The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-09
NO. 81.

last session, the defeat of the Douglas bill
,.o,li be Insured. And what possible motive
can they have for preferring the latter to the
frner Halls bill originated with members
from slaveholdiDg State: it was safe bill
amply sufficient for all legitimate purposes un-
encumbered with impairment provisions; il
undersent thorough discussion in the House,
was fairly matured. was passed by an over
wheluing vote, members from the North and
Soutb, East and West, uniting in support OF 1t.
All who profess devotion to the Compromises
OF 1850 and hold up the sanctity of Baltimore
pl..ijruss could vote for it with good con-
science for it is not in conflict with any Of
them. All who would avoid the opprobrium
If covenant breakers, could sustain it, for it
n,o7esGs On the assumption that the compact
or 1924 continues in force. All who are OPP
n,sed to reopcning the issues of 1850, could
.o.taio It for it does not touch single one OF
those issues.
Bot will Northern members agree upon this
measured Enough Of them favor 1t, to carry
Il in the House agains: me Bill OF Mr.. Doug
las-in other words, the majority OF the
Northern Representatives and Senator's, ana
not a few Southern men, regret and deprecate
the attempt 10 repeal the Missouri Compro
mi4s-but they are without organization, with
ont mutual trust, without a clear, intelligible,
-tlei method Of operations; while those who
are engaged ia this attempt are energetic, de-
;rr,aned. bold, united, with fixed scheme OF
,o!ie7 and MANI cement. And they will sue
coed, unless The People Of the Northern and
Ees'srn Std,es, opposed TO repeal Of the Ms
souri, Compromise, promptly, by an expression
of o,inion not 10 be mistaken, admoniSh then
Representatives that d Uote for stlch q measure
,rH forev.r put an end TO their political career.
What strange spectacle is here presented
Were the naked question-shall the Missouri
Compromise be repealed this day submitted
to tie People Of the free States who dces not
know that ninetenths of their two millions Of
voters woald vote against its repeal? And
vet We tell these voters. that there is Imminent
dqag1r fkct this measure 1ciN be forced through
a Coz gress, in each branch of which they have
nominal majority
Nothing bat prompt, stern, unanimous ex
preston Of opinion On their part against it, car
avert the danger. They are amazed-per'
picked mystifed- incredulous-they cannot
believe that serious purpose exists in Congress;
to pass measure so mocstrous, SO totally I'M
expected Let them be warned A little delay
and all is lost. Such is the combination o.
political influences at work here, such are the
I2msnds Of Slavery, such the necessities of the
Administration, that the outrage may be con
summated, before the people in the distant
sections Of the Union have been appri5ed of it,
real nature
The scheme is to forestall any general ex
preston of public opinion. Men who profess
devotion to the People are determined to dis
pose If enc Of the greatest questions ever sub
la;ted to Congress, without allowing the People
time to speak. Last Tuesday they undertook
in the Senate to force discussion on the Bill
when ro ore was prepared to discuss it. Las
Friday, y hen Mr.. Chase closed his speech, a.
half past three o'clock, rather later than the
ususl hour OF adjournment with zeal fol
work quite new to them, they opposed the Gus
tumsry motion to adjourn. For the first time
too, this session, they Compelled the Senate tc
Sit the next day, Saturday and then, after q
speech from MIR. Dixon in favor Of the Bill
they wished to protract the session to an extra
ordinary length, evidently with q view of ex
hausting the opponents of the measure. On q
motion to postpone the further consideration o.
thc subject till Monday, the vote stood
YEAs-Messrs Allen, Badger, Bell, Brod
head Butler, Cass Clayton, Dawson Everett
Fi-h, Foot, Houston, Jones of Tennessee, Nor
III Sebastian, Seward, Smith, Stuart, Sumner
fhaaso7 of New Jersey, Toucey Wade, and
Willlanls--23
Mars Mcsers. Adams, Benjamin, Brown,
Clay, Dixon, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge OF
Iowa Douglas, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Geyer
GAIA, Mason, Petit, Slidcll, Thompson OF
kentacky, and Weller-l7.
Those 'o:ing in the negative are the gentle
raen who wish to force 4 vote upon the Bill, be-
fore the People can be heard upon its merits
That Dodgs OF Iowa, Weller, and Gwin, should
favor such policy, is not to be wondered at
1t Is in perfect accordance with their prinoi-
pies; but Dodge Of Wisconsin, and Petit OF
Indiana, will have to render an account to
their constituents for this attempt to forestall
the verdict Of the People
RecJllecs how the People have been mysti-
h'd-frst by the original Bill, with its ambig.
uous provisions-then by additional sections
omitted through q clerical error-then by i'm.
l'eriect Geographic reports of the new bill
Reccilcct that only two weeks have elapsed
since the introduction Of the last bill, with Its
section abTogating the Missouri Compromise,
30 That the People in many sections have not
YET been apprised Of it, 10 others know of it
o"iy ny rurnor, IN others have not yet had time
10 express their opinion. Certainly no full
expression OF public sentiment can reach Wash.
lngton Ia less than month from this date
ana yet, the members active in this scheme are
evidently determined to force the Bill to a vote
IN the Senate this week, trusting then to the
airoit management Of tacticians and the power
OF the previous question in the House to clincb
the measure inStanter. -
AGAIN We say-if the People intend to defeat
this lniquity, they must speak in thunder tones
and speak NOW.
EAIRACTS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENCE
This is Jared V. Perks Congressional Dis
trlct. ! have conversed freely with men of all
Parties in relation to Douglass Bill. and have
YET 10 meet with the first Hard, Soft, or Wing
mat approves it. Compromisers of 1850 de-
nounee it heartily, and yet it is said he is to
vote for it with the purpose OF driving the Softs
70 The wall; for, says Hard Shell editor, if we