Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-17

and Peoples righfsY II they are, let
them advocate. support and defend the
principle involved Ia the Nebraska bill.
| have done.
Very truly, your ob't. &o.
IL. ID. JOHNSON.
OF Nebraska.
0rWe give place to the foregoing,
with the utmost pleasure. I'll just such
a document ~ we have been soliciting,
and We acknowledge our obligations to
Judge Johnson for thus furnishing II.
We are not only willing but anxious
that our readers should see both sides OF
tho question, though We can not give
plase to so lengthy document as the
speech OF Judge Douglass, and its ac-
companylng papers. on either side.
In the first place we deny that abolI-
tlonIsts are the only persons who oppose
the nation allzatIon OF slavery. unless the
speculation be given to all who do not
bow tho knee TO the Moloch OF slavery
II Is 20 much easier TO cry abolifionism
than II Is 10 meet the arguments OF Free
men, that the friends OF slavery txten-
ton and their allies, answer those argu-
ments generally, by that odlous word,
knowing that there Is just adherence
even In the north, OF the fanatics who
bear that name, and make the abolition
OF slavery, the polar star Of their social,
religious rnd political faith. The truth
however Is that there are very few such
In tho nation. We do not know one
such In Franklin County and but very
few In Indiana. They are odious, and
justly so. They would interfere with
slavery wherever found. Not so with
the masses OF frcemen that look upon
slavery as a national curse, and, while
they would not interfere with II where
Il l., they would, by all honorable and
iauefui means prevent It's extension
But the very resort Of slavery propagan.
dIsts 10 this means OF argument, shows
that they have no confidence In their
cause, when viewed In the light OF rea-
son and common sense.
Judge Johnson denies that the action
Ex-senator Douglass, In this case, Is q
bid for the Presidency. Perhaps we
were unehariiabie In 30 regarding it,
'. ell, we will see what we shall see
II he ID not put forth by northern men,
az acceptable TO the south, We will, In
due season, take Il back.
But the effort Of our correspondent 10
evade the point In our illustration, In the
compromise between the white man and
the Indian 10 failure. The south In
the compromise Of 1920 got all that
was then In dispute. They got the adj.
mission OF a slave state, and promised,
In consideration therefor, to forever pro.
hIbIt the Introduction OF slavery into the
territory now In questIon-A thing that
Judge Johnson now labors TO show they
had no right to promise. and therefore
the promise Is null and void. Who got
the buzzard Judge' The south got a
reality, the north promise ohieh Is aop
porfhiess.
We do not call 1t a treaty, nor do we
regard II as law that can not be re-
pealed. 1t Is only against the repeal OF
the law that we now object. II Is law
and us such the United States courts In
the new territory would have to observe
Il. 1t Is such law as would prevent the
introduction Of slavery into the territory
ohile territory, and ,chile governed BIZ
the iaros Of Congress. This Is all we ask
lit Is all any sensible man asks. That
a few fanatics desire ultra measures, does
90, fas,cn upon all who are opposed to
the extension Of slavery the odium OF
Abolitionism.
There is much margin In the Judges
decision on the Constitutlonality of the
compromise Of 1890. II we understand
him he means only to say that the Con-
gress OF 1920 could not pass an act that
the Congress OF 1854 could not repeal :.
We have no objection to that. But II
he meant to say that that act is now in
operative because Congress has no right
to prohibit tho introduction Of slavery
into a territory, we come down-wo do
not join issue. for we have not the bold.
ness to join iSsIc with one who pro-
nounces the statesmen OF that age ig-
norant Of the meaning OF the consttu-
ton. Judge Johnson knows that the
constitutionali,y Of the question was
thoroughly canvassed and heartily ap-
proved by the greatest men this nation
ever knew, and even the fact that the
Judge was raised in Brookville should
hardly give him the assurance necessary
to set up his judgm ent. against such men
as then lived.
tits right enough to examine even the
acts Of our fathers. We love to see
Young America closely scrutinizing tn
acts and deeds Of oleen time, and aban-
donin. th> errors Of those times. But