Washington sentinel., 1854-03-10
TERRITORY OF NEBRASKA.
SPEECH OF HON. w. c. DAWSON,
II He ISennLe. M1lch Sd. 1854.

bill to organize the Territory OF Nebraska.
The pending question was, "Shall the bill
pass!'
dent long to detain this body. The subject
has been discussed, very ably discussed but
nv relations to it, and my connection with this
body, demand that / should say few words,
and they shall be directly to the points before
us. desire on all occasions, to speak peril
nently, uninhuenced by passion or prejudice
am an American citizen; in every feeling of
my heart / am American and 1 desire to
speak here as an American senator.
have no fear, sir as a southern man, for
the consequences growing out Of any action on
the part OF the Congress of the United States
in relation to my section of the country. lfl
that dreadful misfortune and catastrophe, dis
union. shall ever be brought up the country,
my section of the Union will never be in the
minority of these States. The great valley of
the Mississippi, with allits tributaries. is based
upon the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic States
south. Nature has thrown her waters down
through US into the great recipient ofthe world
Of waters. have no alarm, sir. as southern
man. My only alarm is as patriot and
Union man. Ny past history in the other
bra!:ch of Congress and this, has shown that |
am governed by no sectional feeling. ] am in
huenccd by no partizan feeling or unkindness
towards those who differ from me socially,
politically, or otherwise; none, none in the
world "."s. !.
The eyes of the world are upon us, the rep
resentatives OF one Of the mightiest nations OF
the earth, which. great as it is, has not even
reached its manhood. What is the character
of the debates To which we are called upon to
listen? We hear speeches delivered from these
high places, not to convince the public mind.
and direct it to the support Of the Constitution
and the great interests Of all the people OF this
country, but uttered for the purpose OF preju-
dicng the public mind, to iuhame the hearts
of many of our people against the institutions
OF the country, 10 rouse feeling OF excitement
between sections is it to benefit the Kingdom
on high? Is it for the benefit of the country
in which we live? No! 1t must be either to
give to the individuals who thus attempt to in
flame the public mind local popularity, or to
or the other Of this Union Is this right? Is
it patriotic? Is it honorable? Is it just to at
tempt to make the Senate mere instrument
ality to affect the opinions of the people one to
another, or the sections one to another? Strip
this question, Mr.. President, of the hmsy veil
which, out of this House, would call political
hypocrisy and present it fairly to the judgment.
the honor, and the hearts Of the American peo-
pie, and there will be no difficulty about it.
Now, is it not wonderful that men who have
lived out more than half their days, some of
them approaching their three score and ten,
for individual purposes of selfaggrandizement
governed by no higher morality or sense of OBJ
legation to the Christian religion than myself
should attempt to distract our country, and
make our people discontented, dissatisfied, and
unhappy? am speaking with no unknd-
ness. 1t is no part of my heart or of my life
to be unkind to my fellow man, white, black,
or red.
What are we about to do? Gentlemen 60
Oft into essays upon great questions, scarcely
having any connection with the points directly
before us, publish their speeches in almost
volumes, spread them out before the country,
and misrepresent the questions before us. Sir,
we--pardon me for the expression-should be
parliamentary debating body instead Of essay
writers and long oration-makers. We should
test the point presented to the body and debate
it, SO as to elicit truth and bring about an uil-
derstanding Of the subject, and the objects we
have in view What sir, are the questions be-
fore us? There is Territory known as Ne
braska. Who does it belong to? The States
of this Union and it is in the hands of the
general government for administration. We
acquired it in 1903; and the question is whether
it shall be organized. Here / beg my friend
from Tennessee to hear me for there is feel
ing, personal and political between us, which
has existed SO long, and so kindly, and so
purely, nat / could not for moment find the
disposition in my heart to separate from him.
Ihope to he able to show him that he and can
stand together, and work together. Let me
say to him, further that although the subject
hoe har tbo nd ,b1
discussed, his speech was able, and does honor
to his head as statesman-not as southern
man, but as man Of the Union. Shall this
Territory be organized? That is the first ques
ton before US.
Nobody denies the right or the power of Con-
gress to organize territorial governments in
: this Territory. Then what are the objections
to it? Let us take up those objections and
consider them, and not mingle them with the
various questions. which have been so unneces
sarily connected with this matter.
The first objection is, that there are not peo.
pie enough in the Territories of Nebraska and
Kansas for the organization of government
That is matter Of Judgment and of discretion
depending upon facts How are we to get at
the facts Of the case? We are to get them
from the people themselves, the foundation oi
our government. When acting as senators,
representing the sovereignty of the Statesy il
we desire to know the will Of our constituents,
who are one degree removed from US, we must
look to the House, composed Of the immediate
representatives of the people. At the last ses,
sion OF Congress Nebraska bill was passed
BY the House of Representatives, and came to
this body. united with my friend from Ten.
nessee then i'll favor Of pos poning the organi-
zation Of that Territory. | recoect the elo-
quent speech which he made on the subject on
the morning Of Tie 4th of March last
What occurred then? Did we denv the
power OF Congress to organize aterritorial gov.
ernment in this region No, sir. We opposed
it because We regarded it as hastv and incon.
siderate Legislation, and violation Of the
treaties made with the Indians within the Limits
Of Nebraska. Is not that an evidence that the
people demanded the organization Of Terri.
tory there If they did not the House of Rep.
resentatives mistook the views Of their constit
uency. Upon any question Of right which car
originate with the people ! am ready to hear
their voice. When they speak TO me as poll
tician they speak but to command, and com
4 1 IL