Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-15


their own enactment but by the administration of the
United States laws by United States officers
Sir, Territorial governments were not understood
scarcely anticipated when the Constitution was formed
and that accounts for the ndenteness of the
OF that instrument to such class Of government: but
no man could have doubted that the infant community
must nave derived its protection and its direction from
the same source
Mr.. Chairman, have given time to the copside
ration OF this branch Of the subject than should have
done was not aware Of the effect upon the public mind
Of such popular catchwords and ad capandn phrases
"sefgovemment," non-intervention and the rights
of communities to make their own laws
but Mr. Chairman, not to regard slavery in the
Territory OF Nebraska mere municipal institution or
rather it is not merely municipal in its character in Ne
braska. II might be in Virginia or MARYLAND but the
question here connects itself necessarily with the faith of
the nation, and North well South is concerned in
the pledge Of that faith and they equally
| in its redemption support
Sir, have nothing to do here with slavery in the ab
sract admit the legality of its existence acknow-
lege tho binding operation of the Constitution and SUBJ
mt to all the laws of Congress which have been enacted
with reference to that institution Slavery sir may be
deserving all the condemnation which has been uttered
against 1t on both sides the Atlantic Yet shall not
feel bound to discuss to condemn here Or may
be that it is worthy all the spendidy poetic halo with
which the eoquence of the honorable gentleman from
North Carolina KERR recently invested it when he
made 1t the spirit Of domestic delight and comfort as his
tongue grew wantcn in its praise" But even then sir
have neither mission acceptance to interfere with it
as it legally and constitutionay exists.
The arguments for or against this bill not founded
on the beauty or deformity of slavery Both of these
have been greatly exaggerated without doubt The oues
ton is simply Shall the faith Of Congress be maintain
ed?" Shall the solemn pledge of the whole nation de-
Gliding between the antagonstc views of parts be kept?
Or shall it be like that Of Carthage 1t is dishonorable
in one nation to violate its pledge another scorn uni
yersal detestaton accompanies such turpitude even
by the perhdy or say that such VOCATION sr raith
is dishonorable But when nation violates its faith to
its parts when it is perfdous to confding portions it
ffcalf "a.
members To the dishonor of violated faith it adds the
danger of dsntegrated portions.
While on the subject Of the sancty of compromises in
Government such as ours may not be amss to refer
the opinions expressed by Mr. Polk in his special mes
sage signing the Oregon bill Mr.. Polk was a South
ern President, with strong Southern feelings, and
doubtedy he owed his nomination to the open and timely
expression of his sentiments with regard to the admission
OF Texas into the Union thereby adding to the number of
slave States.
Mr. Polk believed that the compact of the nation must
be maintained; and he stood ready he asserted to
place his on any bill which violated compromise
The Oregon BILL sir bore with it the Wilmot provso and
though President Polk did approve that provision
yet because it applied north of $50 3O and hence
not inconsistent with the Missouri compromise he
gave his sanction to the BILL But he said boldly openly
Had the bill embraced territories south of that compro-
misc the question presented for consideration would have
been of far different character and my action upon it
have corresponded with my convictions"
call the attention Of honorable gentlemen to the en-
phatc language Of President Polk, which have cited
peal Of ordinary law, statute supersedng satute
will that he calls the Missouri compromise by its
right name he recognises it as compromise in the
of the very word, and especially in the sanctty with
which he thinks it invested He comprehended the diff
ference between common act of Congress and that
solemn enactment intended to confirm and perpetuae the
harmony of various sections of the country by perpe
tuatng the legislation of compromise upon which that
harmony established.
President Polk repeats his assurance of veto in case
the compromise of 1920 should be impinged by any
bill of Congress presented for his signature. 1t is true
that his argument happens to be founded the suppo
son of an attempt to extend the prohibition of slavery
below the line of $50 36 but would be injustice to
the memory of that statesman to suppose that he would
not have manifested equal zeal and equal regard for
tiona faith had he been anticipating considering
attempt to egsate slavery into the country north of the
limit prescribed by the act of 1920 President Polks
signature to the Oregon b which contained the Wmot
proviso showed how little he thought of such doctrine
nonntervention and his threat Of vetoing any bill
that looked to violation Of the Missouri compromise
shows his opinion of that measure, and his strong alb
horrence of any attempt to violate the pledged faith Of the
nation
Sir fidelity to agreement fuflment Of contract re-
spect for pledges, duties OF nations
when they are anagonistic; but between Government
and its parts beside all these Duties which are no less
obligatory no less solemn is superadded the considera
on of policy, of expedency. Whatever may be the con-
duct of community with another, community can
exist with pledges violated to its parts.
"Devis with devils damn'd firm concord hold"
am aware that we have occasionally the plea made in
beha OF these Nebraska measures that whatever be
the binding character of the compromises of 1920 and
1850 the quiet of the nation will BE consulted by estab
fishing the doctrine Of nonintervention in Territorial
governments so as forever to from Congress the
subject regards territory now possessed and terri
tory yet to be acquired confess that such PROPOSE
ton sounds well. Sir, at what cost purchasing
peace in these halls? The price is the violation of the
pledged word of the nation the faith and honor Of the
Congress of this great Republic. 1t is paying dear
for the article Sir will not reply to argument that
susains expediency with perfdy, and would establish
peace by outraging the moral sense of the nation.
In referring to the pledges of nation, which the
Nebraska bill tends to violate, let give
to consideration of the effect which its passage would
have of the Indians in that great Territory.
Do you not see, Mr.. Chairman, what state of mi
sery of horrible misery this BILL if passed. drive
those and their families, whom chase from from
tier to frontier whom egsate or bargain from the
comfort of species of home and kind of civilization
to the savage life of their distant progenitors?
Sir the professions OF country these poor men
have been kind and humane; its practice has been bar
barous in the extreme. The wild Camanche or Apache
enjoys his freedom, and has taste for the mise
res of his condition. he has known nothing better he
appreciate nothing that superior But the Indians
with whom we have treated have been removed within
the benefits of border civilization; they have acquired
knowledge Of and taste for the comforts and
conveniences Of civilization More than that they have
in cases. submitted their heads baptism and their
hearts to christianity. And when religion has begun its
work Of melioratng domestic and social manners and
their wilderness has begun blossom like the rose they
have been driven, by treaty force from their homes
and sent to steep themselves in barbarsm and
forget they can the decencies and enoyments Of
cal life and christian graces.
Who has thought of the cruelty of this? Who has,
in he .iDtr yuhi half