Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-14
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.

amidst free institutions, must be intdelgtO God
and inhdel 10 Liberty, who will pollute his own
soul BY participating in the gntproposed by this
bill
repeat, that Slavery is now prohibited in Ne
braska, and if il be extended into that Territory
il must be by aid OF Northern votes, given by men
who interrene for the purpose OF repeating the pro-
hbitionNoi 1920. No subtle logic, no vague pre-
fences, can excuse members from this response
bity The record of our votes will go down to
those who succeed us our children will read il
with pride or with shame. know not how other
gentlemen may feel, but for myself, say frankly,
that not all the treasure which in all time has
found its way into yonder Treasury, not all The
honors, not all the influence which has ever cus-
tered around the occupants of the Presiden-
tia chair, would tempt me to call up the blush
of shame which vote for this bill would bring
upon the cheeks of those who shall bear my name
in coming time.
Yet sir, we are told that the President has
warmly espoused the policy of extending Slavery
into Nebraska. The Senate, by large majority,
have passed the bill before us. All the Southern
members of this body, aided by Northern services,
are in favor Of IL. said all the Southern mem
bers are in favor of it. ] was in error. There
are few honorable exceptions--men Who in my
humble judgment, possess the foresight and judg-
ment of statesmen. They appear to foresee the
evils which the passage of this bill will bring upon
the Territory. They appear to regard pghted
faith; and they far uphold Southern honor
from the charge Of proving universally recreant
to obligations which their predecessors assumed
before the world
These few Southern gentlemen, by their con-
siderate course, have done much TO retard the
progress OF Northern Indignation, which is now
rising against the perpetrators Of this intended
infamy.
But, Mr. Chairman, as if ehrontery had no
limits, we gravely told that it is unconstitu-
honat thus 10 exclude Slavery from tbs Territory!
|, sir shall not occupy the time Of this House to
yindicate Monroe and Calhoun, and Adams, and
Writ, and Clay and all the venerable statesmen
who approved this measure, from the charge of
stupidity and ignorance now brought against
them by ephemeral politicians
From the earliest history of our race, man has
ever been grasping for power. Those who have
been physically and Intellectually strong, have
oppressed the weak, and mankind early found it
necessary to form Governments for the security
of individuals. When they separated from the
mother country our fathers stated the causes
which led to their separation. That declaration
was the most gigantic falsehood ever proclaimed
by civilized men, unless this Government was
based upon the doctrine the principles, the es-
sental elements of civil and religious freedom to
!" all under ats erclasiDe jurisdiction" If such
were not the fact our Revolution itself was the
greatest fraud upon the Christian world that
nation ever palmed off upon mankind and our
Constitution declaring, in its preamble. that it
was adopted 'sto establish justice and secure the
blessings Of liberty is the sheerest fabrication ever
promulgated by honorable men. Sir, to argue
the of the conservation of this
Territory to Freedom is an imputation upon the
intelligence of the founders of our Republic, as
well as upon the intelligence of the people. The
trainers OF the Ordinance of 1887 had no scruples
on this subject. They recognised the duty of
Governments to protect the liberties of the people
The preamble TO that Ordinance says:
"And for extending The fundamental principles of
cim and religious liberty which form the basis
achereon these Republics their lars and constitutions
are erected 10 fr and establish these principles as
The basis Of all lars, constitutions and gopenments
ichich forever hereafter shall be formed IA the SAID
TERRITORY" &c, " II is hereby ordained &C.
These doctrines are now denied. Slavery is
declared by statesmen of this day to consti-
tute the basis on which all laws, constitutions,
and governments, which hereafter shall be formed
in Nebraska ought TO rest"
But sir, this is a new discovery. At the last
session of Congress, a bill to organize Govern
ment in this Territory was reported from the
Committee Territories. When it came up for
discussion, an honorable member from Pennsyl-
vana [JoHN w. HowEl called on me, as men,
Der of that committee, to state why special
proviso had not been inserted in the BILL exclu-
ding Slavery. In reply, read the eighth section
of the act of 1920, and stated that that law ex-
cuded Slavery from the Territory in question,
and that its re-enactmcnt would give it no great
er validity than it then possessed. This sir, was
done openly, publicly, before the House. No one
denied my doctrines, none doubted my correct
ness. All admitted the accuracy of my state
ment by their silent acqnescence and the bill
passed this body, think, by majority of more
than two-thirds. But now they have suddenly |
become jealous TO preserve the Constitution, by |
repeating this law Of 1920. What new light has |
fallen upon them2 What new views of constitu-
tional law have they received Where were those
views obtained2 Sir, regard this pretence a
sheer deception, an attempt to deceive the peo-
Pile who will so regard it.
We are also told that the consummation Of
this outrage pH quiet agitation and settle tie siaUe
question foreper Gentlemen admit that its intro |
duction has caused deeper and more intense |
feeling in the free States than has ever before |
been manifested; yet, they urge that its CONSUME
nation will satisfy the popular mind. Now, sir,
cannot, and will not argue this point with gen.
tlemen who entertain such contempt of the pop |
ular intelligence. For twenty years, this House |
has endeavored to silence agitation among the
people by legislation for slavery.
When they sent us their respectful petitions
we threw them back in their faces, and closed
our doors against that constitutional right OF the
people. We next struck down the freedom of
debate and as the people became more and more
aroused to the assertion and agitation of their
rights, we adopted gag-rules, arraigned members
like feons at the bar of the House. for daring to
assert our constitutional obligations. As the
people still moved in favor Of liberty, we legisla
ted more intensely for Slavery, in order TO silence
agitation. In 1850 we passed the most corrupt
laws which ever disgraced free Government, to
silence agitation | refer particularly to the ten
million Texas bill, when bribery stalked unre-
buked in this Hall, and bank books are said to
have shown the price of votes in this body and
in. the other end OF the Capitol refer TO the
Fugitive Slave Law, also, under which much
blood has been she'd. Yet sir, agitation in
creased and your Baltimore platforms were
adopted, and both OF the great political parties
pledged themselves soemnly :" to resist and dep
recate all agitation OF the slave question, here
and elsewhere, in Congress and out of it," Yet,
The nrnnle became more and more enoaped for