Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-02-08

INDIGNANT, VERY.-The Star is boiling over
with virtuous indignation over Senator Douglas
Nebraska Bill. Without waiting to see the bill
and without publishing the bill or even synop-
ais fit, that his readers may Judge impartaly Of
its provisions, the editor of that sheet has COM
mended throwing off the surplus bile that has for
along time been aceumulating upon his stomach
No sooner was the announcement made that IL
bill had been introduced by Mr. Douglas to organ
Z ize Territorial Governments for Nebraska and
Kansas than he began to roll up the whites of
his eyes in alarm and gnash his teeth with rage,
and to thunder forth his analhemas indiscrimnate-
6 ly at all those who did not with equal hot haste
join,in the hue and cry in denouncing the bill
In advance, even before having had an opportuni-
81 ty Of knowing anything about the measure they
were TINS called upon to condemn and denounce
Weak neryed people may have been thrown into
Mysteries thereby, but We hardly imagine that any
considerable portion of the people have lost their
digestion on account Of the fury which has been
thus kicked up.
u 1t may be that Hcrisis' is at hand; that the
liberties ofthe people are in dunger; that ~our
National Domain" is about to be "handed over to
foul oppression;" but we have failed yet to dis
cover anything to convince us that such is the
fact. If such is the purpose and intent of Doug
las bill we are dead against it now, hencefortb,
and forever, and call upon all good Democrats to
Join in execrations against the bill, its authors
and supporters But we do not see anything to
Justify such conclusion. As we understand the
.bil,t leaves the question Of slavery, as it does
all other questions relating to the municipal af-
fairs of those Territories to the people thereof,
entirely free from the interference or dctation of
Congress. 1t repudistes the doctrine of absout-
ism, that the people derive their power their
rights, their sovereignty from the Government.
tits practical acknowledgment Of the true
Democratic Republican doctrine, that the people
themselves are sovereign, and that they have
surrendered their power far only as is express
ly stipulated in State and General Government
Constitutions; that man removing from Ohio
or amy OF the States of this Union, to those Ter
Eitories, upon arriving there, possesses no less
sovereignty than when he left the cultivated ields
of his native State, to pioneer civilization into
that wilderness land. 1t is, as we understand it,
the adoption of the principles of Cass' Nicholson
letter, separating the vexed question Of slavery
entirely from all Congressional interference and
control, and acknowledges the right and power of
the people to legislate upon al local questions
touching their interests, this not excepted. And
who among all those who are "fred with indigna-
tion' and denounce this bill even before they have
acquainted themselves with its provisions will de-
ny the right of the people to mould and fashion
their own institutions, within the limits of the
Constitution, in every respect, except this' Why
the exception! Are they afraid to trust the peo-
pie! Are they incapable Of managing their own
iuternat affairss J.1 . 1g ,HaH "e7 ..1 a-" s.-
But, tits said that this is scheme of the slave
ry prepagsndsts,t to- hand ths,terrtory over to the
hands Of foul oppression! The same was said Of
the bill of 1850, organizing Territorial Govern
ments for New Mexico and Utah. But nearly
three years have passed since that event, and how
have those predictions been verified. Has. slave
ry been established there! Not at all And
yet they lie farther South than the territories in
eluded in the bill Of Senator Douglas. Nor is
there any more likelihood that it will be estab-
lished in Nebraska and Kansas. Indeed, we have
not the least idea that the men who are endeav-
oring to kindle the fires of Indignation against
this bill, have any fears that slavery will 90 into
those Territories. With climate unadapted to
slave labor, and the certainty that they will be
settled by a population averse to the institution
there are no grounds for such fears. Slavehold-
ers with these obstacles in the way, would not be
likely to take their property where it could not
be secure or proftably employed. All the 70,
90 that is attempted to be got up on this subject
. is designed to give importance to factious po
liticai organization that lives alone upon excite
ment and agitation, and which. for some time
past, has shown Hhmistakable signs of going to
decay for the want of its natural aliment
We add the following sensible remarks of the
Salesman, in reply to the command of the San
dusky Register, to take its position upon this ques
tion: 'z53 god '.f e.. 5-'.rs' f'.l f3 z 4 FL"
The disputed section of DOUGLAS bill is the
9Ist and reads: rr ~ e5r- ,yga esjg bEge
.That order 70 avoid all it is hereby
declared to be the true intent and meaning this act so
as the question OF slavery carry into pract
cal operation the following propositions and principles,
tabltshed BY the compromise mStSur6s 1850 to
FssThat all questions pertaining slavery in the terri
tores and States to be formed efrom are 10 b.
ths dseision etke people residing therein tAroue
Eksir appropriate repres sHfatiUes.
scond-That afi cases involving It'll, 10 slavess ant
% he With hs Ss 1pud IN
supreme Court Of the Upitsd States, 9fsr7 I ets
Thrd-That the provisions Of the constitution and laws
The United STATES In respect ofages from ssFvce
be carried faithful execution In tthe organized Tori
1ores,' the rs In tbe States u - EaT1 = <H
The above section does not establish or sane.
xiaa the institufioa of alavery. NOR daas IN mo
Judge the question for the people in favor or against
it. It leaves the question open for the people,
Could we hesitate which position to choose! In
theiold struggles when the Proyiso was the bug.
bears the position Of the democracy, and this pa.
per 40 it, organ in Ohio, never wayered as to The
policy of non.interference. We see no reason to
change our position now.s 4. N ,s- ,k .,,,Ea..