Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-17
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
FRIDAY MORNING. .FEB'Y II, is5i.l
The Nebraska Bin ana the Question of Slavery.

and South in new and most interesting aspect.
1t is not properly to be regarded an effort upon
the part Of the North to make fresh aggression
upon the constitutional rights of the South. II
is not question which, if rightly understood,
can endanger the Union. by re-engendering the
strife and excitement, which agitated the coun-
try to so fearful extent in 1850. Nor yet Is u
question, of which political capital can be made
in the South. in the party conflicts OF our own
people. The single issue involved in the discus
sion, when all cxtraneous matters are thrown
aside. and the question Is viewed IN the hight OF
historical truth and constitutional right alone, is
whether, in view of circumstances TO which we
shall presently advert, the representatives OF
the people and of the States shall repeal
restriction which was attached to the bill admit
ting the State of Missouri into the Union which
restriction derogated from the equal rights OF the
people IF the South. in a portion of the Terrific
ries which were acquired and held by Congress
for the joint and common benefit of all the people,
of all the United States.
This restriction was the result Of a compromise,
then made, between slavery in the Southland the
nti-slayery sentiment OF the North. II was
adopted by large majorities in both branches Of
Congress, after the most elaborate discussion,
and received the cautious and well-considered,
Though we think illjudged and uncopstitutiona,)
approval of President Monroe, after he had ia
ken the matured, written opinions of Calhoun,
Crawford and Wnt,all of whom were members of
his Cabinet in its favor. As to all territory then
owned by the United States, il was final settle
ment of the controversy. 1t has since then
been fully and uniformity admitted by the South;
though we believe that at no time have a MAORI
r a. III.
statesmen who then in the public service,
to the constitutional power of Congress to
adopt any restriction whatever. The question
settled however was one of grave and fearful inn
portland the objection to the Compromise resoy-
ed itself rather into its infraction of an impor
tant principle, than complaint of any practical
injury to the peculiar institutions of the South.
In respect of Territory since acquired, the
representatives Of the Southern States, in the
same pacific temper, which animated their prede-
cessors in the Congress Of 1920, and with the
same unfortunate concession Of congressional
power and constitutional right, have been ready
to extend the line of that Compromise II was
accordingly recognized,in the resolutions annex
ing Texas TO the United States, in providing for
the admission into the Union of now States, to
be formed of Territory belonging to and included
within her border. We believe that a large ma.
jority of Southern members of Congress would
again have sustained it in its application to the
Territory acquired from Mexico. large party
in the North, however, then purposed further ag-
gression upon the rights of the South and its
further extension was rejected chiefly by North
ern votes.
This re-opened in all its feroeness, the agta-
ton which had so greatly convulsed the public
mi ndin ls20. The series of measures known as
the Compromise of 1850 were then projected and
passed. aud comparative quiet restored to
the country. BY this Compromise the territorial
relations OF portion of the territory claimed by
Texas as being withinher boundary were changed,
and in respect 10 so much of this, as was not in
cluded within the limits of New Mexico, as then
defined by an act of Congress, provision was OK
pressly made, that the application of the Missou-
ri Compromise as embodied in the resolutions of
annexation should be in nowise impaired
We therefore believe that il was not within the
contemplation of Congress, when the Compromise
measures of 1850 were enacted, that they should
have any retrospective operation whatever In
deed we think the evidence is ample that no such
effect either designed by their projectors and
advocates, at the time attributed to them by
any one.
After the adjournment of the Congress, howev-
or, by which this series of nets were passed the
Compromise the theme of constant and ami
mated discussion ia the political strifes of the
country. This discussion led the people to per-
ceive that in the measures providing for tho or
ganization and government of Utah and New
Mexico as Territories, aud for their ultimate ad-
mission into the Union States, great principle
embodied which, if recognized as lust and
indefinitely extended, would put this yexed ques-
ton of slavery 10 rest forever This was the
plain, republican principle of permitting the peo-
pie OF the Territories to govern themselves in con
formity with the dictates of their own duty and
interest, subject only to the provisions of the
Federal Constitution.
This principle was 10 sooner apprehended by
the public mind, than it approved as reason
able, and just; and recognised assthe same which
underlies all free government Its approval
therefore by the people was given in no doubtful
or hesitating manner. 1t was given earnestly
and with reclamation. in almost every variety of
FORM bnt chiefly was it evincod with Irresistible
emphasis, when the Conventions representing
the two great parties of the country assembled
at Baltimore. TO make declaration of princples
and to nominate candidates for the Presidency.
whose claims to popular favor were based upon
their supposed cordial adoption of the principles
there declared Both those Conventions with
great unanimity adopted resolutions, DECLARING