Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-02-03
The Nebraska BILL.

1t seems from the report of the Congressional
proceedings that the Nebraska Bill. originally in
troduced by Senator Douglas, proposed TO be amen
ded by Senator Dixon, and then re- produced by
Senator Douglas, as TO repeal the Missouri Com
promise TO that Territory, and leave the Terri
tory to come into the Union with or without slave
ny, its inhabitants might elect likely TO pro-
duce some agitation on the slavery question:
Willie advocate the principle Of leaving it TO
the people of State or Territory to determine
what shall be the character of its constitution on
the subject Of slavery, yet we cannot but regard
the introduction Of this bill into the Senate at this
time as of doubtful propriety. and calculated 10
reopen questions which we had hoped were set
tied by the past action of the Federal legislature
We have always held that Congress has no con-
stitutonal right 10 legislate the subject of sIa
very in the Territories. The power to make all
need.ul rules & Iegulstions for their government,
does not, in our judgment, give 10 Congress any
right to interfere with the rights of property either
pro or con, but leaves that and all other such
questions. TO be settled by other means, and by
means OF Other than Federal legislation. We are
well aware that the most distinguished men of the
Union have held otherwise, still we have our own
opinion and to it we adhere. The Missouri Com
promise was passed at period OF high excite
ment, when the whole National mind trembled at
the prospect of National rupture and National dis.
solution, and while we regret the precedent, awe
can well perceive how the patriot mind was led 10
sacrifice constitutional difficulty, 10 what it con-
cieved to be National safety. The ordinance of.
's7 we have always regarded as belonging to the
same category, and though passed anterior to the
existence of the constitution, yet contrary 10
The original rights of the people Of the Territories,
who alone are the proper persons TO decide as 10
what shall be their organic law.
Regarding then the Missouri Compromise as at
war with the spirit of the Constitution, as con-
rary 10 the great principles of human nights which
recognize in the people the principle of self gov
eminent, TO which we refer, and regarding the re,
QUESTION OF Republican form of government as
the only condition which Congress can constitu-
tionaIiy impose upon a new State seeking admis-
sion into the Union, do not hesitate 10 express
our conviction of the legality of Tie bill repeating
the Missouri Compromise. Its expediency may be
another question, though as the question is up we
hope that Union men of all parties will centre up
on the common platform Of taking from Congress
all right TO interfere with the question Of slavery.
Tha: it may be settled that the people of the terri
tory, whatever may be IFS situs, whether North or
South, are the proper judges OF the form and sub
stance Of their organization when asking admiS-
sion into the family of States, and that Congress
will henceiorth make all ''needful rules and regu-
lotions for the government of the territories while
such, and when they apply for admission into the
Union. guaranty to them a ''republican form of
government" and after that attend 10 their own
business and let the States alone. Such course
would put down all federal difficulties on the sub
ject and quiet the public mind, and leave it to
Northern fanatics such as Wilmot, Greeley, Mann,
Smith Co. 10 make The most out of their internal
ag tation. The question would then sink to their
level and take It's place along with Founersm and
all the other dsgraceful isms. which hold their an-
nual orgies in New York. Akron. and Syracuse.
The Legislature Of the country would then be
what it was in the earlier days of the Republic,
the grand headquarters of the mighty hosts of free
men, rather than it too often is the arena of
blackguardism and billingsgate.