The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-15
The Nebraska Question.
a Reply 10 Mrs Harriet Bescher Sfo,os on the Nebraska
Question, BY Mrs. A. p. Petit.

WAsHlNdToN CITY, March 10, 1894.
find an article in the Boston Congregaiionast OF the
nth utmo which purports to have been written by you,
for which article l. in behalf OF the women OF the free
States, am truly sory-sorry Tor its unblushlng mssate
ments and the ianatcal spirit with which II is tempered
yet am not surprised that such statements should have
emanated from such a source There are certain at
tributes OF woman among which virtue and truth and
from which she cannot depart as long she continues
woman.
| have alleged that you are guilty OF an "unblushing
misstatement," and, were Il not unbecoming woman,
would say that you grossly ignorant OF the provisions
of the bill organizing the Territory OF Nebraska or had
uttered malicious alsehood-false IN fact malicious in
its intentions
You charge that the South are urging the agitation
Of slavery, and attempting 10 iasten it upon the free
territory of the United States You charge treason upon
the United States Senate, and aIege that they desire TO
fost slavery upon free territory repeat your allega-
tons are false your charges malicious The South
have not sought agitation the Senate have not designed
TO establish slavery within the Territories; but, the
other hand the South have Justly conended for great
American principle, based upon constitutional right, and
the patriotism OF the North has as justly responded to
recognition OF that great principle.
To sustain the truth OF my assertions, refer to the
latter clause Of the l4h section OF The bill passed by The
Senate the morning OF the 4th instant, which provides
That the constitution, and all laws OF the United States
which are not locally nsppicabe, shall have the same
force and effect within the said Territory OF Nebraska
elsewhere within the United States, except The eighth
section OF the act preparatory to The admission OF Missouri
into the Union, approved March 9th, 1870; which, being
inconsistent with the principle OF non-intevenuon by
Congress with slavery in the States and Territories, as
recognised by the legislation oil 1850, Commonly called
the compromise measures is hereby declared imperative
and void il being the intent and meaning of this act
not TO egslae slavery into any Territory State nor
TO exclude hererom, but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free TO form and regulate their domestic nsttu-
tons in their own way, subject only to the constitution
of the United States Provided, That nothing herein
tanned shall be construed to revive put 10 force any
law regulation which may have existed prior 10 the
act OF 9Th March, 1870, either protecting establishing.
prohibiting, or aboshing slavery"
This section, then, expressly declares, il being the
trne intent and meaning OF this 10 egslae slavery
into any Territory State, 10 exclude il theferom
but 10 leave the people thereof perfectly free TO om and
regulate their domestic institutions in their way,
subject only the constitution Of the United States
And vet IN the face Of this provision you charge that
the Senate of the United States ls about TO establish sa
very IN the free Territories Are you aware, madam, that