The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-01-23
MISCELLANY.
Speech Of the Hon. James L. Orr in the
House of Representatives.


House of Representatives.
Mr.. Orr. l had not intended TO have par
ticipaled in this debate, a, least until the
message of the President had been refer
red to the Committee Of the Whole on the
State Of the Union, and ordered TO he prin-
d,-This debate in the House is unusual
and |, therefore. on the very day on which,
it opened, voted to sustain the demand for
the previous question on the motion to re-
fer. | am only induced now to say any
thing, in consequence of what has fallen
from my distinguished friend from K"nuckv,
Mr.. II. Marshall who has just taken his
seat. Before | commence, however.
would like to- in1uir" of my honorable friend
from Krntukv whether, if h" had been a
member of the last Congress. h" would have
voted for the passage Of the Kansas and
Nebraska Till
Mr.. II Marshall. will say this, in re-
ply to the question Of the gentleman. So far
as the bill touches power over slavery
with the Southern construction of The kar =
sas and Nebraska hill would have voted
for il with the Northern construction I
would not have voted for it.
Mr.. Orr. Every gentleman who ncrrpi-
ed a seat in this Hall, when that Till came
to he passed upon, had to determine for
himself what construction it WAS sn~r-pIi-
hle Of Now I ,lrsir" to- know rf the gen
.ie,nan from k"u'u"kv wh-'h"r if he hail
been a m"rnher of tn" House, What ronstrur.
tion hr would have given it. and whether
upon that construction he would have voted
for or against it?
Mr.. Ii. Marshall. If the gentleman
wants me to construe the hill will do it.
Mr.. Orr. would like to have the gen
teman answer the question SO as to make
it tintciigihle.
Mr.. II. Marshall. am like the Dem
ocra:s. 1t seems that cannot make my
self inlelligible But l will explain. Ir
any opinion, the nineteenth clause. believ.
it is Of the Nebraska bill contains guaran
tee that the State to be formed out Of the
Territory shall be admitted with or wthou
slavery, as the constitution Of such State
shall itself determine. That / regard n.
conclusive and sufficient on the snbjcct.
In regard to the proviso contained in the
thirty-second section. If had been here
should have done as the gentleman from Ten
nessee from the Nashville district [Mr. Zo!
ticoffer did, and as good many other ole
"bSs uiu s1OuIu nave construed tllat
proviso as consistent with the express guar
antec in the nineteenth section, and I, there
fore, with this construction, should hav'
voted for the bill. But when, find dis
tiag"ished men Of the Democratic party at
tempting to give subsequent construction
to tho bill, and destroy tile guarantee thu
given 10y introducing the new and dubiou
principle Of squatter sovereignty-I say tina
If that is to be the construction Of that bill
I place my foot right there, and I am, a
gainst the Nebraska bill.
Mr.. Orr. The gentleman has not an
swered my question yet.
Mr.. II. Marshall. Then I cannot.
Mr.. Orr. hope the gentleman will an
swcr my question. either one way or tn
other. 1t 10 matter Of no consequence, 81
far as the point to which wish to arrive i
concerned, what constructions may have snb
sequently been given. Every member O
the House, ct the time Of the passage ofth
Nebraska bill, construed it for himself; and
ask the gentleman from Kentucky whether
with the rnc,ion he would have eiver
1t, Aes~ol ,ave voted for it.
Mr.. II. Marshasl II it does not carr,
with It the power Of the people Of the Ter
ritoriss to exclude slavery before tile tim
Tn their adhesion as States, would Lav