Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-10
bili.y that such project would ever be

terest requires IT,
Uncalled for by the People, not necessary to
promote any Of their interests, its introduce
| ton has served no other purposes thus lar,
| than to embitter sectional spirit to infiame
| the passions of the Public, to bring ont In bold
relief the latent antagonisms between the North
and South, to awaken hostile feelings between
the two sections, and to impair the attach
ment Of many good citizens to the Union and
its success will open our magnificent Western
Territory to Slavery, break down the policy OF
Slavery restriction in Oregon, Washington, and
Minnesota, stamp with disapprobation the orr
ginal policy Of the Federal Government in
relation to Slavery, nationalist it in all United
States Territory establish principle which
will embolden the South to perpetual acquls-
tons ON our Southern and Southwestern bor-
ders, confirm the supremacy Of the Slave Pow
or in the Federal Councils, and stimulate it to
new aggressions upon the rights Of the free
States.
Such proposition, left to the unbiased de-
liberation even Of the present Congress- with
no Executive interference to seduce or intimi-
date the corrupt or the timid, it is notorious,
| would be voted down by q decided majority.
But the known intention Of the Executive
Power prevents free and unbiased action.
/ In view of all these facts will it not become
the solemn duty Of the friends Of Freedom in
the House, should they find themselves out
numbered by the allied forces Of the Slave
Power and the Administration to pledge them
selves to each other to resist, by every expedi-
emit known to the rules and usages of the House,
the action Of the majority, and arrest all pro-
ceedings on the subject till the supporters Of
the proposition agree to refer the whole ques-
1 ton to the People Believing, as they do, that
the great majority Of the People are hostile to
the proposition, and that its success would be
Aagrant violation Of their rights and interests,
ought they not to assume the position that it
shall not be passed by o Congress chosen with
out any reference to it, but shall be postponed
till the People, through their Representatives
in a Congress chosen with express reference to
it, shall signify authofitatively whether they
be in favor Of it or not
II seems to US that a grosser violation OF the
doctrine Of popular selfgovernment more
abominable outrage on Popular Sovereignty,
could scarcely be committed, than by the
passage of this Bill for the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, without opportunity being
given to the People Of the United States to an
nounce their viii concerning it, through their
appropriate Representatives, chosen for that
4 purpose.
We trust that the opponents of the measure
in the House will adopt as their motto,
No repeal Of the Missouri Compromise TIL
the People of the United States shall opow their
wiu through the Representatives Of new Con-
gress.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL ALIEN RESIDENTS
Ion,u Of the Baltimore Sun, says:
"In regard to the Homestead bill the amend
ments thereto afford subjects Of grave consid-
GRAFTON. The original bill limits its. benefits to
actual citizens Of the United States, but it is
4 proposed to embrace foreigners who haze signi.
fed their intention Of becoming citizens. Elk
tending the bill with this amendment to the
Kansas and Nebraska Territories, the House
will nullify the effect of the repeal Of the Sla-
very prohibition. We shall give away the do
main to foreign emigrants as fast as they come
into the country, so as to render certain the
exclusion Of the shareholders from it.
By one Of these land grants we can socn
double the amount Of foreign immigration, and
expel Slavery from every Territory or State
where the Government owns public lands. II
/ is said, too, that Slavery is to be abolished in
Missouri as soon as fifteen thousand additional
votes, expected from foreign immigration, can
! be secured in that State. To suppose that
Missouri is to remain q slaveholdng State while
surrounded by circle of free States, is absurd"
We are not sure that we understand the pro-
foreigners The first section enscts that q any
free white person." The head of a family" or
who is twenty-ons years. " and is citi1sn of
the United States" may enter, free of cost, one
quarter section Of vacant and unappropriated
public land Standing alone this section would
restrict the benefits Of the act to citizens Of the
United States, excluding all alien residents not
fully naturalized but section sixth provides as
follows
SEC. s. and be ii further enacted, That If
any individual now q resident Of any one Of
the States or Territories, and not citizen Of
the United States but, at the time Of making
such application for the benefit Of this act,
shall have filed q declaration Of intention. ais
required by the naturalization laws Of the Uni
ted States and shall become citizen of the
same before the issuance Of the patent, as made
and provided for in this act, shall be placed
upon an equal footing with the native-born
citizen Of the United Ststes.0
At first sight, it might be supposed that this
section embraced all foreign immigrants, who
shall have fled declaration Of their intention
to become citizens, but close examination Of
the terms excludes this supposition. II extends
the benefits Of the act only to those immigrants
who shall have fled such declaration, and
are now resident in State or Territory of the
United Statca that Ia an resident Mt Tho time