The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-20
SETTLEMENT OF NEBRASKA.

Some time last year the settlers of Nebraska
Territory met in Convention agreed upon q
memorial to Congress, praying the establish
ment of a Territorial Government, and sent
delegate to Washington, to urge their petition.
The subject was brought before Congress. In
the House it was fully discussed-the chief
opposition TO the measure being raised by few
ultra shareholders. The bill at length passed
the House, bat being somewhat distasteful to
the Slave Interest, was not reported in the Sen
ate till late period, and was then suffered to
sleep till the last day of the session, when it
was pretended that it was too late to act
upon it.
Since then, it would seem that the opponents
of the measure have been trying to progresses
the public mind with the idea that the organi-
cation of Territorial Government would vio-
late the rights of the Indians scattered through
out the Territory. The Commissioner of In
dian Affairs has been out among them, holding
councils, and endeavoring, it is said, to effect
an extinction of the Indian title. According
to newspaper reports, he thinks that the anxi-
ETY. of the whites to settle in the Territory, and
the agitation of the subject in Congress, have
thrown obstacles in the way of speedy or
ganization and be advises to stop all agita-
ton and all settlement, until treaties for the
extinguishment of Indian titles have been con-
summated We have also the proceedings of
meeting of few of the settlers, which seems,
Us the New York Evening Post says, to have
been made according to order" at which the
following resolutions were passed:
Whereas We the residents of Nebraska
Territory, believing that all citizens of the Uni
ted States are entitled to the protection of the
General Government and feeling deeply our
isolated and unprotected situation and the
want Of some system of Government, there
fore,
Resolved, l. That the growing interest of
the Territory seems to demand the extinguish-
ment Of the present Indian title, and that we
are highly gratifed to see that the General
Government ia taking active steps to consum-
mate this much-desired object.
2. That although we earnestly desire and
ask for a speedy organization, nevertheless we
deem it imprudent to establish Territorial
Government until after the tales of the pres
ent owners OF the soil are extinguished, believ-
ing, as we do that the Indians have certain
rights guaranteed to them by Government
which must be respected
3. That we fully concur in the views ex.
pressed by Colonel Manypenny, Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, in regard to the present set
Element by the whites.
1 That we know no North, no South, nc
East no West, and that we desire the organi
zation of Territorial Government withou,
any restriction, but having due regard to the
interest of every portion OF our glorious Union
5. That we deem it expedent that We should
be represented in Washington this winter snt
that wc do in Convention assembled, nominate
a suitable person, free from all sectional preju
dices and partalitics, having the true interests
of the Territory at heart,
And pray what was the occasion for the
passage of the last two resolutions The hon
est settlers who voted last year in favor of the
organization of Territorial Government
never dreamed Of introducing any sectiona
controversy. The cant phrases of the Union
savers were unknown to them. Their delcgat,
was no sectional man, but attended simply t
his duty, without going out of his way to saw,
the Union, or whine about the Compromise
This meeting, "msde to order" shows wha
influences have begotten it-frst by resolving
against any Territorial organization at present
next, by adopting the cant of the ProSlavery
party finally by declaring against any restric
ton on the subject Of Slavery. We know to
what school they belong. But let them spar,
themselves any extra trouble. Nebraska il
now expressly exempt by the Missouri Com
promise, from tho introduction of Slavery
The same law of Congress that settled the
Missouri controversy settled that point and
this meeting, made to ORDER is guilty of i'm