Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-05-12
z. n. BRIGGS.
The Sentinel on the Nebraska Bill.

The Sentinel on the Nebraska Bill.
Not word do we get from our neighbor
the Sentinel, on the questions which, month
ago, we offered for its consideration on "the
principle Of the bill" whose passage it thinks
will be such democratic blessing to the coun-
try. We do not wsnder at its silence. To
make loud talk on irrelevant matters which,
perchance, will draw away its readers minds
from the true points at issue, is easier than to
meet the points themselves. We doubt wheth-
err the smoke which it raises, blinds as many
eyes as it hopes for. 1t may seem useless to
follow the lodgings Of such slippery an
tagonist but once more we will endeavor to
show up briefly some of those which proba-
bly, it looks upon as the most successful.
The Sentinel gives as it's opinion, that, lst,
"If the Missouri Compromise is repealed,
Shareholders will not be debarred from hold
ing Slaves in Nebraska I'd, neither will
quence of such repeal Sd, if in the exercise
of "Squatter Sovereignty Local Slave law
shall be enacted there, then Slaves can be
held there, not without" The first and the
last Of these positions ought to be reasons
why every man enjoying the blessings of free
institutions should give all his influence
against the Nebraska bill; for certainly
Slaveholdingis now debarred from Nebraska :;
nor has any exercise Of "Squatter Sovereign
ty' power to bring it in.
In favoring the bill. because it will remove
such disabilities, the Sentinel is welcome to
all the sympathy which it can find among
those Vermonters who understand the case as
fairly presented. As to the second position
lust quoted, if the Sentinel does not believe
that Shareholders will be allowed to hold
Slaves there in consequence Of such repeal,
it does not believe what millions in the land
do believe; and because Of that belief, some
are striving to pass the bill and others to pre-
vent its passage. The Seahnei, atall events,
goes for giving Slavery chance to get in
where it is now by law kept out 1t cannot
dodge or deny that conclusion.
1t complains because the Free Press did
not reply to Its opinion that the people set
Ting in Nebraska would not be likely to enact
law establishing Slavery. We did not
argue that point, because it was not worth
arguing. Thus far every State in the South
and Southwest which had chance to do so,
has favored the allowing of Slavery in its ter
ritory, and the Slaveholding interest is active
and powerful, and bent upon making more
Slave States wherever it can get them The
bill itself lie framed so as to give the Slave
holders every possible chance. An opinion
that it is very likely that so many lovers OF
freedom will settle there that they will out
vote the lovers of slavery, is no ground at all
for breaking down the existing obstacle to the
introduction Of such curse. No man who
does not avow himself in favor of the spread
of Slavery, with all its savage and despotic
features, can justify giving his influence fol
breaking down that great bar to it's spread
on such an unstatesmanlike reason we may
say on such childish one.
But the Free Press did not go into an ar
gument to establish the constitutionality o
the Missouri Compromise, Of course it die
not. 1t was not foolish enough to occupy it
columns in augmentation on constitutions
points, about law which has stood unas
sailed, save in political speeches for thirt.
four years-a law which in more States thar
one, Shareholders have tried their best t
evade, but have never dared boldly to contro
vert before the courts. We doubt not tn
Sentinel would like to see us spending GU
force that way rather than in showing up it
own fallacious positions in favor Of the bill
As to the power Of Congress over the Ter
ritory in question we need not go over tina
ground again now. II will be soon enoug
for us to do so when the Sentinel reptile
directly to our questions directly and fairl
put In the meantime We commend to it.
careful study Of the positions of that vetera
member of the Democratic party in year
past, Hon Thos. II Benton, OF Missouri, a
set forth in his late speech, He had goo
deal to say on that very subject We pr'
sumo our neighbor has not yet noticed hi
remarks.