Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-15

VINO Is Inc head Of a family and citizen of th,
unlea rta'es,R homestead Of one hundred aud
condition Of occdpancy and cultivation of the same
for the period spd,fied
Mr. pAWSONAqi that the disposition Of the
public domain, IN tAe mode suggested, invoIvesa
would receive the fun deliberation a. well as he
firm action of this Huse Whether considered
with regard 10 the chSnge which II pronoses in +
our land policy, or its effects in developing the
resources OF the nation, Or the benefits which it
proposes TO confer on a hrge class of our fellow
citizens, there is no question 70 which the propo-
sition contained in this bill yhlds in Importance
The persuasion that this is aSneasure Of great
public interest-the consciousness that, as
Legislative body, Congress has the power 10 bene-
fit, TO considerable extent, both physically and
morally, large class of our fellow msn, while the
nation at large will be advanced 10 still higher
degree socially and State-s sufficient 10 ava
ken patriotic desire 10 speedily exert this power
He then adverted to the condition In which the
bill was lef at the last session, and proceeded TO
answer objections which had been made 10 the
bill after which he spoke of the great and many
advantages which would result from the measure
under consideration.
Should this bill become law, not more than
one hundred and sixty millions of acres Of land
would be required for, years TO come 10 fulfil its
objects. II to this be added fifty millions for a
Pacific railroad, we shall have left eleven hundred
and fifty millions OF acres of public domain--alarger
geographical area than England, Wales Ireland,
and Scotland combined, and of sufficient extent
TO make two hundred States the size of Maryland
New Jersey, or New Hampshire. Without such
policy as the bill proposes, this domain must re-
main wilderness for centuries to come. In
connection with this subject he alluded TO the i'm
portance of railroad to the Pacific, over which
would be transported our agricultural products TO
Japan and China, and in exchange for those the
tillers of the soil will receive full and cheap sup
plies of the Injuries of those countries He
further debated the subject until the expiration OF
the hour TO which he was limited in debate. s,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COMPROMISE.
Mr.. MACE expressed his regret that the Ne
braska bill has been introduced. II has become
fashionable and frequent in certain quarters, he
said, to denounce those who oppose the repeal Of
the compromise act as softs and abolitionists but
such cant had little effect upon him. He should
continue to treat it with contempt He stated the
position heretofore occupied by him on the sub
ject of the compromise of 1850, having on all oc-
casions regarded il as final settlement of the
slavery questioa.
He earnestly denied that the compromise acts
of 1850 repealed the Missouri compromise Of
1890 In connection with this question he said
there existed earthly necessity at this time for
erecting the two territorial governments of Me-
braska and Kansas. There is scarcely white
personthere, and the most valuable portions Of the
soil has been given by treaty to the Indians for
permanent home; and no white settlement can be
made there until the Indians shall have been
where
Mr.. RICHARDSON corrected historical mis-
take of the gentleman. The State Of Missouriwas
not admitted into the Union on the passage of the
compromise of 1920, but the very Congress which
passed the compromise objected 10 the admission
of Missouri into the Union. s
Mr.. MACE replied that, if he did misappre-
bend history, il did not initiate against the
fact that the very object OF the organization Of
those territories was nothing more nor less than
to admit slavery into territory now free, six or ten
times as large as Indiana. Up TO the time of the
introduction of the Nebraska bill, they had heard
nothing Of the repeal of the Missouri compro-
mise. "a
To the credit Of the south, and TO their praise
and integrity, the proposition did not come from
| them, but from the north. Without pretending to
| read them lecture, he would suggest and appeal
their honor and chivalry to step forward and ar
rest this infraction Of the general understanding
Of the country from 1920 to the present time. In
the conclusion Of his speech he said he should re-
sist the repeal of the Missouri compromise with
| all the power and influence which he possessed.
Mr.sSKELTON desired, above all things that
the members Of our OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES should dwell
together in peace and harmony. they OF New
Jersey, q State which he had the honor il part
70 represent, demand peace. Il is their strongest
desire Two years ago When be came here the
measures Of 1850 were fnality, and that members
were bound in good faith TO carry out the con-
tract. But now they were called upon TO repeal
the contract. He then opposed the reopenng Of
the slavery agitation, which he conceived would
be the result of disturbing the Missouri compro-
mise, and argued, until the close Of the hour aot-
ted in debate, against the expansion ofthe nstitu-
tion of slavery.
Mr.. MEACHAM obtained the floor, when the
committee rose
| Andthe House adjourned. yt
PETITIONS.
BY Mr. MILLER, Of Indiana: The petition of
r. Al Clements, administrator Of J. N. Mullican,
deceased, praying compensation for work done
on the national road in Indiana. Referred to the
Committeelof Claims lS e Is
BY Mr.. ELLISON: The petition Of John p.
Louise N. Halpin, John Perri and thirtyone
others, praying for the establishment Of mail
route from Bank mills, Perry township, Brown