The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-12
Letters on the Nebraska Bill, from DudleJ
bunton, In the Country, to Hon. Philip Phil
son, Washington, ID. C.-No 4.
The Logic Of Latitude 3e 80.

My DEAR PHILIP: An honest inquirer after truth ever
shows disposition TO simplify the investigation in which
he engaged his ann being single. candor and fair deal
ing will characterize the successive steps by which he
seeks his object
Do Senators Seward and Sumner, with the less able
but more innocent dupes who echo then mischeIvous
without sharing their guilt or emuatng their
ambition, show these evidences Of truth seeking
Have they not threaded every toriuous path, and
the sectional hatred of the passionate and preju-
diced and used every honorable, and some doubtful
pedents, array The hostility OF every blind and brswl
ing pocst against the Nebraska bill, before they at
tempted senblance OF argument
These men know as well as you or !, tina, this bill
does not legtmaley involve the slavery controversy al
all The whole discussion turns upon the question OF
The rights Of American citizens who become inhabitants
OF Territories II is OF those questions that involve
The liberties Of the whole people, and nearly affects
the and hardy pioneer than any other class
OF Americans
In every controversy, especially sabjecr that stir
the passions and the prejudlces highly in.
porant 10 discriminate between The real and apparent
and separate the essential from the Incidental elements
OF the question.
In no other way can we form an intelligent and i'm
partial judgment Of the Nebraska controversy
What is the real point about which Congress and the
country now disputing Let US see II we can dis
cover
1t is not whether slavery be rgh, wrong. 1t is not
whether Congress should seek It's exirpaon the States
Ii is not whether Congress shall egislate in its favor
and give il wider extension and more distinct recogn-
ton by lis acts The supporters OF this bill divided
slavery. The opponents Of the bill dare not avow the
desire that Congress should abolish slavery in the States
The friends OF the bill dIsclaim the notion of egsIa-
ting for the extension OF ssyey-nay, the Objectionable
clause OF the bill itself associated with explanatory
words by which II Is restrained from operating 10 estab
Ish or recognise slavery IN the Territories organized by
IT. Having what il is not, shall be less liable
to misspprebend as 10 what ii IL.
II we refer 10 the bill which has furnished the occa
sion for displaying all tbs negro philanthropy shall
discover that II seeks 10 abrogae all legislation by Con.
he NH in I.rf L..
repeating OF declaring imperative the sih section OF the
act preparatory TO the admission OF Missouri into the
Union Stale; this comprehends the whole in
dispute This being ssceriained, half the difficulty is
disposed Of The bill does not affirm the legality or pro-
pretty OF slavery Il properly uties opinion on the
subject II simply seeks to establish the principle that
Congress should not interfere with H. but should leave
H. with other questions analogous 10 IT, with the people
who shall The right 10 dispose OF II by becoming the
pioneers OF settlement and civilization ~ these Terrific.
ries With these prelmlnses shall proceed to discuss
The question with the perfect freedom OF our ancient
friendship.
As tbe enemies o. ,bis bill have epdeavored, in the
absence oil argument, 10 supply this deficiency with
words, by associaing with the clause which is sought
10 be repealed particular sanciiy and binding force
growing out OF It's origin and nature, | shall reeur TO
les, aspect Of NE question, and demonstrate what il
really 80 plain that u could not possibly have escaped
Sewards cunning OF Chsse's laborious dullness
The clause which !. proposed 10 tepesl was intro
duoed By Mr. Thomas, Of Illinois, and by Henry Clay
who voted against ~ under circumstances which utter.
~ preclude The idea oi compact contract or COMPROMISE.
"soemn" or lapgbable, "saored" or profane
This clause s merely part OF al Of Congress.
which, while " ~ operative prohibits slavery in all that
part OF The louisiana Territory lying north Of 90 deg 30
mln permitting u south of the latitude The Souh
has more than one occasion proposed 10 extend The
principle oil this clause 10 all territory belonging 10 the
republic The North has steadily resisted such extension
and Application OF the principle, endeavorng 10 Apply
restriction that should invade the territory south Of this
"sscreds lie
We ought 10 bear in mind that il il bat short ,ime
since the attention OF statesmen has been turned 10 The
subject oil Territories Their relation 10 the federal Gov
eminent, and their rights. OF course the ideas which
governed those who first called upon 10 ACT on The
question necessarily crude, and have been found 10
be frequently erroneous.
The acquisition OF territory, by conquest or Otherwise
was unknown 10 the constitution; consequently thai
instrument has not pointed out the limitations 10 the
powers OF The federal government over Territories with
the jealous ersotuds exhibited in relation 10 States
Is It therefore, honest siaiesmanlike or PATRIOTIC
because the silence OF the constitution conioined with
Developments OF growth, furnish The opportunity for
subveung ts principles without invading It's letter. ia IL
proper Tor us TO do so Shall be ovebearng and in
soent, and snii-repuboan, because be SO with
IMMUNITY
l. duty rather TO examine the question IN the
light oil our political and constitutional history and il we
dscover thai The institution OF slavery
fsot and that It's existence did bar those among whom
it existed from political privileges exactly equal IN all re-
according 10 the same rule And although we DO not
approve Of slavery question of tsaie or morals, and
although should feel bound 10 oppose introducon
into he States where reside, yet convinced.
had this question been presented 10 the trainers of the
Constitution they would have made the same