The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-02-09


population at all. The Commissioner on In !
dian Affairs says, that on the lth of October,
when he left the territory, there vas no set. /
Element made in any part Of Nebraska.
From all the information he could obtain,
there were but three white men in the terri /
tory. except such as were there by authority
of law, and Those adopted by marriage or 9TH
erwise into Indian families. The necessity
of legislatng at a II upon this subject at this
time. by Congress, may very properly and
consistently be doubted, especially in the
mapuer contemplated by Mr. Douglass bill.
The propriety of such legislation is the more
questionable, as the present bill before Con-
gTess ignores the former settled land marks
established by the highest wisdom and purest
patriotism that ever found It's way into our
National Councils. The impending evils
growing out of the slavery agitation of $780,
were most happily averted by the Compromis Sc
measures, as finaity, and the country felt
relieved in the security it was led to expect
these measures afforded. The very enemies
OF these measures had learned to regard them
with the most profound respect. The Mis-
souri, Compromise, which has for more than
thirty years existed with unquestoned con-
stitutional validity, during all which time it
operated as satisfactory quietus, ar d was
regarded by both the North aad South as an
adjustment of vexed question founded in
tlsyhighest Justice, is also ignored by the pro-
posed Nebraska bill. With these consdera-
ions before the country and before the as.
eembcd wisdom OF Congress, greater danger
may very properly be apprchended, and must
inevitably ensue from the passage of any bill.
declaring the Compromises Of 1920 and 1850
arullity, than has ever before threatened the
country. ....
Our neighbor of the Enquirer has been at
sea upon this vast subject for the last two
days, without chart or compass. and has rails
ed hi: puny arm with characteristic presump
ton, and attempts to knock the utility, consti-
nationality and everything else out Of those
wise cnd time-honorod measures. He, in his
omnipotent puerili:y denounces those meas
ures as "paIterers with the truth, timid time
servers, and dubious compacts wrung from
frightened hearts"
In discussing the power delegated to Con-
gress by the constitution, he says that Con-
gress has no shadow of right to legislate upon
the subject of slavery in territories. This wilt
be new doctrine to old and wise heads. That
Congress has full power to legslate for, and
form territorial governments, with or with
out slavery, and that power sanctioned by
the constitution, is q doctrine which forms
truly national and enlightened man or states.
man. This bold effort of out neighbor to en-
tighten the world upon the powers Of the Con-
sttuiion, which have 50 long remained hid
den to the eagle eye and penetrating vision of
the greatest statesmen of all time, since the
foundation of the Republic, is to supremely
ridiculous to be treated with serious consid-
Grafton. The reflection upon the patriotic
statesmen that have welded the desiinies o.!
this government since its formation, that
they were mere barterers of the constitution,
and engaged "wth frightened hearts," in
connecting time-serving dubious compacts, is
too far beneath the contempt Of an enghten-
ed age, to deserve notice. The statement, even
with the. sanction of Gov. Dixon's opinion.
that the revered and amented Clay, compro-
missed away the constitution, at ALL. either
with or without the approval of his Judgement
needs only the political history of that great
man to refute it. The last and browning act
of his political life was his superhuman efforts
to secure the passage of what he deemed a
.fnality to slavery agitation. That accom-
plished, she wrapt the drapery of his couch
about him and LAID down to pleasant Dreams"
The present bill bears the imprint Of
tme-servIng measure upon its very face, from
the fact that legislation by Congress as con-
tcmPated by this bill is in no wise demanded
by the public welfare. A territorial govern.
ment is not now needed in Nebraska: there
are no civil interests in that direction TO pro.
iect or maintain. The only object to be
gained by the passage of Mr.. Douglas, bill
at this time is the priuileg. at least, if no,
the right to extend the area of slavery into
territories where it has by the most solemn
compacts been prohibited. If our neghbor
VIII show US the necessity of legislation for
any other purpose, we will cheerfully give
him credit for making discovery worthy OF
the exalted position he has assumed, and set
hun down as the greatest modern expounder
of the Constitution of the age.
OF There are no canal receipts or ship
ments exceP, those already published. Sew
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