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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1854
505
Mr. President. This unusual night sitting is without precedent in the history of any previous Congress at this stage of the session. The extraordinary circumstances in which we find ou;rselves placed, would seem to indicate a crisis in the affairs of the country of no ordinary importance; a crisis that portends either good or evil to our institutions. The extraordinary char- acter of the bill before the Senate, as well as the manner in which it is presented to the body, demands the gravest deliberation. This, sir, is the anniversary of a protracted session, in which the organization of the Territory of Nebraska was elaborately dis- cussed, on the last day of the last session. In that discussion, which, like this, had kept us in our seats till the morning; dawn, the prominent points of opposition were such as related to the Indian tribes. Such .a bill at the present session would have met with no insuperable objections; but what do we now find? A bill entirely variant, a bill which involves new and important principles. It has come an unexpected measure without a harbinger, for no agitation was heard of, and the breeze bore no whisper to our ears that the Missouri Compr!omise was to ·be repealed. Its presentation has been as sudden as the measure itself is bold, and the excitement of the public mind is of corresponding intensity. vVe are told, to be sure, that there is no necessity for agitation, and that soon the public mind will be tranquil, and the country will be in a state of repose aud quiet-as it was at the introduction of this measure. The honorable Senator who has just taken his seat [Mr. Douglas], the chairman of the Committee on T'erritories, in his lecture to the South, exhorted them to stand by the principle of this bill, with the assurance that it will be good for them, and that the country will maintain it. Sir, under proper circumstances I should recognize the exhortation; but is the principle such a one as should be adopted by this body, or can it be sanctioned by the nation? Whether it is expedient a~d useful at this time I shall take the liberty to examine. Mr. President, I can not believe that the agitation created by this measure will be confined to the Senate Chamber. I can not believe, from what we have witnessed here to-night, that this will be the exclusive arena for the exercise of human passions and the expression of public opinions. If the Republic be not shaken, I will thank Heaven /01· its kindness- in maintaining its stability. To what extent is it proposed to establishd the principle of non- intervention? Are you extending it to a domain inhabited by
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