The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-16

proposition caused much merriment but was withdrawn
before any action taken upon it The resolution was
laid on the table Two ballots then taken which
Mr. Bankss 1906 Mr. Richardson's a. and Mr. II. ~
Fuller's 40 The House then adjourned.
THE COURSE OF THE WASHINGTON UNION ON
THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.
In an elaborate editorial article the New Orleans Delta
Of late arragns the Of the President and Of
the Washington Union in regard to the early proceedings
the Nebraska bill The specific charge against the
Union is that when the proposition first made 10
peal the Missouri Compromise il was opposed and that a
forwards the President and the editor of the Union
CURED in declining regard the support of the Nebraska
bill a of democratic orthodoxy Instead Of dealing
in eliminating controversy ths subject will give
brief but truthful historical of the points involved
in the charges
When Mr. Douglas reported the Nebraska bill it
tanned provision expressly repeating the Missouri
slricton but adopted distinctly the principle of
Intervention popular sovereignty" which regard
ed as implied repeal Of that restriction. With this
were content for the that whilst it swept away
restriction which always regarded unjust and
constitutional it expressly rearmed the great principle
which the Compromise of 1850 rested Soon after the
introduction of Mr. Douglass bill notice given by
Senator Dixon of Kentucky that he would the fol
lowing amendment:
"Mr Dixon gave notice the bill the organ
zaon of the Territory of Nebraska up for considera
ton he would to amend it by adding the following
ton:
sth section Of the approved March 1890 entitled
act to authorize the people Of Missouri Territory to form
constitution and State and for tie admission
said State into the Union equal footing with the org
nal States and to prohibit slavery certain Territories
I'D h,E b
United States under the of Louisiana which lies north
Of SO deg 80 min north Latitude slavery and involuntary
parties shall be duly convicted &C. shall be construed
applied to the Territory organized by this other
States Territories shall be liberty take
hold their slaves within the Territories of the United States
and States formed thereon If the said entitled
approved as aforesaid had never been passed."
To this amendment took exception, and that is the
real foundation of the charge against the Union. As Mr.
Dixon whig and construed his amendment to
beyond the Compromise Of 1885, and therefore, cacu
lated give plausible pre,ext for revvng the slavery
agitation suggested the impolcy of adopting il, The
bill with Mr. Dixons amendment was recommitted TO the
territorial committee, and afterwards reported back with
the clause stands in the bill but not subject 10
the objection which took to Mr. Dixon's amendment
as follows:
That the constitution, and all laws of the United States
which locally nappcabe, shall the
and effect within the said Territory Of Kansas elsewhere
within the United States except the eighth section Of the
preparatory the admission of Missouri into the Union
approved March sixth eighteen hundred twenty which
being inconsistent with the principle of BY
Congress with slavery in the States and Territories
Missed BY the legislation of eighteen hundred and city,
monty called the compromise measures is hereby declared
imperative and void it being the meaning
this gsae slavery any Territory State
exclude herefro, but leave people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their way subject only to the constitution the Uni
ted States Proridea That nothing herein contained shall
be construed revive put in force any law regulation
which may have existed prior the of sixth of March,
eighteen hundred and twenty either protecting establishing
prohibiting, abolishng slavery"
When the bill reported back by Mr. Douglas the OBJ
lection taken by referred in the Senate by Mr.
Dixon who said that had done him injustice in intma
ting tina, the object of his amendment was to embarrass
and compcate The subject He expressed himself satisfied
with the bill then reported and avowed his purpose
give cordial support Mr. Douglas and Mr. Dixon took
the occasion to make the following remarks:
" Mr.. Douglas feel it my duty, without entering at all
into discussion Of this BILL say word of explanation in
regard to what has just been said By the honorable
from Kentucky, mir. Dxon.l l glad hear him say
that the BILL presented comprises all he intend
cd desired accomplish By his amendment because that
amendment seemed to me, and to with whom con-
suited to have meant than what he explains
and what glad to hear he did intend il to
We supposed it not only wiped the legislation Of
Congress heretofore adopted excluding slavery Terrific
ries within certain limits but that it really legaed slavery
into that Territory The obec, Of the committee neither
to legisate it in to egste il outneither admit
to exclude saverybu simply whatever obsta
elias Congress had placed there and apply the doctrine
congressional non-inerventon The explanation Of the hon
orable senator from Kentucky shows amendment
not what many supposed Judging from its phrase
ology deem this explanation due 10 him and myself.
Mr. Dixon. am obliged to the honorable senator from
Illinois mr. Dougasl for placing right upon that point,
And surely the phraseolcgy OF she amendment which
notice would not authorize the construction
has been given TO ha, s that would legsate slavery
into the Territories OF the United States Now the language
al that amendment IL In substance this that the
not be construed pesons from taking
into that Territory but that they shall
right to do IL the Missouri Compromise act had never
been passed. What is the effect Of that 1t only places
shareholders the position they would have occupied
had that Law been passed 1t does them
right by legislative enactment but merely
obstacle which legislative here had thrown
the Of shareholders taking their property these
rtcries. That ia The oniy effect my proposed amendment
could have bad, bad it been adopted"
II will be that sustained by Mr.. Douglas
and other democratic in the objection which we
made 70 Mr. Dixons amendment As soon however as he
dsavowed the purpose ebarrass the bin by his amend
ment, acknowledged that we had done him injustice
and cordially greeted him friend OF the measure