The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-03

confidence which the measure viii bring mp
from the South, nust Stand round the fearful
missile and abide the explosion. General Cass,
aware Of his danger, walks round the sub
ject. and talks round the subject he does
not like the is afraid Of it; but the ad-
ministration is paramount, and there is
young gentleman at Rome who must not be
forgotten. And there is the Nicholson letter,
and there is Douglas before him, and the Presi-
dent behind him, and the South looking on.
Yes, he will toe the mark; it is sad business
and bad business, but it has to be done. Mr..
Everett is next called upon. He cannot face
the music. 1t would instantly destroy him in
the North; but he begs Of the South to under
stand that he don't oppose the bill on account
of slavery. He opposes it only because the
Missouri compromise was o compact, and
ought not to be violated. Like the
courteous rooster in stable full Of dray
horses, Mr.. Everett says =" Gentlemen, let us
be careful that we do not tramp upon each
others toes" Who does not sympathise with
Mr.. Everett? Next we find Mr.. Clayton, with
his free soil "reminiscences of General Taylor's
Cabinet, called to the stand. He makes out
the case of a county court lawyer. 1t is o brief
of what he has done, and might have done, and
will do to prove himself constitutional man.
He endeavored strenuously to run the Missouri
line to the Pacific in 1913; but failing 10 that, he
thinks the whole concern unconstitutional, and
that the line ought to be wiped out entirely.
Had the line been run through, it would have
been another thing; but, stopping short Of the
Pacific it becomes unconstitutional. 1t could
only be made constitutional by running the end
Of it into salt water. Such is the shallow
sophistry and special pleading of Mr.. Clayton
in his desire to sail with the South, without
offending his Seward brethren of the North He
goes for the repeal, but is opposed to the bill.
Truly is it "a sorry sight" to witness the
working of this Nebraska bill among our Presi-
dental candidates of Northern aspirations and
Southern desires. They row one way and look
the other-they advance backwards Like An
cient Pistol, compelled to swallow the leek,
they 'eat and swear The case Of Gen. Cass
is particularly analogous to that Of Pistol.
He eats and grumbles till the last morsel is
down. Well, it requires but little sagacity to
zee tuut tHls ucdsuIc Will pioy VIC uCuCC
among the Presidential availables at the next
Baltimore Convention, if we are to have an
other. Pass the bill or defeat it, and the result
among the political spectators is the same.
They must go over to one side or the other Of
Mason and Dixon's line The next Presidential
contest must be o sectional battle. The i'd
ministration, repudated in one section and
abandoned by the other, must 60 down-its
Congressional leaders must 60 down with it, and
its party must be dispersed. The wings have
already been formally divided into Northern
and Southern party. A general breakup,
including all the old party cliques, leaders and
candidates, will inevitably follow.
In this view, there is nothing more ridicu-
lousy weak and wishy-washy than the special
pleadings Of such men as Cass, Everett and
Clayton. Their anxiety concerning their own
individual safety is perfectly absurd, consider
ing That we are entering upon the tremendous
issues of mighty political revolution, and
that the final issue involved is union or dis
union And this issue is now before US, as the
natural result Of the imbecility of the Senate in
STOPPING to justifythe administration and its free
soil associations and policy, on the beggarly
sBulking plea of democratic harmony. Let the
work 60 on