Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-21
THE SPIRIT OF THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.

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There is power, and which exerts mighty
sway, known as the Religious Press. We are
glad to see everywhere the expression Of men
Of all scots uniting in speaking their sentiments
plainly, fearlessly, and fully. Witness these
extracts, which of the many we Gull, only be-
cause they speak for great bodies Of the reli-
gionists of our country.
First, from Zion's Herald, an organ Of the
Methodists, under date Of February is. Ma
king up the weeks summary, the editor says
aAt home, the Nebraska bill still attracts
the chief attention of the people, as well as of
Congress We wish it excited stronger abhor-
renee and more active opposition than it does
The people seem to think that such political
villany, such violation Of good faith, az is in
volved in the repeal, virtual or formal Of the
Missouri Compromise is impossible, and will
not be contaminated They know how South
when the North admitted Missouri as q slave
State, il was because the South formally stp-
ulated that the territory north Of SO deg 80
min. should be forever c0neecrated TO Liberty
They know that the South must therefore
trample upon its own plighted faith, its honor,
its integrity, and responsibility if it violate this
Compromise. They can hardly believe such
political profigacy to be possible Hence they
view the discussion with calmness, which
will be fatal II continued too long. For moth
ing will save Nebraska from the pollution Of
Slavery, but such protest from the North as
will convince Northern politicians that from
the moment they vote to repeal the Compro-
mise they are politically dead Let this i'm
preston be made upon them, and Nebraska
may be saved. We hope our readers will do
their best to teach their political representa-
tives this lesson, by sending them some very
plainly-worded letters and protests"
The american Baptist Of the 10th February
thus speaks Of this bill of iniquities. We ex-
tract from q long article.
"This bill sweeps away all former arrange
ments for the restriction Of the crime and curse
Of Slavery within certain boundaries and pro-
claims, alike 10 States and Territories, through.
out all the land, TO all the inhabitants thereof,
liberty TO perpetrate that crime, and to entail
that curse upon future generations, il they
choose. Let this doctrine receive the solemn
sanction Of Congressional enactment, and let
the people Of the nominally free States submit,
as they have submitted to previous aggrcssions
Of the slave power, and their acquiescence win
be regarded as an invitation to that power to
extend it's sway over the entire North. The
garrison that consents to the destruction Of its
defences virtually consents that the foe should
occupy its citadel.
But will the people Of the North thus sub
init? This remains to be seen. As yet, they
are scarcely aware Of the evil with which they
are menaced They have not adequately con-
ceived Of the extent Of the meditated mischief
They have not deliberately weighed the con-
sequences Of throwing open to the unrestricted
entrance and occupancy of the slave power, in
the very centre and heart of the continent and
of the nation, n territory exceeding in magni-
tude all the existing free Slater, with the ex-
ception Of California. IL is the policy Of the
conspirators to hurry through their nefarious
scheme TO its contamination, before the people
shall have time to perceive and protest against
it. To some extent, however, such protests
have already been uttered. The voice Of re-
monstrance, we trust, will continue TO be heard
in both Houses Of Congress- 90 long as the con-
templated measure il pending. Should il final
" pass sterner duty than that of remon-
STRANGE will devoIve upon the people Of the free
States the duty Of firm, unyielding resistance
II they are recreant to that duty--if they yield
tamely and passively, and permit the pollutions
and miseries Of Slavery TO overspread that
broad, fair dominion, which their fathers con-
secrated forever 70 freedom, they will deserve
themselves 10 wear the chainv
The Northern Ckyiaion ADVOCATE, Method
ist) published on the 18th inst, says