Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-04
WASHINGTON, ID. G..
THE FINAL PROCEEDINGS in THE SENATE ON
THE Nebraska BILL.

Friday on the Nebraska Bill II was ordered
to be engrossed, Thursday night Friday it
was again taken up, and the debate was con-
tinuod upon it till Saturday morning, when it
was finally passed.
We were mistaken, as the record shows, in
relation to the veto prerogatve Of the Govern
or, and the reyisonary power Of Congress.
II will excite some surprise, that throughout
the proceedings last Thursday, when it was
clearly understood that the votes on the amend
ments to the Bill, and on its engrossment
would be considered test votes, the largest
number of Senators voting at any time did not
exceed forty-sx The average vote was about
forty--or say, two thirds Of the Senate.
The delinquency was chiefly on the part Of
the North. Twenty or twenty-three Of the
thirty Southern Senators were present all the
tmc, voting in solid phalanx against every
amendment calculated to liberalize the Bill,
and against all opposition to il; the largest
number at any one time voting, of the thirty
four free State Senator'S, was %.
The Southern delegation never was divided.
On every test question, its vote was unit: at
no time did single Southern Senator vote with
tho North On the other hand, the Northern
delegation was uniformly divided twelve free
State Senator'S voting against the engrossment,
ten for it. The Bill, being q Southern meas
ure, was carried by Southern votes.
Of the twelve negative votes, oil from the
North, six were Wings, four, Administration
Democrats two Independent Democrats: the
ten affirmative votes from the North were all
Administration Democrats The Southern del
egation acted without distinction Of Party,
Wings and Democratic so called, working in
support Of the Bill; some Of the Wings, indeed,
displaying extraordinary zeal in behalf of this
Administration measure
Cooper of Pennsylvania, Allen of X. Island,
and Everett Of Massachusetts, either had
paired of, or were absent. Had they and Mr..
Phelps Of Vermont whose right to q seat is
not yet determined, voted, the negative vote
on the engrossment would have been sixteen,
representing the entire portion of the delega-
ton from the free States against the Bill
Houston, Cass, and Clayton, who spoke in
different ways against the Bill, opposed all
amendments intended to make it less obnox-
ious to the People of the North, and on the
question Of engrossment did not Uote. General
Cass announced tho next day that had he been
present he would have voted for it. Of course.
He is accomplished in the art of speaking one
way and voting another. He contents himself,
like Joseph Surface, with noble sentiments"
Mr.. Chase conducted the opposition to the
Bill 1ith ability and method, and compelled
its Supporters to reveal their true position in
relation, first, to the right Of the Territorial
Legislature to exclude Slavery, secondly, to
the right Of selfgovernment by the People of
Territory They take the negative on both
questions-that is, they deny, by their votes, the
right Of the People Of a Territory to govern
themselves and the right Of the People,
through Territorial Legislature, to exclude
Slavery
The Bill contains provision leaving the
People Of the Territory perfectly free to form
their institutions in their own way, subject 10
tie Constitution Of the United Statesp As the
South, on whom rests the main responsibility
Of this measure, and for whose special benefit
il is intended, uniformly construed this last
limitation as equivalent TO q denial Of the
power Of the Territorial Legislature TO exclude
Slavery, Mr. Chase moved to insert immedi-
ately after tho resolution, the words,
"Under which the People Of the Territory,
through their appropriate representatives, may
exclude Slavery"
Thirty-six Senators recorded their votes
against this amendment only ten for it OF
the thirty-sx, thirteen were Northern men, as
follows: Brodhoad Of Pennsylvania, Dodge and
Jones Of Iowa, Douglas and Shields Of illinois,
Gvin and Weller Of California, Norris and
Williams Of New Hampshire, Petit Of Indiana,
Stuart Of Michigan, Toucey Of Connecticut,
and Walker Of Wisconsin.
We know very well that some Of these gen.
tIemen will say, that they hold to the right Of
the Territorial Legislature to exclude Slavery
but they did not choose 10 vote for any motion
coming from the source that amendment came
from, or they would not vote for the right Of a
Territorial Legislature to exclude Slavery, I'M
less they could vote for a proposition at the
Same time 10 favor Of its right TO introduce IT,
But abstract opinions weigh nothing against
practical votes. There upon the record, stand
their votes, against distinct proposition, affirm
ing ne right Of the People Of Territory TO
exclude Slavery-a right not affirmed in the
Bill, and yet represented as being affirmed
therein, by it's Northern advocates. II they
believe in the existence Of the right, then are
they inexcusable for joining with Southern
men in virtually denying it. Dolly upon the
assumption that they do not believe in such a
right can they indicate the consistency Of
their vote. Whatever the particular opinions
Of individusls the record now demonstrates
that the majority Of the supporters Of the Bill
in tho Senate do not believe that tho People Of