The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-01-23

tore l voted.
Mr.. Orr. The gentleman from Kentucky
hns ability and experience enough TO know,
that when he, as a member of this House,
casts vote. he does it according to con-
vlcions OF his own Judgment and conscience,
aul not from the constructions which a sub
s"uuent Congress aud subsequent parties may
give To the measure under consideration.
But will put the question to the gentle
man from kentucky in another FORM
Would the gentleman vote now to repeal the
Nebraska bill?
Mr.. II. Marshall. will answer the gen
tlemnn in this way guided by the attempts
that are being made by the northern Dem
ocracy to construe the bill one way, and of
the extreme southern Democracy to construc
the bill in the opposite direction, if the qucs
ton were to arise, | would vote to repeal
that clause Of the bill upon which the diff
ference of opinion arises.
Mr.. Orr. Would the gentleman vote to
repeal only that clause
Mr.. Ii. Marshall. Only that clause, so
far as this question is touched. There are
other clauses to which am opposed, and
always have been.
Mr.. Orr. DO understand the gentle
man, then, to say that, if he had been a
member Of the House during the last Con-
grss, with the construction given by him
self to the Nebraska Till, he should have
voted for it as it was then framed and pre-
scntcd
Mr.. II. Marshall. I have already said,
that if had construed it as southern Dem
ocrats and southern Wings construed it,
should have voted for it; bnt if had dream
ell OF the construction which has been given
1t toy northern Democrats, should have
voted against it.
MIR. Orr. Then understand the position
of the gentleman from Kentucky to he this ::
III constituting the Nebraska LiIl rs his own
judgment would have dictated, he should
have voted forit but knowing as he now does
that there are others who conSt,ue it differ
emily, he should vote against it.
Mr.. ii. Marshall desire not to he mis-
understood, and therefore say tony friend
from South Carolina. that what the bill
means Of course depends upon the construc.
ton o! the bill.
Mr.. Orr. Exactly.
Mr.. II. Marshall. Now if you who pas
se'l the till intend TO say that the bill as
passed contaius-no matter how-the doc
ir'ne ct squattcr sovereignty, then say am
against it.
Mr.. Orr. The bill docs not refer the
matter Of Of its construction to the Demo
cratic party a, all. 1t refers for its consiru.-
ti"n in ali its parts to the courts, the proper
tribunal for that object; and will not hr
driven from my Interpretation Of the bill
tccause another man, or set Of men, choose
t" c"nstrne it differently. | will wait the
decision of the courts before will come
forward and disruSt the constitutional con-
cllsions to which have come with refer
cnce to it.
Mr.. Ii. Marshall. A single. remark. 7 do
not feel disposed to visit any censure on
those in Congress who voted for the Kansas
and Nebraska hil. If had construed il.
rs my friend from South Carolina | pre-
sumcd construed it, should have voted the
same way. But that is very different
question from the matter which is now pre-
scntrl.-Thc party will, which the gentle
man acts, 10y their Cincinnati platform, put
! forth to the world, as the philosophy Of the
Nebraska bil, and as the doclrine upon
which they were TO 60 into the canvass, a
! particular construction Of that bill. and that
construction, as stated l'v northern Demo,
rratS. sanctions s4nntter sovereignty so
say ,h" most distinguished members of the
northern section. | 'lo not ensure those
who voted for the bill, bnt Aenounce it
when gentlemen make it, will, that con.
s.ructon. part Of their future creed.
Mr.. Orr. The extent to which the Gin
rinnati platform goes, as understand it, is
simply this; it does not attempt to cnnstrue
the Nebraska bill at all. 1t announces as
a principle of the Democratic party, tha,
when the population Of Il Territory is suffi.
cicnt to enlitle it to admission into the Tn.
ion, it shall come either with or without ala.
very, as the people themselves shall deter
mine. 1t does not attempt to construe tho
Nebraska bill at ALL
The gentleman from Kentucky during the
last session Of Congress was on more than
one occnssion very indusirio,,sly and assidu
ous'y occupied in endeavoring to produce
confusion and destruction in the ranks O
the Democratic party. lie was occupied
with the effort TO convince the country that
the democratic party was not standing up
on principle; and hence, when our distin
gnlsed friend from Illinois Mr.. Richard
son was nominated by the Democratic par
ty IN this House as their candidate for tho
Speakership, the gentleman from Kentuck,
tired in various ways to identify him will
a construction which lie knew would be
unpopular with many Democrats, and hence
produce discord. He failed then to accom-
pI'sh the result, apl now renews the effor
against the entire party, to weaken it Nortl
and South.
Now, desire the gentlemen to under
stand that the Democratic party, North O
South, DO not attach the importance to thi
issue on sqnatter sovereignty which h,
seems to attach to it by the attempts lie ha
made to magnify !: as tho chief feature o
! the Nebraska-kansas bill. The great Oh
ject sought to be accomplished in the intro
ductlon and passage Of that bill was this
the continual agitation Of the slavery ques
ton uponthe floors of Congress had pro
duced discord and dissolution here; it hat
a'ienated the different portions Of the Con
federacy from each other, and WAS threa,
ening the existence of the Government i.
sell, and hence it was thought best by ma