The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02

NUION, IL. ", MAN
Tor SIX years from the 4th of March, 1853. MIR.
Fessenden appeared and was sworn.
Mr. Seward presented the proceedings of
public meeting held in the city of New York,
ana like meeting held in Rochester, New
fors, protesting against the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise.
Also, petitions of a like character from On
ssr,o, Niagara, and Orange counties, N Y.
Mr. Chase presented similar petitions from
ciszens OF various counties in Illinois and Ohio.
MI! Foot presented like petition from the
State OF Vermont.
Mr.; Brcdhead presented numerous petitions
from Pennsylvania of like character.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
OF the bill to establish Territorial Govern.
ment for Nebraska.
DIR. Tcombs said he came to the considera-
ton of this question with heart full of graft
tade, that, after a conflict of ycars, this great
inquiry was about to be settled, not by tenn
porary expedient, but on the broad principles
of the Constitution and right. There had been
marked difference in the course of argument
pursued by the friends and the opponents of
this bill. The Free-Soilers, who live, and move,
and have their being in excitement and agita-
ton, had revived their old speeches against the
COmprcmise. The Senator from Massachu-
sets not only malgned the people of the
South, but also those of his own section.
The Senator styled all those who did not
agree with him as white slaves. 1t was libel
upon the North to assert they were opposed to
the principle of this bill Recent events had
shown there were men who, when CALLED upon
to associate politically with Free Sellers and
hnt, ~nf,o - ID -,
Office as the price of the bargain. One hun
dred thousand voters of New York had declared
the same
The question of this day was the old one OF
the right, power, and expediency of Congress
to interfere with the people Of the Territories
in the regulation Of their own domestic con-
Germs Who were they who spoke now of
honor, obligation, and compact! They were
those men whom no oaths can bind, no honor
govern, no obligation prevent them in the exc
cution of their fell purpose.
The Senator from New York, when Governor
OF that State, and sworn to execute the Consti-
tuition of the United States and of his own
State, refused TO surrender fugitive from JUS
tice, on the ground that slave was not the
subject of a felonious asportaEOn. And yet
they speak of conpacts Some of them knew
little of compacts-pure coalitions by means
of which they have succeeded in the only man
ner possible, in getting seats in the Senate.
The fact of such men speaking so boldly upon
honor, and faith and inviolability, disclosed
that they were insensble to shame. He said
he would consider this question in four aspects
1. That this bill was just constitutional, and
wise, and ought to be adopted.
2. That its principle has received the acqui
escenoe of nineteen-twentleths of public senti-
ment of the United States.
8. A reply to objections urged against this
bill.
4. A reply to the objection that this bill was
departure from the ancient policy of the Uni
ted States, against the extension of Slavery.
He proceeded at length to elucidate and en-
force these points, denouncing in no measured
terms of reprobaton all those who had oppos-
ed this bill on the ground that it was the ex-
tension of Slavery.
Mr. Gwin asked the Senate to take up the
bill to authorize the construction of six steam
frigates, and for other purposes; which was
agreed to and the bill was read third time,
and passed
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of Executive business and after q brief
period spent therein, the Senate adjourned
House of Representatives., Feb %, 1854
Mr. Wheeler of New York, asked leave to
present, and have read and referred, com
munication from the President of meeting of
mechanics and others, in the city of New York,
on. Saturday evening, February Is, 1854, in
opposition to the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise; but Mr.. Clingman, and MIR. Taylor
of Ohio, objected, and leave was refused.
MIR. Warren, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported back, with amendments, bill
granting lands to the State of Arkansas, for
the purpose Of making railroad; which was
laid on the table, and ordered to be printed
MIR. Disney, from the same committee, re-
ported back bill, with an amendment grant
ing lands to the State of Wisconsin, for the
purpose of constructing a railroad and branch
road in said State.
Mr. Letcher said there were two hundred or
three hundred of such bills before Congress,
and he thought they should all be referred and
considered together.
Mr.. Disney replied, but was not audible to
the reporter.
Mr. Letcher said the Committee on Public
Lands had begun this work by recommending
the granting two or three million acres. He
wished to get all the bills together to see if wo
had enough land to meet all the recommends
tons Of the committee.
Mr. Jones' Of Tennessee, thought bills re-
ported here from the committees should 90 to
the Committee Of the Whole, especially bills OF
this character, involving, as it does, an impor-
tant interest He discussed at length the gen.
eral principle of granting the public lands,
and reviewed the principal features OF the bill,
especially that relating to the transportation
of the mails This he thought should be done
forever without other recompense than the
present proposed bounty.
Whom MIR. Jones had concluded, at fifteen
minutes before two o'clock,
Mr. Dean moved that the House should go
into Committee of the Whole; which motion
did not prevail
Mr. SHELTON then arose, and addressed the
House in opposition to appropriations OF this
kind He did not see the difference perceived
by others, between giving lands and giving
money. The nature of the transaction was the
same, end he did not assent to the constitution
atty of the measure. He would indeed rather
give money than lands, believing that the pub
lie domain was a precious trust IN the hands
of the Government.
Mr.. Disney said he desired nothing but fair
and open discussion.
At 20 minutes past o'clock the debate was
interrupted by a motion to 60 into Committee
of the Whole when our report closed.
Senate, Friday, FEB, "a, 1854.
Mr.. Everett presented the resolutions of the
Legislature of the State Of Massachusetts, re-
monstrating against the passage of any meas
ure repealing the Missouri Compromise, and
opening Nebraska to Slavery. Read, and or
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