Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-09-04
Northern Journals ON the Kansas Nebraska bill

Northern Journals ON the Kansas-Nebraska bill
The New York Express and the Courier and
Enquirer, in recent articles upon this subject
have indicated a spirit which we heartily approve
while they assume positions in its discussion
which we as heartily condemn. The Express
tells us that:
The recent wrong committed in the disturb
ance Of compromise of more than thirty years
standing, has called forth many unpleasant seRti-
ments at the North. towards the South, and 1t will
take a long time to calm the storm reused by
that most uncalled for. unnecessary, and most
pernieious measure But in spirit of indiseri-
inmate attack upon the South, condemning whole
States fer the conduct of few mischievous. am
billions politicians. Northern critics have indalg-
ed in a system of indscrminate abuse upon
Southern men. Southern honor, Southern char
acter ard Southern institutions. Blows gwen
call back blews in return, and We reed what we
are always very sorry to read, just as ultra sen
timents from the Hotspurs of the South rs from
Radicals of fhe North. We neither sympnthlze
with nor respect any of the men Of these extreme
opinions. and frsug to steer clear of Soylla on
the one hand and Charybdis on the other, we
hope that, by and by, the country will emerge
once more into the clear sea of loyalty to the Go
vernment love for the Union, respect for the
Constitution. and we must add, good faith in the
maintenance of compromises.
Now while we admire the temperatetono which
characteristics this paragraph, we must be per-
mitted as candidly to declare, that we dissent en-
tirely from the truth of the position which 1t
seems TO consider as established. We deny that
the disturbance of the Missouri Compromises was
"a wrong" 1t was hut tho correction of n
wrong, in which was 10 hive been perpetuated
the right of Congress- in violation Of the Consti
tuition and its compromises. to control the Slave
ryqueston in the territories. That was all; and
the abrngutinn Of the Missouri compromise, in SO
far frombeiug a wrong to'the North, was but the
correction of an error, allowed by the South for
the sake of the Union, but as palpablc
ever committed. 1t wis, in fine, but the removal
from the statute book of a principle stamped
with inequality and injustire-and above all,
principle the most dangerous to the peace and
perseverance OF the Union, because, rs we have
said, il was based recognition Of the right
of Congress to legslate upon aud control the
Question Of slavery extension.
The bill If the last session of Congress which
abrogated that principle ofthe Missouri law. rem
dered operative another comparatively mani
festly fair and impartial, that it secured our ap
prevail despite our objections 10 the feature which
recognizes the doctrine Of squatter Sovereignty.
We are for the bill, because ii takes from the
National Legislature all jurisdiction upon this
question; and because its principle is to with
draw a most dangerous sectional controversy
from that arena, aud TO leave it to the arbitra-
ments of the se.with whom the constitution de
signed to entrust it.
We had hoped and we are not disposed 10 a
bendon the hope, that our northern brethren,
while manifesting so laudbc "a desire for the
preser, alton of this glorious union will yet unite
with the south in the effort to sustain it,
The Courier and Enquirer INDUCES likewise
in a eommendable tone. aud approves the idea of
agitation for the repeal of that law. And yet
persists in contendpg that no settlement of this
distractng controversy has been reached, and
gravely hints at its renewal, when new states
from the territory of Texas shall apply for ad-
mission into the Union. If this be its ground OF
venernton for the union, it need not fear To 20
further and fraternse at once with Greedy, Bry
ant and Seward. A repeal Of the fugitive slave
law would simply be an act of dissolution-bW
not more surely or ineritabiy than teouid be tht
practical operation of the doctrine ofthe Courier,
once applied to The territorg Of 1eras.
But we will not predict the renewal of claim,
which we should have somach cause to dcplore
We here say, aud we mean no threat in saying
it, that the principal of non-nteryen,on cmbrae-
ed in the Nebraska bill, will mover be abandoned
by the people ofthe South. With all their renoya-
ton for the Union, and their love for the cherish
ed memories, which cling around it, they should
"sink SWIM live or die, survive or perish, >" in
the effort to maintain it.