Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-12-16
Nebraska. Cuba, California.

Whoever reads and confides in the cotton
journals, North or South, will naturally be
led to believe that the agitations from time
to time arising i'll tins country especting Sla-
very are entirely fomented by the adversaries
of the peculiar institution" we who
deplore the existence and hope for the terlnin-
alton of Human Bondage in land boastful Of
its Liberty, are necessarily deyising schemes,
plots, manoeuvers, for the restriction OF Slave
holding within narrower limits, or its complete
eradication.
Now the actual truth is exactly therevcrse
Of this. They are certainly Abolitionists who
live and labor for the entire and immediate
overthrow of Slavery; but these form an in
considerable minority, even at the North, and
rarely elect so many as half-a-dozen Members
to Congress Of three hundred They WELD
no direct power, and excite no serious alarm
in the breast of the Slayeholding interest,
while the immense majority of the conscien-
tious opponents of Slavery in the Union,
while they indeed hope and would gladly la
Dor for its complete extinction, yet perceive
no mode in which affirmative political action
on their part could promote the end they seek,
anu are dNcISc W az IdtioH anu diIcLdtlOi
where no positive good is attinable They
war against Southern Slavery no otherwise
than against Chinese idolatry or South Sea
llcentiousnezs-that is, by the diffusion of
light and truth and the quiet rebuke of a
consistent testimony. Ardently desiring the
dawn of that happy day wherein the shack
les shall fall from the limbs of the last human
chattel, they yet disclaim any moral right to
use any power confded to their hands by the
Federal Constitution for purpose so obvious
ly foreign to the contemplation of the Trainers
of that instrument rs the abolition of South
ern Slavery by Northern votes. Disclaiming
any right thus to use the power so conferred,
they feel no more responsibility for the cx-
istence Of Slavery in Mississippi than in Tum-
buctoo, and expressly limit their Political ac-
ton respecting the institution to keeping the
evil out Of their own States respectively and
out of the Territories belonging to the whole
Union and governed only by the laws and
functionaries thereof. In other words, their
position is purely defensive, and one which
the South has no reason to complain Of
How is it on the other side!
The territory known as Nebraska stretches
westward from the frontier of Missouri to the
crests of the Rocky Mountains 1t is the
home of many Indian tribes but has more
recently been settled by severa! hundred fam
lilies of white pioneers, who are naturally de-
srous of the protection and security only
found under a government Of laws and civil
functionarles But Nebraska has no organ
lZatlon, no government, no laws; and Il quiet
but determined effort has forvears been made
to prevent her organization except on condi-
ton that the vital stipulation of the Missouri
compromise be annulled. Missouri. for man
ny years previously an organized territory, APP
piled in l8l920 for admission into the Uni
on as State. She had been a slaveholdino
territory before she was transferred bv France
to this country; she always remained a slave
holding territory and she framed aslayehold-
ing constitution preliminary to her applica-
ton for the rights and immunities of State
of the Union. Her admission was resisted
by the Free States with general nanimitv.
but was finally carried on the express condi-
ton that all our remaining territory North of
lat. 36deg. 30min. should be evermore Free
territory. Even thus, the great body of the
representatives of Free States held out; but
some acceeded, and by these added to nearly
all the Members from the Slave States the
Missouri compromise was enacted. And now
certain pro-Slayery politicians are spurringup
the South to demand the abrogation or null
itication of the vital condition wherein Mis-
souri, was admitted, and the opening of Neb-
raska TO the legal Introduction of slaves!
So with regard to California; She has
come into the Union a Free State, and her
| admission was balanced by an important con-
! cession to the Slave Power. Now the Sla-
very Propaganda hold on to the concession
and at the same time insist on the division
of California in such manner that the southern
portion may become first a saveholding Ter
ritory, afterward a slaveholding State. We
of the contrary Part ara simply resisting this
effort.