Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-24

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said in the beginning that had speech to make
on this subject, and have but cannot reconcile
IL to my sense Of right to vote for proposition which
gives to aforegner, care not who he may be under
what circumstances he may to Shores the right
to in these Territories and then deny the same right
to any American citizen who may happen to be in the
Territory in the service Of the country soldier off,
Ger in the army. will not, cannot do that do not
say that the amendment fails shall vote against the
bill Ever since came into Congress have been the
firm and steadfast opponent Of this Missouri restriction
Nay, sir, since raised my voice politician, from
my earliest service public man. have warred against
the great and monstrous outrage upon the
Constitution Of the United States and upon the rights
and honor of the Southern people. | am prepared to
make many and very great sacrifices to get clear Of this
odious restriction, 10 vote for many things OF which
cannot approve by way Of getting clear of it but
here asked to retain this alien provision and the vote
is to be taken this proposition separately and dis
tincty 1t stands by itself and is to be valid the
exclusion Of every thing else. Now, votes to
stand IN all after time indication OF our sentiments
OF this particular section of the bin, separately and dis
tncty Is it right in itself and by itself? That is the
questions and honorable Senators will at that
Is a very important question.
know very well that frequently bill like this,
ing as this does thirty pages of printed matter,
and making in of daily newspapers seven
or eight columns may pass without every member being
able TO scrutinze and examine every provision in 1T but
when matter of this sort is brought up in bold relief
before you with clear and distinct proposition to strike
out particular section and the mind of every Senator
drawn distinctly to the language of it, it must be
great powerful, overruling influence which would justify
any Senator in refusing to give his vote to strike it
IT, in his heart, he thinks it wrong. have such
influence apprehend that, if the bill goes back to the
House OF Representatives they will either agree dis
agree to our amendment If they disagree to it,
mtee Of conference is the necessary consequence and
it, in the end, yield sooner than lose the BILL
that will be another proposition. Without single
Der OF the House being committed this question any
shape or FORM SO far as the voting shows am to be told
that must swallow this bitter pill gulp it down and
against it, for fear of endangerng the
of the bill feel none Of that of apprehension for
you have the balance of this year before you the Senate
There is no press of time The session is going to
close in two three days. and thus cut off in the midst
Of our deliberations on this or other questions have
heard no reason assigned yet why this bill may
well pass with this provision stricken out with it in
All these things whispered around the chamber which we
hear outside Of the debate will be lost to poserty and
nothing will remain of this transaction but the which
we put upon the record Iput my vote there. want
to be vote stand by morrow next year and the
year after, and which my children can stand by when
shall be in my grave
1t is said the bill will certainly be lost if it goes back
to the House do not believe it. There is not one par
tcle OF evidence to sustain it, Its friends in
Jorlty there; and if they the bill ought
pass If the bill ten thousand times better than
IS would not have it become law against the VIII of
majority.
shall, for the reasons stated and without OBTAINING
the Senate longer vote for the amendment but with no
purpose to destroy the BILL have given as much evil
dence as most Senator's that am its friend Things
i
have never denied, every knows, that the proviso
moved by the Senator from North Carolina r BApGrR
was distastefu to The amendment proposed by the
author of the bill not exactly to my notion took
1t all, however, and went for the bill. But when am
asked by separate and distinct VOTE to sanction the
kind of legislation embodied in this particular section
now proposed to be stricken out have stronger
reasons than any have yet heard will refuse to do
it. To vote for this section by itself is thing
for along with the repeal of the Missouri restriction is
another and very different thing
Mr.. BENJAMIN. The amendment now before the Sc
nate, offered by the Senator from Maryland commends
itself to my deliberate judgment voted for it before
snail vote against 1t now Having this intention and
feeling the necessity of making explanation of the
apparent inconsistency of my votes desire say but
very few words to the Senate.
Senators will bear witness that when this bill was
first brought before the Senate remained very atten
tive listener to the debates took part in the discus
sion myself If had entertained desire to do so the
signal ability with which the bill discussed the deep
historical research evnced by those who spoke both for
and against it, and the massive force of argument by
which sound constitutional principles were indicated by
the advocates Of the bill on this floor such would
have made me shrink from entering into such an arena
with my feeble lance. But, sir my silence has been mis-
construed in certain quarters and although have not
even the poor excuse Of necessity for defining position
to induce to speak at this moment nasmuch MS upon
the measure which is involved in the bill feel certain
that my will be the true exponent of the sentiments
OF my constituency almost to man, yet as have the
misfortune to differ in that vote from the only delegate
from my State in the other branch of Congress who be-
longs to the political party to which have always ad
hered with unfaering consancy feel it due to myself
and the people of State to declare here the grounds
very briefly upon which my vote will be given both upon
the bill and upon the amendment
Mr. President what is the present position of the aues
ton before the Senate We are all wandering from it.
it to except the Senator who has Just address
ed the Senate (Mr BRowN) bill for the organization
Of these Territories passed the Senate and went to the
House. 1t went there with an amendment, which has
been called the Clayton amendment and which restricted
the right of suffrage to persons who citizens of the
United States well residents of the Territories
That BILL sir has not been acted upon by the House. The
bill now before US comes here original bill from the
House, and SUCH if amended by u.s. goes back to that
body and is subject to its entire control The PROPOSE
ton pending is to engraft upon that bill the same
amendment which before placed upon by the Sc
nate after full discussion The objection made to that is
inform u.s. and believe truly that if it goes back to the
other branch with an amendment it will never pass
neither with this amendment with any other And
why will it not pass?
1t will not pass because members Of the other branch
are fagued with the discussion which the bill has ex
cited 1t will not pass because already very large por
ton of the session. which ought to have been devoted to
other legislative measures has been consumed with it. It
will not pass because fresh discussions will arise fresh
exciting scenes will be provoked and in order avoid
them gentlemen who have voted for the bill will
join with its opponents in laying it on the table Such
understand from quarters which believe to be well in
formed upon the subject and to whose representations
attach implicit belief the state Of feeling in the other
House.
state these facts because the Senator from North
Carolina yesterday and the Senator from Mississippi
moment ago. declared that there is evidence before the
Senate to show that bill be passed in the other
H. Ar,tL - lx.z.A l.1