Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-31
Pas.aro OF the Nebraska BirI.


adjoining the residence OF DIR. Gllmer'
Passage OF the Nebraska Bifi.
After struggle of several months the bill to
establish territorial governments in Nebraska and
Kansas. passed the House Of Representatives, on
Monday the 22nd instant, by a vote of Is to lOO.
All tho Virginia members voted in the afiirma-
tive, except Mr.. Millson, who voted IN the mega
tive, and Mr.. McAIullen, who was absent. Hav-
ine been modified in the House, the bill had to
so to the Senate and be passed again by that body
before it could become law.
OF the principle which we recognised IN the
bill, we have heretofore expressed our hearty ap-
probation; but the changes which it has under
conc, and the meagre majority which 1t secured
in the popular branch Of Congress, cause us to
doubt whether the country will gain anything by
ia passage. Until recently, we had not observed
that the clause recurring that the laws passed by
the local Legislatures should be submitted to
Congress, and if disapproved should be null and
void-which is reserved in all other Territorial
bills-was struck from the Nebraska Kansas bill
before it left the Senate. Thus the Territorial
Legislatures can pass any bill--one prohibiting
slavery, if they choose--withOut hlndrance
The Governors, it is true, have the veto power,but
that may be overcome by two-thirds voteotboth
Houses. This is what we understand to be
.sSquatter Sovereignty" to which Southern men,
and Democrats especially. have been very justly
opposed And in this particular the bill differs
materially firm the bill organizing governments
for Utah and New Mexico, part OF the great
compromise of 1850, which left the subject Of
slavery to be decided by the people only when
they should proceed to frame State constitutions.
For all the opportunity Southern men win have
TO move to the new Territories, Congress might
as will pass the Wilmot proviso at cas- North
srn people, being less iucumbered, viii speedily
occupy the ground and close the door in the face
Of shareholders.
Another Important change, effected by the
House, is, the striking out Of the Clayton amend
ment. As the bill originally stood itcontained,in
the provision comforting the right of suffrage and
prescribing who might hold office, these words;
"And those who shall have declared on oSth
their intention to become such, cltizensl and shall
have taken an oath to support the Constitution OF
she United States and the provisions OF this act"
Senator Clayton moved to strike out the above,
50 that the clause should read ~
d ssProrided, That the right of suffrage and Of
holding office shall be exercised only by citizens
of the United States"
The motion was carried by a vote of twenty
three to twenty one, all the conservative Senators
present voting in the affirmative, and all those
with rsesoil proclivities in the negative. One Of
the last acts of the House, however, was TO strike
oasthe Clayton amendment, and restore the bill
10 its ORIGINAL form Wheif the bill was taken up
again in the Senate, Mr.. Pearce, of Maryland,
moved to re-instate the amendment and made some
very lust and forcible remarks. He said ,'the bill
repealed the Missouri restriction and conferred up
ON people of the Territory the right to settle tn:
question of slavery for themselves. This lgiyes TO
aliens lust arrived in the country the right to vote
on and determine the question which Congress,
unable to settle, had, as last resort, turned over
to the people of the Territories. He was unwil-
ling to let any oao but citizens of the United
States have the right to vote on this or any other
question"
"The ~ebate was continued" says the report,
sat great length by Messrs Broadhead, Atchison,
Tembs. and Mason. The friends of the bill de-
clared that the amendment was of no practical
O importance, and that, although not generally ap-
proved of, they would vote for it rather than risk
,hs delay inevitable from sending it back to the
House,"
The apprehension that adherence to the amend
ment would defeat the bill, prevailed and, finally
At one o. clock on Friday morning, the Senate
PASSED the bill as it came from the other House.
Notwithstanding the opinion ofSenators that the
amendment is OF no practcalmportance, we must
regard it very differently. As remarked by Mr..
Pearce, "The right ofsuffrage is one peculiarly
belonging to the character Of citizens, and of
none other 1t controls the interests of the country
and ought to be exercised by citizens only."-
The flood of European population will naturally
turn towards the new Territories, and the slavery
question will be decided before a halfdozen South
am men can get there with their property
What practical good then will the South gain,
after all the strife and agitation 1t seems that
while the bill nomiually asserts the doctrines of
non-intervention, it is studous to give all the real
advantage to the north. But the measure has now
passed, and we hope the country will become
quiet. The North certainly have no reason to
complimentary have the kernel, and we the
empty shell.
Staunton Academy.
l.. Waddell. Esq, for so many years the Prin-