Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-03
Nebraska.

| we are likely 20 nave announcer blaVery
agitation, and one which is entirely unnc-
cessary.
Judge Douglas, IS chairman of the Com.
mittee on Territories, reports bill for the
organization Of the Territory Of Nebraska,
and while his report intimates denial of
the right of Congress to lcgislate upon the
subject of slavery in the Territories. the in
tention is plainly Swallowed forth, both in
the remarks of the Committee and the bill,
to render null the Missouri Compromise,
and to make the Compromise of 1850 the
excuse for the act.
Here is what the Judge says:
'.Uuder this section [ { the Missouri G, promise,
10 the case Of the M"xican law in New Mexico anu
Utah. 1t IL disputed point whether slavery 10 proh-
bited Ia the Nsbraska country by valid enactment.
The decision Of this QUESTION involves the consttu-
toaa p,wer of Congress 10 pass laws prescribing and
regulating tho domestic Institutions OF the various
Territories # the Union. In the opinion Of those
eminent statemen who hold that Congress invested
with rghtful authority 10 Iegsate upon the subject
of slavery In the Territories, the eighth section OF the
oct preparatory to the admission OF Missouri Is null
and void while the prevailing sentiment in large
portion II the Union sustsins the doctrine that the
Constitution of the United Sates TO every cit
sen unalienable right TO move into any T. rritores
with his properties Of whatever kind and descriptive,
and to hold and srjy the same under the s'hct0n OF
| law"
Thcfs have been several instances Of le-
gislation upon the subject Of slavery in the
Territories. by CONGRESS.
The ordinance of 1857 excluded slavery
forever from all the territory lying north o.
the Ohio and east of the Mississippi. This
was not done under our present Constitu-
ton, but the rights of the North in that
Territory were and have been considered to
be finally secured, and the principle then
asserted, and practically acknowledged by
the public mind and by " eminent states
men on the eve of the formation of the
Constitution = that Congress has the right
to legislats over slavery in the territories
seems to be confirmed by clause in the
Constitution itself, and has been since 80
considered and so acted upon by eminent
statesmen, and acquiesoed in by the public
mind. If any principle can be considered
settled under our Constitution, that one
ought to be.
In 1920 l, slavery was declared to he for
ever excluded from all that portion of ter
ritory lying north Of Sc deg. 30 min, west
of the Mississippi river. and east of the
Rocky Mountains and the Rio del Norte,
and which includes the territory Of Ne.
braska.
Here is that portion of the Missouri Com.
Y
promise, which, third of a century ago,
forever excluded slavery from the Territory
Of Nebraska:
"Prorided, That in oil territory coded by France to
the U~ifed States under the Of Louisiana which
lies north of thirty six degrees and thirty MINUTES
north latitude, not included within the linn t. of the
ct contemplated BY this act, slavery and involun
tary servitude otherwise than in the punishment OF
crimes whereof tho parte, shall have boon duly
vict,d, shall be, AMI Is hereby, FoREvER PEo1IBIfs
The Same principle was again asserted
when slavery was by a special act forever
excluded from Oregon. It was done by a
special act, because Oregon was not in.
cluded within the "territory coded BY France
to the United States under the name OF
louisiana
Upon the admission Of Texas the binding
force of the Missouri Compromise was for.
mally acknowledged and solemnly re-af-
frmed. This was when Slare State was
to 80 admitted.
In every instance of legislation upon
slavery in the territories, the boundaries oil
such legislation have been carefully defined
and the country left to consider slavery
agitation At an end so far as it concerned
that territory. The boundaries from which
slavery agitation was thus intended to b.
excluded, were laid down in the North Wes
Territory, in all the territory purchased
from Louisiana, and in Oregon; and eacl
one of these settlements was and IL as sa
cred as the others. In 1850, territory va,
to DO legislated upon which: was not in.
cluded within any of the boundaries o.
former legislation, and therefore it was ne
sessary to adopt special legislation to NEE
this new case. 1t was consequently 70
solved that,
"Whsn admitted - State, the said Territory, o.
any portion Of the same, shall be received into h
Union, with or without slavery, their Csnstituio
may prescribe at the time Of their admission
This is tho clause relied upon by Judge
Douglas to subvcrt an old contract between
the North and the South, of thirty thrs.
years standing, and in relation to an entirely
different matter!
/ Some persons think that this bill Of Judge
Douglas will not make Nebraska Slave
State; that it lies too far north; that the
Northern people will crowd into it taste,
than the Southern. Don't believe that
Why was not Missouri made Free Stat.
in this way? Il lies north of the belt Of
Slave States. It is on parallel with thu
great belt Of Free States, stretching frou
the Atlantic westward. Slavery is az.
gress:ve. Wherever door 10 left open i,
will enter. 0soe obtaining ever 50 small q
purehsss. it. hlazss with the fierce instinct
Of sslf,preserration ii il rssrlessly active
it is sleeplessiy vigilant, it is furious in de.
fence Of its position it fights for its OK.
istence like tiger at bay.
| Open the door for slavery and Nebraska
will be Slave State.
| Whatever Northern men may think about
sheir future prospects under this bill, the
South has no fears. Hear what the St
Louis Republican says, in commenting upon
Judge Douglass bill. After stating the