Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-10
Ncbrnska.

people vf that State, setting forth III,
enormities OF the Nebraska bill. Il Il
also signed by WIN. II. Seward Of New
York. We quote one or two extracts
At the present session, a now Ne
braska bill has been reported by IN.
Senate Comittee on Territories, which
should II unhapplly receive the sanction
OF Congress. will open all the unorran
lied territory OF the Union to the ingres.
OF Slavery.
We arralgn this bill as gross viola.
ton of sacred pledge; as criminal
betrayal OF precious right; ~ part and
parcel IAN astroclous plot 10 exclude
IRON vast unoccupied region, immi.
grants from the Old World, and Tree
laborers from our own States, and con.
vert Il into dreary region Of despotism
Inhabited by masters and slaves.
Take your 'naps, fellow citizens, we
entreat you, aud see what country Il Is
which this bill. gratuitousIy aud reck.
lessly, ro,loses u open 10 slavery.
From the southwestern corner oil
Missouri pursue the parallel Of SO deg.
80 min, north latitude westwardly across
the Arkansas, across the north fork OF
Canadian, to the northeastern angle OF
Texas, then follow the northern boun.
dary OF Texas so the western limit of
New Mexico; then proceed along that
western line 10 Us northern terminate N !;
then again turn westwardly, and follow
the northern lin of Nov Mexico TO the
crest OF the Rocky Mountains, then as.
cend northwardly along the crest OF that
mountan range la the line which sep
arntes the United States from the Brit.
ish Possessions In North America. on
the 4eth parallel OF north latitude; then
pursue your course eastw ardly along
that line TO the White Earth river.
which falls into the Missouri from the
north; descend that river to It's confiu.
ence with the Missouri; decend the
Missouri, along the western boundry of
Of Minnesota, OF Iowa, OF Missouri to the
point where II ceases. TO be a boundary
line, and enters the State to which il
gives its name; then continue your
southwayd course along the western
limit Of that State 10 the point from
which you set out. You have now
made the circuit OF the proposed Terri
tory OF Nebraska. You have traversed
the vast distance OF more than three
thousand mites. fuu nave Traced the
outline Of an area Of four hundred and
eighty-five thousand square miles; more
than twelve times as great as that Of
Ohio.
This immense region, occupying the
very heart OF the North American con-
tinent, and larger, by thiriy-three thou
sand square miles, than all the existing
Free States, excluding Caliiornia--this
immense region, we'll watered and fer
tile, through which the Middle and Nor
thern Rsutes from the Atlantic to the
Paci6c must pass-lhis immense region,
embracing all the unorganized territory
Of the nation, except the comparatively
district Of Indian territory
north Of the Red River and between
Arkansas and Texas, and now for more
than thirty years regar led by the CON-
mon consent Of the American People as
to Freedom, by statute and
by ccmpact--this immense region. the
Bill now before the Senate, without rea-
son and without excuse, but in flagrunt
disregard Of sound policy and sacred
Iaith, proposes to open to slavery.
The pretences, therefore, that tho ter
-itory, covered by the positive prohibi-
lion Of 1920, sustains similar relation
% slavery with that acquired from Mexi.
20, covered by no prohibition except
hat Of disputed Constitutional or Mex.
can Law, and that the Compromises of
1850 require the incorporation pro-sla-
'ery clauses Of the Utah and New Mex
co Bill in the Nebraska Act, are mere
INVENTIONS, designed to cover up from
public apprehension meditated bad faith.
Where he living now, no one would be
nore forward, more eloquent, or more
in his deHunciation of that
lad faith than Henry Clay, the foremost
champion Of both Compromises.
In 1920, the Slave States said to the
'ree States, "Admit Missouri with sIa-
cry, and refrain from positive exclusion
outh OF SO deg. 80 min., and we will
Din you in perpetual prohibition north
I that line" The Free States consen-
ed. In 1854, the Slave States says to
he Free States, "Missouri is admitted,
o prohibition ofslayery south vf S6 deg.
0 min, has been attempted; we have 4
pceived the luil consideration OF our
greement; no more Is to be gained by
dherence to it on the part; we therefore
ropose to cancel the compact" ss,
II this be not Punic faith, what is itl
lot without the deepest dishonor aud
rime can the Free States ucquiesce IN
lis demand. {
We confess our tots inability properly {
, delineatc the character or describe the !
Dnsequences OF this measure. Lam
uage lalls to express the sentiments of |
Idignation and adherence which II in
,ires; and no vision less penetrating and /,
than that OF the All-see-
X, can reach its evil issues. !
To some of its more immediate and !
evitable consequences, however, we $
ust attempt to direct your attention.
What will be the effect OF this meas {
-e, should il unhappiIy become law, +
pom the proposed Pacific Railroadl-- 1
ye have already said that two Of the :
-incipal routes, the Central and the :
orthern traverse this Territory. Ii
avery be allowed there, the settlement
I'd cultivation OF the country must be
'eatly retarded. Inducements TO i'm ;
igration ol free laborers will be almos: @
'stroyed. The enhanced cost of con- 4
ruction aud the diminished expectation q
profitable returns will preseut aim ost !,
superuble obstacles to building the !,
ad ut all; while even ii made, the diff
llty aud expense OF keeping il up, in u
'untry from which the energetic and q
masses will be virtually ex-
uded. will greatly impair lie usefulness o
ID value. sIsa sf..Ia. aga4tB -. %
From the rich lands OF this large Ter u
orv also Datriotic statesman have an :