The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-03-03

think that the introduction into the Nebrasks
bill Of the provisions Of those acts in respec,
TO slavery would leave the question between
the Missouri prohibition and the same slave
holding claim entirely unaffected. / am of
very different opinion. But am dealing
now with the report OF the Senator from Illi-
nois, as chairman of the committee, and I
show, beyond all controversy, that that report
gave no countenance whatever 10 the doctrine
Of repeal by superssdure.
Well, sir, the bill reported by the commit
tee was printed in the Washington Sentinel
on Saturday, January 7. 1t contained twen-
ty-sections; no more, no less. It contained
no provisions in respect to slavery, except
those in the Utah and New Mexico bills. Il
left those provisions to speak for themselves.
This was in harmony with the report of the
committee. On the 10th of January-on
Tuesday-the act appeared again in the SEN
tinel; but it had grown longer during the in
tervsl. 1t appeared now with twenty-one
sections. There was statement in the pa
per that the twenty-frst section had been
omitted by clerical error.
But, sir, it is a singular fact that this tweu-
ty-irst section is entirely out of harmony
with the committees report. It undertakes
TO determine the effect of the provision in the
Utah and New Mexico. 1t declares, among
other things; that all questions pertaining to
slavery in the Territories, and in the new
States to be formed therefrom, are to be left
to the decision Of the people residing therein,
through their appropriate representatives.
This provision, in effect, repealed the Mis-
souri, prohibition, which the committee, in
their report, declared ought not to be done.
Is it possible, sir, that this was mere cleri-
cal error! May it not be that this twenty
hrst section was the fruit of some SUNDAY
YORK, betweei Saturday the 7th, and Tues.
day the 10th!
But, sir, the addition of this section, it
seems, did not help the bill. 1t did not, sup
pose, meet the appreciation of southern gen.
tlemen, who contend that they have a right
to take the slaves into the Territories, not
wthstanding any prohibition, either by Con-
gress or by Territorial Legislature. dare
say that it was found that the votes of these
gentlemen could not be had for the bill with
that clause in it. 1t was not enough that the
committee had abandoned their report, and
added this twenty-frst section, in direct con-
travention Of its reasonngs and principles.
The twentv-ftst section itself must be abat-
doned, and the repeal of the Missouri prohi-
bition placed in a shape which would not de-
ny the slave holding claim.
The Senator from Kentucky, [Mr. DrxoS,1
on the 10th January, submitted an amend
ment which came square up to repeal, and to
the claim. That amendment probably; pro-
duced some fiut;ering ard some consultation.
1t met the views Of southern Senator'S, and
probably determined the shape which the bill
has finally assumed. OF the various muta-
tions which it has undergone; can hardly
be mistaken in attributing the last to the
amendment OF the Senator from Kentucky.
That there is no effect without cause, is
among our earliest lessons in physical phi
losophy, and know of no cause which will
account for the remarkable changes which
the bill underwent after the 18th of January,
other than that amendment, and the determi-
nation of southern Senators to support it, and
to vote against any provision recognizing the
right of any Territorial Legislature to pro-
hibit the Introduction of slavery.
1t was just seven days, Mr.. President, after
the Senator from Kentucky had offered his
that fresh amendment was re-
ported from the Committee on Territories, in
the shape of new bill, enlarged to forty Sec
tions. This new bill cuts off from the pro-
posed Territory half degree of latitude on
the south, and divides the residue into two
Telritories-the southern Territory of Kan
sas, and the northern Territory of Nebraska.
1t applies to each and all the provisions of the
Utah and New Mexico bills; it rejects entire
ly the twenty-tirst clericsl-error section, and
abrogates the Missouri prohibition by the
very singular provision, which will read:
"The Constitution and all laws of the Uni
ted Statee which are not locally inapplicable,
shall have, the same force and effect within
the said Territory of Nebraska as elsewhere
within the United States, except the eighth
section of the act preparatory to the admis-
sion of Missouri into the Union, approved
March 6, 1890, which was superseded by the
principles of the legislation of 1850, common
ly called the compromise measures, and is
therefore declared inoperative."
DOUBTLESS, Mr.. President, this provision
operates a' repeal of the prohibition. The
'ochatoi H'm heHtuChy was rlSHt Wneu no
said it WIS in effect the equivalent of his
amendment Those who are willing to break
up and destroy the old compact of 1920, can
vote or this bill with full assurance that such
will be its effect. But appeal to them not
to vote for this supersedure clause. ask
them not to incorporate into the legislation
of the country a declaration which every one
knows to be wholly untrue! have said that
this doctrine of super rsedure 10 new. I have
now proved that It is plant of but ten days
growth, II was never seen OF heard Of until
the ssd day of January, 1854. It was upon
that day that this tree of Upas was planted:
we alresdy see its poison fruits.
The provision have quoted abrogates the
Missouri prohibition. 1t asserts no right in
the Territorial Legislature to prohibit slavery.
The Senator from Illinois, in his speech, was
very careful to assert no right Of legislation
in Territorial Legislature, except subject
to the restrictions and limitations of the Con-
stitution. We know well enough what tho
understanding or claim of southern gentlemen
is in respect to these limitations and rsstric-
tions. They insist that by them every Ter