Washington sentinel., 1854-06-22
SOUTHERN SENTIMENT.

t publishes the following article from the New
Orleans Bulletin:
f "The Washington Sentinel of the 7th tries
to throw ridicule upon the selections made by
the National Mteltigencer, from many southern
, journals opposed to the Nebraska bill, headed
! southern sentiment. Says the Sentinel: The
Iateiligencer knows, and every body knows that
southern sentiment is in favor OF the Nebras-
ka bill, warmly and cordially in favor off it,
sour Washington Nebraska contemporary
is altogether in the wrong. The Ltelligencer
does not know, nor does the Sentinel know, nor
does any body else know that southern senti-
ment is warmly and cordially in favor of the
Nebraska bill; for the very opposite is the
case. Its introduction fell coldly upon the
southern public, the fierce discussions that fol-
lowed awakened no sensation, and its passage
4 or defeat would have produced no widespread
excitement Indeed, we believe the shareholders
of the south would have preferred its defeat
We believe we are perfectly safe in saying that
we represent, editorially, more planters than
all Of the Washington papers put together, and
we have yet to meet one who does not look
upon the introduction of the Nebraska bill as
| ill-timed, ill.advised, and injudicious, if not
! positively wrong. Congress can go to work
and repeal the Nebraska bill, and there will be
/ no Indignation among shareholders, no excite
ment, not a billionth part Of the agitation that
its passage has created among the abolitionists
of the north. The political traders might at
1 tempt to raise breeze but they would fail Just
as signally as they did in attempting to get up
enthusiasm in favor of the Nebraska BILL"
As the Bulletin volunteers to take up the
cudgels in aid of the Mtelligencer, it was natu.
raj that we should expect it to bring some new
facts, some strong arguments and some con.
yincing proofs into the discussion. But strange
to say, it rashly leaps unarmed and unequipped
into the contest 1t seems to be so incautous
as to leave its shilalah at home.
The Bulletin very peremptorily denies our
assertion that the south warmly and cordially
sustained the Nebraska bill, and declares that
"the very opposite is the case" Now, we gave
some reasons for our opinion, and pointed to
evidences Of the correctness Of that opinion.
We said that nearly all of the southern. news
papers came ont in support of the Nebraska
bill. We acknowledged that there we're some
exceptions which we're "few and far between
But there was another and more satisfactory
test to which we pointed-the vote of the
southern members of the two Houses of Con.
gress. Now, the representatives of the people
are generally, it is fair to suppose, as true ex.
ponents of the feelings, wishes, and convictions
OF their constituents as can be found, and when
nearly all Of the southern representatives in
Congress voted, worked, and spoke for Ne
braska, in conjunction with nine-tenths of The
southern journals, it certainly is not rash to
say, and say with emphasis, that "southern
sentiment is warmly and cordially in favor OF
the bill.''
This, however, the Bulletin denies, and it
declares that the very opposite is the case 1t
makes the emphatic and unqualified declara-
ton, but does not assign one solitary reason
for SO believing. 1t says "its introduction fell
coldly upon the southern public Where is
the proof of this? Is the mere ipse dirit Of
the Bulletin to be taken in preference to all
the strong proofs to which we refer?
The bulletin expresses the opinion that
the slave holders of the south would have.
preferred its defeat 1t does not give the
grounds of this belief 1t does not present its
readers with one single fact, reason. or circum
stance on which the opinion is founded.
Then, we ask, what is the value of such an
unsustained opinion? Literally nothing.
But the most Objectionable part of the Bull
tetin's article is the concluding paragraph, in
which it takes no pains to conceal its wish
for the repeal of the bill, and encourages the
abolitionists, freesoilers, and incendiaries. to
persistin their mad effort in that behalf bysay
ing that it will create no indignation and no
excitement among slave holders.
We are sorry that our neighbor, the Intel1i.
gencer, has thought fit to copy, and to copy in
editorial type, this article of the Bulletin. We
are forced to the conclusion that it endorses it
and adopts its opinions. If SO, then the ques,
ton which we respectfully propounded to the
Latettigencer, few days since as to whether
it favored or opposed the repeal of the bill, is
| answered.
In all respect and gentleness, we would ask
the Bulletin how happens it that it is the pc.
culiar privileged and authorized spokesman Of
the south2 Why is its almost solitary voice
to be needed in preference to the united voice
of the southern press? Why does it claim to
be better exponent Of southern sentiment,
than the great body of the Representatives in
Congress from that section of the Union? The
Butlefia, if it hopes TO impress others with the
correctness of its opinions, must deal in some
thing stronger than gratutous assertion and
empty defamation. We do not doubt that it
honestly entertains the opinions it expresses
but it is grossly and egregiously mistaken.
DeS- The New York Times of the goth pub
fishes speech recently delivered by the dis.