Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-16
THE GREAT .pERFIDY.,

The freesoil journals of the country are still
harping on the Nebraska perfdy," as they
call it They look upon that measure, great
as il is, as but the first step in long political
stairway. They make out the statesmen who
conceived and carried out that measure, men
of such wisdom, forecaste, and ability, that it is
wonderful they should not be willing to follow
their guidance. They think that the Nebraska
bill is but part of great system Of which
the acquisition of Cuba, large slip Of Mex
lean territory, the recognition Of Dominica and
long list Of other things, form the other parts.
They think in the language of the Boston Atlas
whose equanimity seems to be wonderfully dis
turbed, that 1T is covert attempt to increase
the number Of slave States, SO as to give the
south perpetual preponderance in the Senate
of the United States
That such was the object of the projectors
or supporters of the bill nobody really be.
heves and we have no hesitation in asserting
that its sole design was, as its sole result will
be, to organize a territorial government on a
plan consistent with the principles of the Con-
stltution. To any collateral advantage which
may be gained by the passage of the bill, and
the establishment of the principle, the south is
justly entitled-not because she is mere sec.
ton of the Union, not because she maintains,
within her limits, an institution against which
the pseudo philanthropists of the Aaas are ar.
rayed, but because she is under the aegis and
protection of the same great instrument to
which she has subscribed, and to which alone
she looks for protection.
1t has long been our wish to unsectional-
ize this whole question-to try it, without pre-
JUDGE, by the touchstone of the Constitution
and whatever may be the result of the investi.
cation, to render unto Caesar the things which
are Caesars. In this we doubt not we will
have the appreciation and support of the true
patriots and true statesmen of every section Of
the Union.
In what manner the passage of the Nebraska
bill can affect the acquisition of Cuba, we are
at a loss TO divine. The great provision of that
measure, the repeal of the Missouri compro-
mise, had certainly no bearing upon country
which even the most prejudiced Of freesoilers
will admit to be south of 36o 30>.
But we are told by the atlas, Who like
his illustrious namesake can bear no less a
weight than the whole world upon his phi.
lanthropic shoulders, that it is covert at
tempt to give perpetual preponderance to the
south in the Senate of the United States. And
pray, how shall we designate that policy which
has already given that unjust preponderance
to the north, and seeks, by its opposition TO the
Nebraska bill, and its principles higher than
the Constitution, to perpetuate the same pre-
ponderance? Well may we advert to that good
old fable of the lawyer whose bull goaded his
neighbours OK, and whose lucubrations were
considerably enlightened by simple inversion
of the parties to the suit.
But with what consistency can the -Atlas
complain of an undue proportion of southern
senator's when with so bad grace it de-
nounces as degenerate and perfdious those pa,
triotic sons, not of the north nor of the south,
but of the Union, who sacrificed all the ap.
plause of stupid starers and of loud huzzahs
for the maintenance of Constitution which
they are sworn to support?