The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-02

Presbyterian route, the Mormon route, Cookies
wagon route, or any other route, and enter
upon the good work Of saving his soul at his
own convenience. Thus, by taking religion
out of the Cabinet, out of Congress, and out OF
the State Legislatures, and by restoring the
question of jurisdiction to the judgment OF
every man for himself there was restored to
this happy people the patriarchial right OF
every family to worship God under their own
vine and fig tree,' and in their own way,
with none to make them afraid" for the
supreme law of the land, thank God, shelters
them all.
The spirit and the intent Of the constitution
are equally plain upon the slavery question.
Southern slavery is recognized and protected
by the constitution No power is granted to
Congress to legislate upon the subject. The
pow er is reserved to the States and the people.
Its agitation in Congress has stroug twinge Of
religious cutthroat fanaticsm about it, aud
Congress has no business with 1t. Had Con-
gress been given the power to establish
national religion from time to time, and pains
and penalties for its violations, what a mockery
would be our republican, system how very
soon the bayonet would supersede such q
state Of things Yet the power assumed by
Congress to legislate upon slavery is As foreign
to the spirit of the constitution the right to-
prescribe the religion of the people. Sl'very
is local institution, and being among those
questions the jurisdiction over which is re-
served to the people and the States, the sooner
Congress resolves upon washing It's hands Of all
authority in the matter the better.
The Nebraska bill, we must admit, was des
perate move of the administration to extricate
itself from its free soil misfortunes. The ex-
pertinent will prove failure in this respect;
while on the other hand the agitation which il
has excited menaces not only the peace but the
safety of the Union itself Yet, as the question
has been raised, the question must be settled.
There will be no peace-there can be no peace.
no reliance, no safety, short Of complete and
final settlement of the controversy by turning
it ont of Congress, and into the hands Of the
people, and the States, where it belongs. We
have our fears concerning this Nebraska agita-
ton. 1t is violent, widespread, and unyielding.
Shorn of its moral power the administration
can do nothing to arrest this wild fanatical ex-
element. The only hope is in that strong
Union-loving sentiment which pervades the
honest masses OF the American people. They
may delay their action till it is too late. The
elder Pliny in his quiet observations Of the agi
tation of Vesuvius disregarded his danger, and
was lost. Between secessionsts and free soil
ers this Nebraska agitation may be carried to
the point Of an explosion before the quiet, Union
loving masses are aware of it. In connection
with an administration powerless for anything
but mischief, we contemrln the daily deve-
Opponents around us with the gloomiest forebod-
ipgs. And these are the early fruits of the
unholy coalition at Washington of Northern
and Southern disunionists upon the platform of
the spoils. Who can predict the end Of the har
vest, with such an suspicious beginnings
another Arrival from Europe. Latest As
pecs or the EuroPe.R Quc.tion.
The Rews brought by the Andes rather con-
firms than alters the favorable impressions
created by the last advices from Europe. The
reports which qualified the failure Of Count
Orlof's mission by the statement that he bore
back with him 10 st. Petersburg conditional
promises on the part of the Austrian cabinet
have received official denial in a declaration
made by Lord John Russell in the House Of
Commons on the 18th ult. that the objects of
The mission had completely failed, and that the
government had no reason to feel dissatisfied
with its results. Nothing, however, has trans
PRED with respect to the nature Of the modified
project presented by the Russian envoy
on the rejection Of his first proposition,
and we may assume from the prompt
fate which it met with, that it varied but
little from the naughty character of his previous
demands. 1t is satisfactory to receive through
an official source the confirmation OF the i'm
portant fact that the Austrian government
continues firm in the course which the exag-
gerated pretensions Of the Gear have decided
her to take. On its resolutc adherence to
that policy depend the chances of peace, or at
all events, of a speedy solution by war of the
difficulty. Had Nicholas succeeded in detach-
ing Austria and Prussia from their coalition
with the Western Powers there is no foresee-
ing what would have been the final issue of
the contest With the immense resources that
he possesses he would be in position. IL not
to carry out his designs against Turkey,
at all events to keep the whole force that the
latter Power could bring against him at bay
for an indefinite period, and thus prolong a state
Of things that could not but prove favorable to
bis interests. By necesaitating the maintenance
Of heavy war establishments on the part Of
England and France he had something to hope
from the sufleriUgs and discomfort to which il
would inevitably give rise amongst the people
of those countries, and the consequent weaken
ing of the Influences that now unite the two
governments. Since recent circumstances have
convinced him of the sincerity of their alliance
oil his efforts have been directed towards com
bnation that would have the effect of weary