The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-12
THE NEBRASKA BILL-AGITATION IN PROS
PECT.

PECT.
During the last Congress, an effort was made
in the Committee on Territories in dealing
with the Nebraska Question, to run the south
ern boundary of the proposed Territory along
the 3sth parallel of north latitude, with the
manifest purpose of avoiding recognition of
the Missouri Compromise line of 36 deg. 30
min The effort failed-the true boundary of
the Territory was preserved-the bill went to
the Senate and there met with the opposition
of the Southern Senators, because it proposed
the erection of Territory, which, in virtue of
the Missouri Proviso of 1920, would be free.
1t failed, as we all know and since that time,
Senator Atchison in Missouri has been'oppo-
sing the organization of any such Territory,
unless shareholders could have secured to them
the privilege of carrying slaves into it. In his
speech at Lafayette Missouri, ne boldly de-
clared that he would vote for no bill to organize
Nebraska, unless the Missouri Compromise
which excluded Slavery from all territory north
of SO deg. 80 min, were suspended This was
reopening the agitation Of tho Question of Sla-
very with a vengeance.
We perceive that in the Senate Mr.. Douglas
has reported back the bill to organize the
Territory of Nebraska, with sundry amend.
ments" intended, we presume, to meet the q
mands of Senator Atchison. Whether they do
so, or not, we shall have occasion to examine
We find in morning paper synopsis of the
bill, as follows:
1.-THE first section of the bill defines the
boundary as follows: All that part of the Uni
ted States included within the following limits,
except such portions as are hereinafter express
ly exempted from the operation of this act viz
Beginning at the southwest corner of the State
of Missouri thence west on the line of SO deg
80 min. north latitude until it intersects the
iO3d meridian of longitude west of Greenwich ;
thence north on the same meridian until it in
tersects the 3Sth parallel of north latitude !;
thence west on the same parallel of latitude to
the summit of the Rocky Mountains; theoce
northward along and upon the summit of ga
range Of mountains to the western boundary of
the Territory of Minnesota thence southwark
on and with said boundary to the Missouri
river; thence down the centre of the main
channel of said river to the State of Missouri :;
thence south on and with the western bound
airy Of said State, to the place of beginning be
created into a temporary Government, by the
name of the Territory of Nebraska: and when
admitted as State or States, the said Terri
tory, or any portion of the same, shall be re-
ceived into the Union with or without Slavery.
as their Constitutions may prescribe at the
time of their admission, provided that nothing
contained in the act shall be construed to in
hibt the Government of the United States
from dividing such territory into two or more
Territories, in such manner and at such times
as Congress may deem convenient and proper
or from attaching any portion of said territory
to any other State or Territory of the United
States; provided, further, that nothing shall
be construed to impair the rights of person or
property now pertaining to the Indians in said
Territory, so long as such rights shall> remain
unextinguished by treaty. or to include any
territory which, by treaty with any Indian
tribe, is not without the consent of said tribe,
to be included within the limits or jurisdiction
of any State or Territory but ali such terri
tory shall be excepted out of the boundaries
and constitute no part of the Territory of Ne
braska, until said tribe shall signify their as
sent TO the President of the United States tC
be included within the said Territory of Ne
braska; or to affect the authority of the Uni
ted States to make any regulation respecting
such Indians, their lands property, or Other
rights, by treaty, laws, or otherwise, which il
would have been competent for the Govern
ment to make if this act had never passed
"ltmakes the act of 1893, respecting fugitive.
from justice and persons escaping from ser
vice of their masters, together with the amend
atory act of 1850, to extend to and be in full
force in the Territory
"The Constitution and laws of the United
States not locally inapplicable, are to be in ful
force.
'The seat of Government is to be located a
Fort Lcavenworth."
The part relating to Slavery is the follow
ing:
"And when admitted as a State or States
the said Territory, or any portion of the same
shall be received into the Union, with or arith
out Slauery, their Constitutions nnay preser,b
at the time of their admission
This is reafirmation of one of the PROV
sions of the Compromise Measures of 1850, ex
torted by the supporters Of Slavery. 1t doc
not touch the Territriai relations of Nebrask
to Slavery, as they are already defined and set
tied by the Proyiso in the act of 1920, for tn
admission of Missouri as State:
"And be 1T further enacted, That an oil tho
territory ceded by France to the United States
under the name Of Louisiana, which lies mort
of So deg. 80 min NJ L., not included ,cithi,
The limits Of the State contemplated by this aci
SiaUery and involuntary serOitude, otheraciS