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

passed the last Congress- IL contained no reference
whatever the Missouri compromise There was in II
no proposition of repeal. said at the time, If could
consistently with my duty, / should vote to pass II
through this House again voted for the bill at the last
session, rather from representations Of the gentleman
from that country than any opportunity had to
examine its provisions. But voted with gentlemen
from the North and South some Of them now here.
Many of them voted for the bill as introduced by Mr..
HALL of Missouri and reported by the chairman of the
Committee Territories, Mr.. RIcHARDsos No gen.
eman objected then to the want Of proposition IN that
bill repeal the Missouri compromise and it assert
ed here at late period of the session that the rights Of
the Indians sufficiently protected and voted for II
with that understanding The bill was to organize one
Territory under the of Nebraska. confess had
time read the provisions Of that BILL to examine
the necessity of action upon the subject at that time
Like many other bills which pressed upon Congress,
have to vote them according to what light can
get and trust constituencies to approve our action
afterwards. That is my first objection,
Nh second objection u.s. that satisfied Nth the pro-
posed boundaries. understand that it is proposed to
make the southern boundary at the 9Th degree of north
latitude and it originally proposed to take in part
of the Territory of Utah. That may abandoned but
believe the southern boundary is at the 37th degree
Now, five egsate upon the subject ata at this time
would include in the proposed organization from 80 S0
to the British line amopposed to lesying little strip
of territory for future disputes.
My third objection is, that to pass bill to organize
Territory including the twenty three Indian tribes
the frontier would be in violation Of Of the
treaties with those Indians The bill Il the last session
contained reservation of all the rights and property Of
the Indian tribes Until recently examined deliberately
the various treaties heretofore made blythe United States
with the Indian tribes the western border
of Missouri and Iowa, not aware Of the fact that
had stipulated by treatythe hghestaw of the land
that many Of these tribes should be Included chm the
limits 81 any State Territory without Their consent So far
learn from the report of the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs that consent has not been given and much
as should be disposed to organize Territory there,
shall be constrained to vote against any bill organizing
such Territory until the Of those Indian tribes
has been obtained because believe that by so doing we
should violate our treaties with the Indians
Sir we should observe our treaties with the Indian
tribes with much and fidelity observe those
with foreign nations We treat them foreign nations
and treaties should be he'd sacred may overrate
the Importance of this subject state these only pre-
limnary objections, and not the principal one shall
back to the principle Of the Missouri compromise
which, after ALL is the great stumbling block in the way
of this bill and of all other legislation 1t seems that
there four hundred thousand Indians within the limits
of the territory Of the United States Many tribes reside
| on the borders of Missouri aud Iowa. The Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs after having visited this Terrific
ry last fall endeavorng carry out the resolution OF the
Congress- makes the statement that the Indians were
not willing to treat with that they had no confidence
IN the white mans laws but that he believes civil gov
eminent would be for their benefit; and to his
words, that treaties might be made, If proposed in
proper way, and made in April May next and submit
ted the Senate in time for Congress establish civil
governments next session." The Commissioner of Indian
Aars says that he could make treaties with all the
tribes of Indians of and adjoining Missouri and Iowa.
And the fact is well known to Congress and the country
that Of the chiefs Of those tribes in Wash
ngton holding conference with the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs
In the language of Senator BELL, in an able speech
made in the other branch of the National Legislature it
does to that the policy of this country is the po
Icy OF determination towards the Indian You move
them from the States You got the distinguished gen.
teman from Missouri (Mr. BENToN) said yesterday,
Northern men to aid you in approprating money TO
change their location to send them vest of the Misss
sippi. You gave them all permanent homes and stpu
lated with some of them that they should be ncud-
ed within the limits Of State Territory without their
consent And you found here to-day discussing
whether you will egslate them out If their possessions
before they modify those treaties Sir, for one, will
not consent to it. will do justice these Indian tribes
as far as can If it is necessary toestabish civil gov
eminent that portion of territory confne it to
the country which is not occupied by the Indians until
you obtain their If it is necessary for the pur
pose Of the Pacific railroads.&c. proposed great highway
of the nationthat should have portion Of the lands
belonging to these tribes let obtain those lands by fair
and honest treaties.
Does not our past history admonfsh US that the time
may come when might be engaged in foreign war,
become embroiled in civil nsurrecton at home,
domestic trouble when great Indian chieain
like Tecumseh, who, with great power and eloquence
would rouse the indignation of the whole savage tribes
against Western borders, and which would give
more difficulty to settle than twenty Florida wars? Te
cumsehs not uncquenty found among these savage
trbemen of power and eloquence capable of success
who would unite all the tribes Western border and
who would rather sacrifice every in their nation than
submit to be extermnaed by the white With such
people these do not wish to act unjusty If
sary we should endeayor to modify treaties with
them and then pass bill to organize the territory which
they nhab, and which surrounds them but should
first obtain their lands from them fairly and honestly
This my third objection to the bill for the organization
| Of this Territory.
recur again to the fourh-I mean the proposition to
repeal the Missouri compromise. The committee are ia
miliar with the terms of this provision.
The eighth section of the authorize the people Of
the Missouri Territory to form constitution and State
and for the admission of such State into the
Union equal footing with the original States, and
to prohibit slavery in certain Territories approved March
| G. 1920, is as follows:
Sec s. And be further enacted That in all that territory
ctded by France to the United States under the of
Louisiana which lies north of $50 80 north latitude not ncu
ded within the limits of the State contemplated by this act sa
very or Involuntary servude otherwise than in the punish
of crimes whereof the parties shall have been duly
vcted shall be and hereby forever prohibited Provided
Arrays That any person escaping into the from whom
labor service lawfully claimed in any State Territory
OF the United States, such fugitive may be lawfully claimed
and conveyed to the person claiming his her labor
vice as aforesaid"
The provision of the bin am now discussing disguise
as you may is proposition to repeal this Missouri
promise which excludes slavery from all that territory
Of the line of SG' S0 and which gives the Of
slaves the right to reclaim their ugitives from labor.
to adhere to this compromise for the before
assigned because was compromise passed after three
years discussion by the greatest minds of this country
men who had obtained a worldwide reputation, and
whose names are dear to every patriotic heart who
il they were now living would lay ruthless hand upon
the compromises of the Constitutions who would not
1 fn-