The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-25

-
passage. therefore ask the Senate 70 indulge with inc
yeas and nays on the passage 9th bill
Mr. DOUGLAS ! deem il due TO honorable senators to
tina, announced last night before proceeded to
take the vote that several OF friends from lndsposon
had been compelled 70 leave the Senate chamber and others
might have left under impression that the vote would not
be reached last night and should consider
the test vote 70 be upon the passage Of The bill rather than
upon It's engrossment.
MIR. CAss. The honorable chairman Of the committee
mentioned 10 last night THAI he had idea that The vote
would then be taken the engrossment.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. II for that that deemed IL
proper TO make the announcement which have stated
MIR. CASS. One word more, Mr.. President want 10
express my qualification at the adoption Of the amendment
proposed by the honorable from North Carolina
Mr.. BApeER, and my thanks him for offering IL for
although was mere act of justice 10 which, believe al
every southern senator who touched upon the subject
agreed yet Is not the less act Of Cancellation which VIII
be very acceptable TO the North and many obeo-
lions TO this bill and trust it will be example to be
followed hereafter believe myself that The passage Of thus
bill with that provision viii close orever the fountain ofh
bitter of agitation. Having sad this, ask that the
and nays may be ordered upon the question Of the hna
! passage OF the bill.
/ The yeas and nays ordered
/ MIR. BELL Mr. President feel greatly embarrassed IN
undertaking address the Senate al this time particularly
the sentiment of the Senate has been decidedly ex
pressed not only regard to the feature which IS considered
the important in the BILL but in regard TO every other
feature to which may propose TO address my remarks.
regret sir that feel under any necessity TO trespass al all
upon the attention the Senate upon this subject and par
cplary when observe the socude of the friends OF the
bill for its immediate passage put the relations - whiGn
own serespect would forbid that should forbear, how
painful may be to me to express any views m oppo
Bton to which seems TO commend Itself TO The
almost unanimous approval and support OF my southern
! friends.
Mr. President, no one in this body knows better than
yourself the fact that took decided grounds in opposition
10 the Nebraska bill at the last session OF Congress OPP
posed il with the greatest That bill contained
no provision for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
any form or shape whatever. wish state now that dia
advise the introduction OF that feature INTO the bill OF this
session so happened that was absent The city when
this bill first reported from the Committee on Territories
of which member; but present when the amend
the original bill containing provision for the v
ua repeal of the Missouri Compromise was under consid
Grafton the committee 1t the first time that the bill
of this session in any shape fell under my notice.
The first notice had that the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise was in contemplation by any one was the IN
PRODUCTION Of the bill for that purpose by my friend from
Kentucky, Mr. DixoNl not, as was informed That my
1 friend meant the responsibility Of originating
such propositions but make the object explicit and
uivoca which seemed to be implied in provision OF the
bill as first reported The honorable chairman Of the Com
mttee on Territories Mr.. DoucLAsl knows that had
barely time when this bull was first brought to my notice In
committee to glance over provisions that the
objection had urged TO the Nebraska bill of the last session
of Congress would apply TO the measure then before the
committee and my Impressions against the expedIency OF
introducing any clause affecting the Missouri Compromise
were srong but had considered the proposition IN
all its aspects agreed that the amendment under consid-
Grafton might be reported but the honorable chairman
of the will do the justice TO admit, did so
with the express reservation of the privilege of opposing its
passage If, upon careful examination Of the subject
assent to the correctness OF the statement
The question of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
being thus fairly presented for consideration to the Senae
finding upon inquiry that the general sentiment Of southern
favorable to the measure brought forward
seemed be- with the OF large number Of
northern gentlemen; approving as did the principle OF
the compromise of 1850, and not wishing TO separate
myself from my friends resolved to take step in oppo
son until should have full time to consider the subject IN all
its bearings and be able supply the deficiencies of my
own Judgment and experience from the lights which might
be shed by others the subject in the discussion have
accordingly voted uniformly with my southern friends
oil questions Of amendment, without any particular exam
nation on my part their wisdom proprety and leay-
ing it to them perectthe bill in any way they thought
pedient and proper have listened with profound interest
and attention to all tina, has been said in debate both
the private conferences Of the friends of the BILL and
given the subject the serious reflection il could
discover sufficient grounds override the
objections which had presented themselves TO my mind in
favor Of the Of my friends from the South.
/ ] make this statement, not that ] suppose any views
which may be able to present upon this subject will
have any greater weight with the Senate but explain
my silence during the preceding discussions pro-
coed 70 consider the provisions Of this bill which appear TO
present the most serious and important objections.
My first objection to the Nebraska bill OF the last
sion of Congress was that there necessity for the
country that far back as remembered
ally in the practice Of the government propose organ
ze territorial governments large extent of territory
in which there white inhabitants | no
white inhabitants except those who officials of the
government sodiers missionaries, licersed traders
white population demand the protection and security OF
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs find the statement that,
late October nst there but three white in
the whole Of that territory except the class already al
uded 10. There may be four or five hundred,
now, for yhing that know but still think and main
tain that this is uncallcd fer at this time
The given 10 that objection a. the last session
wasnnd to deal fairly with the whole argument
far asI have time do iby the honorable chairman Of
the Committee Territories was that important
invite settlements upon the great line of emigration from
the boundary Of the States to California and Oregon
admit there force in this but still do not
that IL important necessity, the
urgent Justify departure from the long.es
tabished policy az the in organizing territorial
| fore the numerous wild Indian tribes nhabitng the
try were reeonced the by treaties and proper
disposition made Of those emigrnut tribes which held
portion Of the country under the most solemn compact and
assurances the part Of the government that they should
be exposed to the pressure Of white population
NV second objection 70 the Nebraska ill of the last
sion was that proposed organize territorial govern
men and throw open for settlement the whole extent Of
the country lying Of Missouri and Iowa, the whole Of
which Indian territory guarded and protected ugenst
the intrusion of white population by statute thirty
tons besides the ia III Of treaties applicable to
emgran tribes thus bringing unnecessary pressure
upon the wild Indian tribes, and tending drive them
desperation and 10 hoslitts by the destruction Of the pn-
cipal Of their subsistence the buffalo, which, you
know, sir will disappear upon the first clear crack Of the
frontier rifle and the ominous appearance Of the settler m the
noighborhood OF their haunts.
objected further sir, that in addition the Indian hos
ties likely be provoked Ivy encouraging settlements
Irregular and distant intervals such extent Of terri
tory inhabited by Wild Indians, the evidently
contemplated the exhaustion Of oil the most desirable por