The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-10
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
The Clergy vs.. the Nebraska Bill.
LETTER FROM JUDGE DOUGLAS IN REPLY TO TWEEN
TY-FIvE cLER0YMEE OF CHICAGO, ON THE SEBRAs-
KA BILL.

LETTER FROM JUDGE DOUGLAS IN REPLY TO TWEEN
TY-FIvE cLERoYMES OF CHICAGO, ON THE sEBRAs-
KA BILL.
WASHINGTON, April 0, 1854.
Judge Douglas has written a long letter. of eight
lumns Of the Sentinel in reply 70 the resolutions Of
meeting of twenty five clergymen Chicago and in de-
of his in debate in the Senate the pro-
of the New England clergymen against the repeal Of
the Missouri compromise.
Mr. Douglas retraverses the ground pursued by him
debate at the time the protest presented in the
Senate and the charge that the protest
outrage upon the privileges of large body of citizens
He quotes portion Of his remarks made in opposition
to the protest and contends that the principle in the
Nebraska bill is identical with the resolutions of the
meeting at Chicago and involves only the right Of the
people in the States to frame their own government.
He also contends that thetransfer from Ken
tucky to Nebraska would. be benefit to the slaves,
and not alter the political compexon--that it
would be simply reducing it in State, where
the land is exhausted, and increasing It In others
where it is rich Denies that clergymen as such,
have right to interfere in all matters embracing moral
and religious truth, and intmates that recognition of
such power would prove subversve Of the principles Of
free government and destructive OF all the guarantees of
civil and religious liberty The sovereign right of the
people TO manage their affairs in conformity with
the constitution Of their making recedes and disap
pears, he says when placed in subordnation to the
authority of body of claiming by virtue of their
Office as minister's to be divney appointed institution
for the declaration and enforcement Of Gods viii
earth.
The Judge further argues, that it is necessary
TO annul the eighth section of the Missouri CON-
promise inimical to free government, and denies
that the proposal to do SO is a breach Of faith.
The principle of the Nebraska bill he says is purely
question of self government involving the right and
capacity Of the people to manage their own local and
domestic This is the only controverted prn
cple involved in the BILL He says :"I am unwilling to
believe that upon mature reflection and with all the
advantages which your Christian character and expe
rence may enable you to to your assistance,
you will sanction the declaration that proposition to
carry this principle into effect is great moral wrong
exposing the righteous judgments of the Almighty
The letter is argumentatve rather than denunciatory
and is mder than might have been expected from its
source; but still, upon points it is tart and
castle The letter is clearly designed full yinlca
ton of his character and all Of his pos in
regard to his opposition to the protest of the New Eng
land cergymen 1t shows much in its preparation
and when published it will be Tuesday, it win be
read with much interest by the foes well by the
friends of Judge Douglas and his Nebraska bill.
Rumored Resignation Of Senator James.