Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-15
From the Richmond (va) Enquirer.
THE NEBRASKA BILL EMAscULATRD.

SUCH Is our conception OF Inc value and lu-
portance Of the principle sought to be estab-
lished by the Nebraska bill, that we would
consent to the sacrifice Of any mere matter Of
detail in order to secure it's passage. Beyond
this, we must refuse to go; and especially do
we protest against the absurdity and moon
sistency Of purchasing the recognition OF one
principle BY the surrender Of another Of equal
magnitude and consequence To not other
wise would justly subject us to the repr0ach Of
an inconsiderate folly, which, in the eager
chase after one advantage Of doubtful achieve
ment abandons others already in the grasp
Such conduct would display little Of the sobri-
ETY. and conservatism Of true statesmanship
Ia approving the Nebraska bill in the pre-
else shape in which it passed tho Senate, we
apprehend the South is committing folly Of
this character.
The Nebraska bill contemplates only the
recognition of principle. All agree that Sla--
very cannot exist in the Territories Of Kansas
and Nebraska, in consequence Of certain in
compatible conditions Of soil and climate It
10 not therefore because of it's effect in extend
ing the sphere Of Slavery that the South adyo-
Gates the repeal Of the Missouri restriction, but
solely for the reason that it would vindicate
the equality and sovereignty Of the States
The single aim of the Nebraska bill is to estab-
lish the principle of Federal non-interwntion
in regard to Slavery How, then, can this bill
consistently assert the power Of the Federal
Government to annul law which, prevailing
over the Territory at the period of its acqui-
sition, sanctions and establishes Slavery? Yet
this is precisely what one provision of tho bill
undertakes TO accomplish Before the enact
ment of the Missouri restriction, Slavery exist
cd in all the Territory comprehendcd within
the Louisiana purchase, by virtue of the local
law Of the Colony. The effect Of the enact
ment of 1920 was to repeal this law; and the
legal effect Of the repeal of the restriction
would be to revive the law recognising and
establishing Slavery within the limits of the
French purchase. Ia order to disarm oppo-
sition, the Senate agreed to surrender the ad-
vantage which, by this operation, the South
would acquire, and accordingly on motion of
Mr.. Badger, the bill was encountered with
provision against the revival Of the old French
law establishing Slavery.
Now, we ask if this provision be not incon-
sistent with the intent and character Of the
bill The object of the bill is to assert the
doctrine Of Federal nonlntervention and, to
facilitate its passage the friends Of the bill at
tach to it an amendment, by which Congress
intervenes to arrest the operation of law
which would establish Slavery in the Terrific
rloS OF kan6R5 ana NeDraska. what l6 the
value of the principle Of the bill, if it do not
deny to Congress the power to legislate in re-
spect to Slavery in the Territories 1t is per-
fectly manifcst that the amendment, Of Mr..
Badger ncutralizes and destroys the effect Of
the principle which the bill is meant to estab-
lish **#*
The doctrine Of squafter sovereignty, as pro-
pounded by Mr.. Cas-, was denounced and re-
sisted from the first by the State Rights men Of
the Democratic party How, then, can we 40
cept bill which asserts and illustrates this
dogma in its widest latitude and most PERM
cious effect The provision that the laws Of
the Territorial Legislature shall be. exempt
from the supervision Of Congress inserted in
the Nebraska bill at the instance Of Mr. Doug
las is an anomaly in this sort Of legislation,
and bestows on the Territorial Government
absolute Independence and sovereignty. Well
might Mr.. Cass with paternal exultation, on
occasion Of the passage Of the bill, congratn-
late himself on the triumph Of his favorite the
DRY Of squatter sovereignty. But in what po-
sition do we Of the South stand, who approve
the bill with this odious feature? Do we de-
nounce a principle when it operates to our in
jury, and assert and applaud it when by pos
sible chance il may bring us some benefit
Shall we display such versatility Of opinion
and laxity Of principle as to approve 10 day
what we condemned yesterday"