Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-25
REMARKS ON THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.
rnoM TIE CONNECTICUT couRAxr.

ABoMTIoNISM.-Th Washington Sentinel and
other Administration presses of the South are en-
deavorlng to make their readers believe that the
opposition to the Nebraska bill is the result entire
y OF abolitionism. That there are partisans who
are technically called abolitionists joining in the
cutlery at the North against the violation of public
faith involved in the Nebraska bill there is no doubt but
that the large majority of the opponents of that
arc such partisans not true 1t is irrational and fool
sh it is contemplate and weak the arguments
which the North offers against that bill By the cant
Of " abolitionism." 1t shows want of confidence in
the strength OK thus to endcavor to enlist preu
dice and party clap-trap in its favor.
The opposition to the Nebraska bill in New England
from very different class Of men than those
dinarily known by the names Of fanatics ahoonists
Men join in this opposition who have the strongest
spect tor all the rights which the constitution has
frred upon the Southern States within their
reigntes among these rights they recognise the power
secured to Missouri and Arkansas under this very
promise which is be broken by the South of be-
ing slaves States. Men Join in this opposition who be-
lieved and hoped that the agitation on the subject
slavery quoted by adherence the compromises
of 1920 and 1860. The very compromise men of 1850
some of the most strenuous in their opposition to
this rcopenng wounds then supposed to be
healed. These not abolitionists.
We nave supported the compromise measures OF
unpalatabls of them to free community.
We have been reproached Cor any tendency towards
aboltonisn. Our columns have always supported the
rights of the South guaranteed to her by the const-
ton. We labored strongly aay that agitation which
shook the Union. But with all these antecedents OPP
pose the passage Of the Nebraska bill violation of
public faith and endangering the future stability of
all compromises If such opposition must bear the
of &bo'itionsm content. Names do not in
jure But it is most pitirlly weak mode of argumen
tation to make stand answers to reasons
We wish the editor could be present at the public meet
ngs at the North, and mark for himself the stad
soryative character Of the who compose them He
would be surprised to find how little Of party
dency they have and many of the compromise supporters
of 1850 would be found among their numbers He might
travel through land with tho result He would
find every where the staid sober conservative of
all parties expressing their disapprobaton of this bill
wrong, unnecessary and uncaled for Not of them
but would lament that agitation had recommended caused
by the advocates of slavery not Of them but would
say that the hope of MI security in compromises
over and that they could not when how this agit
tcn would be allayed. lie would find that these men
abotionist in the in which he uses that
term, but Wings, Democrats Conservatives, compromise
men, firm in their love of the Constitution and the Union
Among them he would find many who believed in the
necessity of the doctrine of nonintervenop as ne him
self understands it, but who doubt whether that doctrine
be reached by the pulling down OF of the strong
pillars on which it stands.
We are abolitionists; no interferers with
the constitutional rights of the slave States: but we
tell the Sentinel that the repeal of the Missouri compro
mise will cause agitation at the North beyond that
which the nation It will produce distrust IN
al existing compacts and determination of max
ing another. The day of compromises is The evils
that will result to the national peace, the
tonal existence be laid the shoulders OF those
who have thus unnecessarily removed the ancient land
marks" .., .,'