Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-16
House Of Representatives.

| munication from the Treasury Department, en-
closing statement of the commissioner of customs
in relation TO the accounts due for more than three
years prior to the 30h Of june 1853; referred TO
the Committee of Ways and Means.
Five or six gentlemen presented amendments
| which they intend to offer to the homestead bill;
which were ordered to be printed.
RELIEF OF THE UNITED STATES TROOPS.
Mr.. BISSELL. from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported back the House BILL as amended
by the Senate, for the reliefof the United States
troops, who were sufferers by the recent disaster
on board the steamer San Francisco.
Two of the three Senate amendments were con-
Cured in.
ERIE DIFFICULTIE.
Mr.. MILLSON after saying that the Erie diff
culties, which gave rise TO the bill to secure the
safe transmission of the United States mails on
railroads. seem TO have been settled, moved 10 lay
upon the table the motion heretofore made to
consider the vote by which that bill was referred
to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union; and this was agreed TO.
CAPITOL EXTENSION.
Mr.. CRAIGE, from the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, reported joint resolution
authorizing supplemental contract for certain
| marble for the Capitol extension. Alter expana-
ton by that gentleman, it was passed.
| AMIN BEY.
Mr.. PERKINS, of Louisiana, from the Commit
lief of VIM ID. Porter, of the navy, authorizing
settlement of his accouts for the bringing of Amin
Bey to this country provided that the amount
charged ($2,024) be found due Referred to the
Committe ofthe Whole House. VI
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES BY ARBITRATION.
Mr. BAYLY, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, TO which was referred large number of
petitions from different States, asking that all in
ternationa disputes be settled by arbitration, said
he was instructed to ask that the committee be dis
charged from the further consideration of the
same, and that they be laid upon the table.
This was agreed TO.
HON. NIKE WALSH.
Mr., EWING rose to present the memorial Of
certain citizens of New York, representing that
MIKE WALSH, member Of the House, is not
citizen of the United States, either by birth or
naturalization, and that he was born in Ireland.
He wished the paper TO be referred TO the Commit
tee of Elections of which he (Mr. EwING) is
member Of course he did not wish to commit
himself any further, he should be very sorry TO
part with his friend over the way.
The memorial was referred
Mr.. WALSH said the gentleman need not
trouble himself on that score.
DEFICIENCY BILL.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE said he had been in
structed by the Committee of Ways and Means
to declare their readiness, if it was the pleasure
of the House, TO report deficiency bill, that it
might be referred and printed
HOMESTEAD BILL--NEBRASKA.
The House resolved tselfa Committee Of the
Whole on the state of the Union, Mr.. OLDs in the
chair, and took up the homestead bill.
Mr.. MEACHAM arose, and was protecting TO
discuss the Nebraska bill, when
Mr.. RICHARDSON raised question of order,
| namely: the House having limited the debate 10
the homestead bill, it was not in order to discuss
the Nebraska bill
The CHAIRMAN decided that, nasmuch as the
H. Oh.
exclusion of all other business, debate must be
confined to that measure
Much confusion prevailed, amid which,
MIR. CAMPBELL appealed from the decision of
the chair; which, on the question being taken,
was overruied-yeas SIS, noes S.
Mr.. MEACHAM resumed his remarks against
the enactment of the Nebraska bill and commended:
First there was no necessity for this safetyvalve
to prevent the too strong pressure of population
! in the States and present organized Territories.
Secondly, that there is no settlement Of whites in
Nebraska, and only three whites there, aside from
| those in the employment Of the government and
traders under license of the Indian Department.
| Could there, then, he asked, be any necessity for
forming the territorial governments of Nebraska
and Kansas, and inviting men TO go thither and
| make government, at an expense of 100000
Thirdly the territory has been set apart, by solemn
treaty. for the occupancy of the Indian tribes there
congregated; and there forty tribes in
| the Nebraska territory He would have the gov
eminent keep its word. If those Indians are not
safe in that region, in what other province of Jeho
vahs domain they find refuge from the rapacity
Of the white man! Fourihly, he was opposed TO
| the bill because il proposes to destroy the Mis-
souri, compromise.
He considered this contract complete and per-
feet, leaving no room for experiment No man
was authorized dared TO say that the repeal Of
this act is the free-will offering of the north. As
yet but little remonstrance had come from that
section but the reason is the people were abso-
lutely struck dumb by the audaciiy ofthe PROPOSE
| ton. They did not believe the effort would be
made, and took refuge in their own ncredulity.
| Ifthose bills should be passed, more bitter aud
| prolonged non-slavery excitement would be raised
in the north than ever. II was expected and in
tended that slavery should go TO that territory. If
| the Missouri compromise shall be repealed, he
| believed before God that no other will ever be
again made TO harmonize clashng interests be-
tween different sections of this republic; and he
| soemnly believed that this will not be the last
which will be rendered null and void.
| Mr.. FENTON (Mr. MEAcHAM yieding) replied
| TO certain remarks of Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, on
the subject ofthe New York controversy. He de-
| test for members on this floor. If the Nebraska
bill shall be presented as that test, the gentleman
would find softsn sprnging up all over the north.
The unoccupied part of the hour assigned TO Mr..
MRAcHAM in debate having been exhausted by Mr..
FENToN,
Mr.. WHEELER obtained the floor
4 A question arose as TO whether Mr.. FENToN
should continue his remarks, but it was finally de-
termined in the negative.
i Mr.. WHEELER said he rose to address the
committee with some reluctance, Notwithstanding
/ the gratuitous assertion of the honorable gentle
/ man from Alabama (Mr. SaiTH0 that he knew he
4 lMr. WHEELER) was anxious TO make speech for
his constituency.
i When he arrived at that point in his political
history q (Which he uantIen N bOn he would