Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-24
SPEECH OF Mr.. JOHN L. TAYLOR,
OF OHIO,
ON. THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL %, 1854.

The House Delng IN committee OF the w mole OF
the state of the Union
Mr. TAYLOR, Of Ohio, said: Mr.. Chairman, If there
has been time, during my short political ife when
appeared before committee of this House with some
reluctance and with much hestancy, it is upon this
casion because shall feel il be my duty, in the
course of the remarks which / may make, TO to
some other subjects than that which has principally
crossed the attention Of Congress during the last four
I've months shall, however, be constrained from the
fact that occupy very humble place upon the Com
mttee fredericksburg Of the two Wings among
the nine members Of that commtteeto refer for few
moments to that exciting question In doing this WISH
at the outset TO discaim any personal feeng towards
any member of this committee and TO declare that have
other than kind and fraterna feelings towards every
section Of this Union Though stand here as Repre-
sentative of the State Of Ohio feel that am bound TO
discharge my duty Representative Of the whole
Union; and would resign my seat II could lose sight
Of my national obligation.
regret, Mr.. Chairman, that am constrained by the
duty which 10 my constituents, as well as that
which owe to myself 70 speak at all upon this SUBJECT
have sat here for nearly five months listening TO the
speeches of distracted Congressdistracted by SEC
onal question: by whom introduced seems yet to be DIS
puted We heard it asserted early as the 10Th OF ia
last by gentlemen the other side OF the House
who supporters of the Administration not that they
knew it introduced by the Administration, but that
they believed this Territorial organic bill to be an Admin
istraton measure And here instead Of with
the subjects of legislation calendar which the people
demand at hands, and endeavorng to discharge our
duty first to the people and then to the administrators OF
the Government are tied down day after day by
sectional question, which, Wing member of this
Congress- discaim having part in introducing here
nor do believe that the party TO which belong hrst
instigated or encouraged its introduction.
Sir, this theme for agitation was not introduced into
Congress by the Wing party of the United States have
too much respect for that party, to which belong to
believe that they would have nstgaed the introduce
tion Of question involving sectional issue which, IN
my humble Judgment far transcends any question which
has occupied the attention of the Congress of the United
States since 1920 The great question which then agl
tated this country for three years. and to adjust which
and the Union brought into requison all the ia
Tents experience, and wisdom all the Cancellation and
Kindness of feeling, all the desire for sacrifice OF Sec
onal prejudice Of the great men who lived at that day.
is now revived. And by whom is it revived? am not
prepared to stand here and utter denunciaons against
the Senator from Illinois, (alr DOUGLAS the chairman
of the Committee Territories who introduced this bill
in the Senate and for which he has been hung in egy
and denounced all the country. do not impute TO
him the sole responsibility but think that he should
share with other eminent far beyond him IN poll
teal experience and of greater wisdom who advocated
this measure in the Senate who have advocated it with
zeal and ability far superior that manifested by the
Senator from Illinois himself Nor do Iupbraid him for
his aspirations to the Presidency. Nor do make the
charge that the President of the United States and his
Cabinet brought this measure officially before Congress
They have not officially done for we have had no off,
cial communications upon that subject.
shall endeavor presently show reasons for the
belief entertain that this bill for the organization of
Nebraska and Kansas Administration measure, in
troduced here for the purpose of revvng crumbling
falling and distracted Administration nay, if possible,
to infuse new life and vigor into it, command
in some degree the confidence of its party and the
country. The gentlemen who introduced these bills into
the House Of Representatives are to take their due share
only Of any odium which may attach them. If there
be consideration which would induce the House of
Representatives Of the United States to stand up, it
were as one man. against the measure it should be the
idea that the Administration be sustained must carry
this measure in this House. either by persuasion by
the denuncatons and threats Of their regular organs As
representative of free people, wishing preserve the
powers the privileges and mmunities of this body and
like the great from Missouri Mr. BENTON who de-
lighted yesterday with his examination of the history
OF this great question: and denounced the improperly Of
bringing 1t forward to disturb the great compromise
OF 1890 stand up for the powers privileges and immu
mites of this House, the branch of the Amer
can Government" The business is reversed. When
the fathers of the Republic built up this Government and
framed its Constitution they designed that the judicial
legislative, and executive powers Of the Government
should be as independent of each other possible
From a small nation Of three or four millions we have
grown to be twenty-five millions, and have advanced in
prosperity wealth. power and greatness far beyond the
expectations Of those who framed the Government. We
have increased in territorial extent in population and
wealth, until glorious country has become great
Republic, which commands only the admiration of
our own people but Of the whole world.
The powers of these respective departments of the Gov
eminent have not kept equal pace with each other during
progress nation. Thank Heaven, the judicial
branch of the country yet stands in all its purity, majes
ty and power and CONSTITUTES our legislation with justice
and equity.
The legislative power of the country has been in
great degree in my humble judgment, overshadowed by
the Executive authority of the nation in what
hands that authority has fallen For myself am indie
pendent Of all Presidents having received special
favors from any of them having sought any, and
never expecting any. But do say that Representa-
tyes Of intelligent and patriotic people, representing
here part OF the sovereign power Of this country do
say that we, the legislative power ought to and
look down with contempt upon any effort made, either
through political organ official communication,
drive the Representatives Of the people from the due
Of legislation divert them from the proper
subjects Of legislation to sectional questions either
or in all time to
This question, Mr. Chairman, has parayzed US in the
legislation of the country This is the 26th day of April
and yet have not got through the first page of the
calendar. 1t is with difficulty that effect the passage
OF any appropriation BILL and the deficiency bill has
yet hnaly passed the House Senate On the Goth OF
January last, when the gentleman from Virginia (Ar.
SMITH was upon the foer he said in his place that he
peeved this very measure which exctes the whole
ton was an Administration measure; or in other words,
that he 6seced that the Administration was unit in
spect TO IT, speak Of il as understood him. have
looked at his speech this mornings and think that he,
on that OCCASION asserted his belief that the Adinstra
ton was unit IN favor of this measure. This was as
early as the 18th Of January and here stand to-day
with mass of business staring US in the face
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia Will the gentleman from
Ohio permit me to make an explanation here
Mr.. TAYLOR. With great pleasure
Mr.. SMITH. What stated was that believed that
the Administration was unit
Mr. TAYLOR. SO have represented you as having
said.
Mr.. SMITH But l did not say that any improper in
fuences were attempted to be used by the Administration