectators. There was room for emf
grafton in Minnesota Washington, and Ore
gon. Utah and New Mexico he would not
mention, because he did not believe q sensible
wolf would 60 and settle there Utah was one
of five bleeding wounds said to have been healed
by the acts Of 1850, and the healing of the
wound had resulted in the domination Of Brig.
ham Young and his holy wives. There was
but little difference between polygamy and
African servitude
He would undertake to show that, in the de.
sire 10 smash up tho Missouri Compromise
other things would also be smashed up. Il was
said that there should be transit provided for
men and things to the Pacific. A railroad was
the only proper means for q transit and if
they would give q railroad to the Pacific, North
or South--even down in Texas, if they Chose
he thought he would try another compromise,
and give this Territory.
He exhibited tables of the immense expense
incurred already in the establishment Of Terri
tories which would be greatly enhanced by
this bill. The appropriations contained in this
bill had been stricken out for what purpose he
knew not, except that it was preparation for
the gag on this bill in the other House.
The bill provided that all inhabitants of the
Territory should be qualified voters, and eligi-
bic to Office He denied that legally speaking,
there were any inhabitants in Nebraska or Kan
zas. The acts of Congress expressly prohibit
cd any persons inhabiting the Indian country,
or even going there, except as licensed traders.
He read from some remarks made by Mr..
Hall, in the House ut the last session, who said
cause if they went into the country, they were
hunted out by Government Dragons
He said the Senator from Illinois was the
most prolific man in the way Of getting Terri
tories he ever knew. Every year the Senate
was called on to witness the parturition Of one
and sometimes two, and that at time when
there was whole litter already on hand. The
country was not laid Of, and he pointed out
the difficulties Of dividing it into districts, &c.,
for political purposes.
He referred at length to the treaty obliga-
tons towards the Indians, who had been put
into the country with the solemn assurance
that it was to be permanent home, under
which assurance they had abandoned the
homes Of their fathers the graves Of their wives
and children
House Of Representatives, FEB. 9, 1884.
The Speaker laid before the House COM
munioation from the War Department, enclo-
sing plans and estimates for removing obstruc-
tons at Colberts Shoals, in the Tennessee
river; which, on motion Of Mr.. Houston, were
laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Franklin presented certain resolutions
Of the Maryland Legislature, in reference to
the monopoly in gusno which were referred
TO the Committee on Agriculture, and ordered
to be printed
The Deficiency bill, yesterday reported from
the Committee Of the Whole, was taken mp,
and read-the question being on concurring in
the several amendments recommended by the
Committee.
On that proposing to appropriate 100000
to build O custom-house at Cincinnati, the ayes
and noes were called, and the result was--ayes
81, noes 81.
On the appropriation Of $4,000 for the like
purpose at Louisville--ayes 81, noes II.
On the appropriation Of $50, 900 to complete
the custom-house at Bath, Maine, the ayes
were So, noes "a.
The motion TO appropriate $4,000 to com.
plete the custom-h house at Bangor, Maine, was
agreed to--ayes. and noes not taken.
For the completion Of the custom-house at
St. Louis, Si00,000-ayes "a, noes "a.
For the completion Of the custom-house at
II a A