Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-19
Mashiugtun gsntinsl,

SPEECH OF HON. GEO. e. BADGER
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
In the United States Senate,
Dslipered February l6, 1854, on the subject 81
the Nebraska Bill.
The Senate, as in Committee Of the Whole,
resumed the consideration of the bill to organ
ize the Territory of Nebraska. the Pending
question being on the amendment submittSa
IN the 18th instant by Mr.. CHASE, to addD ~ .le 4
l4th section Of the substitute repordtLed On the M
Committee on Territories, aswoords. - 'Ae
motion of Mr.. DouGLAs.
..unaer which thatiyes may If they See i prohbit
snnropriate ~ slavery herein"
tns ~ that the part al. the section relat;no 10
x natter wound 1~ad: y
ha. the Constitution and laws Of the United States
,ch are not locally inappcable, shall have the same
force and effect within the said Territory OF Ssbraska as
elsewhere withnhe United States except the Sth section
preparatory the admission Of Missouri into the
Union approved March g. 1920 which, being inconsistent
with the principles VI non-nerveDton by Congress- with
slavery the States and Territories recognised by the
legislation Of 1850, commonly called the compromise
measures hereby declared imperative and void It being
the intent and meaning Of this act not to legsate
slavery into any Territory State nor to exclude 1t
thereom but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way subject only the Constitution Of the United States
under which the people Of the Territories through their
appropriate representatives. mdy II they t prohibit
the existence of slavery therein"
Mr. BADGER. Mr.. President, like my hon
orable friend from Massachusetts,, Mr.. EVE
RETr, had strong, and to my mind insu-
perable, objection to the substitute to the bill as
It was originally reported to the Senate, upon
the ground that thought it did not etfectually
provide for maintaining the public faith Of the
nation towards the Indians, and their posses
sions, within the boundaries of these Terrific
ries. Like him, felt, and feel, that every mea.
sure, not only Of justice, but of kindness and
consideration, should be extended to the rem
nants Of those men who were originally pow
erful and warlike who once possessed large
portion of the original States of the Union; but
who now, dwindled in number, and enfeebled in
power, have, under our authority, been gathered
upon this territory west of the Mississippi, far
from the original homes Of their ancestors, un-
der a guaranty that they should not be dis
possessed of their new possessions.
I thought the substitute as originally re-
ported did not, in effect, provide for requiring
from these Indian tribes free and voluntary
consent, before territorial governments should
be established over them. Not doubling at all
that it was the intention of the honorable chair
man who reported this bill, and of the COM
mittee at the head of which he is, to afford
such guarantees for free consent on the part
of the Indians and to assure to them the ex-
ercise of a real free will in determining upon
the question, / still thought that, as the bill
stood, there would be no guaranty to accomplish
that purpose. thought, and still think, that,
if we suppose these territorial governments
established, and the governors of the Terrific
ries respectively made er-oticio the superinten,
dents Of Indian affairs, with all the appli
ances and means of those territorial govern
menis brought to bear with, in fact, an over
overpowering force upon the exercise Of the
will of those tribes, it would be a mockery te
ask them to consent, when the practical power
of refusal was in substance withheld. There
fore, if the substitute had remained in its
original condition, no earthly consideration
would have induced me to give it my support
for consider fair and untainted reputation,
as it is the most valuable possession of an indi-
vdual in private life, the strongest safeguard OF
nation.
But, sir, that substitute, upon the suggestion
of the Committee on Indian Affairs, upon
amendments proposed by its chairman, has
been relieved of those obnoxious provisions,
and | think it does now substantially assure to
us the exercise Of a free and independent will
on the part of the Indian tribes. All control
over them is entirely taken from the territorial
authorities. Though included geographically
within the bounds of these Territories, politi
cally they are to all purposes out of them, and
are not in any respect brought into contact
with, and will not have any transactions, Of
business, or dealings with the territorial authori
ties as such. The full, entire, and complete
jurisdiction of the President of the Unitee
States, and the officers of his appointment
irrespective entirely of the territorial organiza
ton, is continued and reserved; and the act!
passed for their security are re-enacted, ant
reafirmed; and every reasonable precaution ha'
been made to satisfy that plain demand upor
our honor, that what is asked from them the,
shall be at liberty to refuse.
/ know, sir, every gentleman is obliged t.
know, that every Indian tribe is more or les
subjected to influences in the transaction Q
business respecting their condition, and thei
property, which tits not in the power OF the Con
gress of the United States entirely to dissipat'
and remove. 1t is possible that the Presiden
of the United States, acting under the authorit.
conferred upon him by law, and reserved to, hin
by this bill, may appoint agents who will b
guilty of the most unworthy contrivances
means of compulsion, or arts OF persuasion
which may result in really depriving the lndiai
Of the fair and just exercise of his own indie
pendent will but | am not to presume tha
| any such use will be made Of power. A Presi
dent of the United States who would be guilt
of such conduct would be Justly handed dow
to posterity with indelible ignominy upon hi
character, and stand recorded to the remotes
generations as reproach to the character Q
the country which gave him birth and honore.'
him with its confidence. AS this, however, j
not to be presumed, and is not be believed,
say that i think all reasonable precautionshav
been taken which can be demanded of us t
insure fair, just, and free exercise OF tn
power Of assent or dissent.
Again, Mr.. President, sympathized in tn
view expressed by my honorable friend frou
| Massachusetts,, Mr.. EvERErT. that perhap
there was no necessity for immediate action j
respect to the establishment of these territories
and that we might, without any serious detr
| ment to the public good, have allowed tn
present state Of things to continue for fe'
years longer; but then | agree with him ths
1 this is, at last but question of time. Th
very necessities Of the case, the development,
of the country, our acquisitions on the Pacif
the rush Of the white population, with or wit
II a. ..1rohat,nn of Con oracs raudaro ~ u,