Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-08
s Much ado about Nothing."

WE have not been able, az yet, 10 see any good
cause for the flourish of trumpets with which Judge
DOUGLAS Nebraska Bill has been greeted by many
Southern prints. As we have already said in prev.
Gus ISSUE it is at best but the bare assertion ofa plain
principle, already guaranteed 10 us by the Constiu.
,ion transmitted to keeping by the founders OF
the Federal Government. in The opinion OF some, it
is not mer,orious even this extent. For, by the
nain INTERPRETATION of The Constitution, it would seem
that Sou,herners equally with Nurtherners, Slave
holders equally with Non.slareholders were to be
protected by the arm of Federal power in their rights
of property when emigrnng with such property 10 any
territory belonging in common to the States But by
The Nebraska Bill (ii is manained) such complete
advantages are vouchsafed us, the territorial gov
ernmens being thereby empowered 10 prohibit slaves
tremember no other single description Of property
before they have become endowed with sovereignty,
before they have passed from Federal subecon, be.
fore lit might we'll happen) The country over which
their prohilory Legislation is to prevail, has even
been fairly offered to Southern enterprise and South
crn institutions. Regarded in this light, the prov-
.iun, Of the Bill strike us being almost contenp,hly
feeble. They certainly fall far rhurt Of the mark, if
real Justice to The South was intended be compass.
ed by them.
But, granting that it fully rc.airms and assumes to
make good our rights under the Constitution, what is
achieved for us! 1t is admitted by Southern and
Northern Senators, from their places in the Senate OF
the Union. that, practically, this measure will nor
benefit the saveholding portion Of the Contederaey
one ola ], is not expected by any of them that our
institutions will ever be introduced upon any part Of
,,,l.,r yxtotinp
On the contrary it is admitted 10 be next to impuss
be What then arc to gain out of all this fuss and
feathers, kicked up by the lille giant Of Illinois, be-
ride the rceralion of political pledge that Southern
rights for the future 10 be respected! This Is al
"a political pledge And the whole history of the
government for quarter OF century at least, shows
clearly that "pucal pledges are as little 10 he re-
lied on as ropes ur sand, especially MS between the
Pro.slavery and Anslavery interests Of tile Amerl-
can people. Have we any gouc gronnd for thinking
that this one will prove any better than the mos, ho-
low truce Of them all, when real occasion for its
violation arrvcs We cannot discover it, il any exist.
i, may be that we are in uncracious mood, but We
cenlainly are unable 10 the political stampede
which has been gotten up the heels of this Nrbras-
ka business, in any other light than MS being clear
case oc " Much ado about nothing"
Meanwhile, we are as willing rs the hnmblest sub.
rct of puli,ica prrs,-rraf in the land sit dow and
watch the issue of these high.sunnding inten,nns'
only serving the dear privilege (dcar. brcanse il is
the only one left us in the premises Of speaking ex-
acy what we seriously think Of the appearances over:
head. We sincerely hope that some real good to onr
section may come out Of the ccmmingcd lights and
shadows which are present fitting hnrricdly acosS
our pulilica rky. Far from thinking it an mpossbIi-
~, we believe there are some fair indications that a
better day for Southern interests il at hand We find
these in the complexion Of the present Congress, in
the tone Of our Chief Magistrate and in the increasing
libcmly of sentiment towards US ON either side OF the
Atlantic. We find them in the now. acknowledged
necessity Of savclabor and IT'S fruits TO the welfare
of the world the increased buldness of attack npon
abolition fanatics by influential Northern journals,
| and in the lhloes of snch NEIL as Horace GREELEY,
in view of their declining power. Bnt We cannot say
that we find these Indications in any especm degree
in the Nebraska scheme OF Senator DoUoLss:' be
frank, we cannot help regarding It as but skiifHl
fling bv that gentleman for the Presidency Of The U.
States. We feared so from The beginning, knowing
him to be one of the most ambitious asprans in the
Union Lntierly, we have read letter addressed by
him TO the Concord N. H. Patriot, which settles the
point l, is a lahorng away Of what he would Doubt
Less have Suutcrncrr believe the strong features of
his Bill. 1t - M uneasy urging that nothing new
nothing al all differing from the Compromise of 1851
morning in any Wise favorable to slavery than
the MANNER Of New Hampshircs admission into the
Union, is contemplated by his Bill. 1t is rather
cringing effort in short bnt right plausible one) 10
satisfy Free-soiers and Aboli,ionsls that his Bill Ia
doing nothing upon Gods earth for the establishment
Of negro serviiude in territories. If we have mis-
construed this letter, We will thank some more saga.
cious reader of Young American" English to set us
Alright. But, understanding it as we do, We must be
permitted to say that it has sadly diminished our, not
over.abundant stock of confidence in the great father
of the Nebraska Bill and, by almost necessary conse.
quencc in the Nebraska Bill ITSELF