Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-02-17
speech of Hon. Edward Everett.

Mr.. Everett said that II time had per-
mitted, he would have been glad to have eX-
pressed his views at length upon the constl-
|tutional and historical questions involved IN
the subject of the Territory But the time
which lad ELAPSED since the bill had been re-
ported did not allow Of any opportunity Tor
the necessary examination OF these points
The relations Of this Government with the
Indians was one of the questions deeply in
volyed in this subject, and who could say
that as respected them this bill had been pro-
perly mptured Equally connected with the
subject WAS the. question of Slavery. 1t would
take Il man over IL fortnight to read the de-
bate on this last point, in order TO under
stand the true bearing OF tie question IN
speaking upon this bill he would do 50 !or him-
self, and for no one eIss. lie would speak as
one who had been and WAS now Il cordial sup
porter of the Compromise OF 1851. ne ue-
sired to give the reasons why he could not
vote for the bill. a great question was pre-
ssnted by it. They were about - lay by 1t
the foundations OF two independent States
hereafter TO be admitted into tlis Union
now numbering 81 independent States, and
destined to include a lar greater number
Lord Bacon ascribed great glory to the ioun-
ders of new States. These Territories were
now apparently Il wilderness. the time
would come wncn these now wild regions,
/ ana scarcely tAlSlllp liNV' N'l'N
sayares, would be settled and occupied by Il
civilized race. The time was not distant
when Klnzas and Nebraska, now unknown,
would become States. As familiar u the peo-
ple as the names OF Virginia, Ohio and Ken
! lucky are to their own children. Nebraska
and klnzas occupied tiat position with res
pect to the future Of this country that Persia
and Media once did to Asia. Their waters,
which at their fountains trickled throug! zee
rolled on and outward till they reached the
highway of the withdrawing through the
Rocky Mountains by means OF the IRON road,
trUusl them would lJw the OF the
East IL the waters Of the Pacific. Cities Of
vast magnitude would arise on the banks OF
th,ir nozzle rivers. Agriculture would re-
claim the inmens, plains now roamei by the
sayages and the wild buffalo and might 1t
not BE- hoped that under the aids OF the Con-
stitution, Il free Government, religion ana all
the arts Of civilized life would b. found there,
adding grace and beauty TO the CUTE oil ma
ture and the bountics Of Providence ! During
his former Congressional carer he had al
WAYS BEEN II friend to the West. lie had
never voted against an appropriation for any
other measure than to promote the interest OF
the West, and he regretted now that lie could
not give his support to the hll oil tine .oln
mittee proposing to sttblish two territorial
Governments. lc NOulH navy iNI'AN~N "
have been able to give the bill his support
The hasty examination which he had given
the subject while before the Committee had
disclos d to his mind objections to the bill
and subsequent reelection had tended to con-
firm them. lie entertained some scruples-
he could hardly say ohjectivns--as to the ex'
pediency Of giving Territorial Governme ITS Of
the first order 10 these territories at TINS time,
The latest inquiry ms To the number oil ihha'
bitants there at this time showed that at tn,
highest estimate I Iere were not over oot
white inhabitants scattered through the
whole region where il is now proposed to es
tahlish two Governments. The delegate re
presenting that region received but 20 votes
md he had had two competitors, and as he
received more votes than either, the Who'll,
number Of votes could not exceed 200. In thi'
territory the bill proposed to erect two Ter
ritlril Governments, wit Governor, Secre
tlrv, Legislatures, Courts, &c., in each. Til
Committee organization OF Governments IN
thought uncalled for at this time. The earl,
practice ofthe Government was to have Ter
ritorial Governments Of a simpler form
Government and Judges appointed by tn
President with authority to make such law
As were proper, subject to the appreciation o
Congress. Such II government he though
would he sufficient for the nascent condition
OF the COUNT "a bllA hhiP'N 10 l''Ni'N
that when the population reacirnd 1000 tn
other form of government could be estih
listed. lie admitted that emigration was eX
pected to low rapidly into the country, bu
still he thought it premature to give tn
Il ,ating and unsettled population a Govern
> ment OF this first order, All this, however
WAS but II question Of time. 1t was know
tlut by the unparalleled emigration lror
Europe, amounting to 400, 900 annually
mostly adults, and the natural emigration
from the old States westward, tits diilicult
would soon he overcome. The wilderness Z
to-day would become the settlement Of to
morrow, Knowing it TO be Il question G
. time, he did not know that Il line would pre-
: vent is voting for the bill, I G relations d
U this Government towards the Indians was
4 Ques ion Of greater uiiiculty, \ great hel
y of this Territory was cXclusiy ly occupied h
y rdians, many Of whom had been remole
tait r rom their former possessions. In II,
g0tiating with the Indians for their remuvu
t it WIS represented to them that they shoul
have a home forever, 30 long as the tribes e'
II list u. The pcrmancrcy of I is home va
d q {. efort a stil ~ulatiun with the Indians. II
Il knew however, that a new State had hco
e Great d hey nd this Indian country comm
II ~nication with it was necessary, and he h ii 1
ID ex, cct ION that, under tho circumstance
this Indi.n barrier could be preserved intsc