The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-03-31
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN OF INDIANA,
ON NEBRASKA.

|, ON NEBRASKA.
The following gives the best dispositio
we have yet seen of the argument that III
Nebraska Bill proposes to leave the SLAYER
question entirely with the people. Tn
speech of Mr.. C. vas made in Congress on tn
18th inst.
Let us now look at the great end which, a
its advocate declares, is to be attainedby tn
adoption Of this measure. There is much ap
parent sincerity in the zeal with which it il
asserted that by denying the rightto the peo
pie of the Territory to dispose Of this whole
question by government OF the
own choice, we make their cond
tion analogous to that of our colonial ances
tore, and against which they rebelled; ane
that this view of the case involves a grea
principle, which every American citizer
holds sacred; and further, that by conferrine
upon them this power, we adopt sthe only
practicable mode Of allaying finally and effec-
tually all further agitation of the slavery
question. But, sir, the idea that this bill
confers this right, even as now amended, is all
delusion; it is utterly fallacious, from begin
ning to end.
MIR. Chairman. in answer to all this, / will
now proceed to show, by the other express
provisions of the bill itself, that, even if we
adopt this measure, we after all deny these
people almost every attribute of sovereignty,
and multiply the chances for agitation and
excitement thousand fold.
Thapo ara tbrao ,nd oply tbraa dor fr,,o NJ q
Of Government recognized by our American
Constitution-the Executive, the Judicial,
and the Legislative. In two Of these depart
ments Of the Government you propose to
create by this bill, you as effectually deprive
the people Of al! participation in the appoint
meht of their officers as you do the very slav-
es you send among them. Both the Execu-
tive and Judicial departments you dispose Of,
and make the officers (Which in the States
we call the servants ofthe people, the mere
creatures of the Executive power ofthe Uni
ted States, by provisions like the following.
The twelfth section ofthe bill commences
thus: ... ,....
"And be it further enacted, That the Gov
ernor, secretary, chief justice, and associate
justice, attorney, and marshal, shall be nomi-
mated, and by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, appointed by the President of
the United States.'
And how is it with the Legislative power of
the Territory" 1t is true you confer upon
the people the mere shadows of sovereignty,
in the election of the members of the Legis-
latve Assembly, and upon that Assembly the
mere form of legislative power; but then, at
one fell swoop, you deprived both OF them OF
the very soul and substance of both, and BY
subecting all their acts to the veto Of the
and the determination OF the ju-
dietary that appointed.
Talk now, will you, ofiis "beng the intent
and meaning of this ac,, not to legislate sla-
very into any Territory or State, nor to ex-
clude it therefrom, but to leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form aud regulate
their domestic institution in their own way"
Mockery! was that mockery! And is this
the grand panacea you propose for slavery
agitation! Let US see how it will operate.
Sir, there is no longer any faith in comprom-
ises. If by this act we repeal the Missouri
compromise, the Congress which succeeds US
may follow our example and repeal this act
Then, again, every territorial bill that is in
troduced will call up rehearsal of the scenes
now deing enacted here. Furthermore,
under the provisions of this bill, this mock
Assembly will, of course, play
legislation, and try their hand at the adjust
ment of this question, subject to the veto, not
of Congress, but of the Presidents viceger-
ent.
Mr.. Chairman, there is a worse form of sla-
very than negro slavery Here the shackles
are riveied upon the mortal body, on whose
pershng exterior the iron, kissing hot, it is
true, burns the word slave.
But the other, more terrible than this, is
the slavery of the soul; where man dare have
no opinions Of their own. There the mana
cles are thrown around the immortal soul;
and there, too, slave is branded with the more
dreadful sting of that fire which is not quen-
Globe.