The Shasta courier., 1854-03-25
Nebraska Territory.

The bill introduced into the Senate of the
United States. is at the present time attracting
very general interest throughout the Republic.
AS the bill, according to the latest advices from
W ashington, will certainly pass, if it has not
already done SO, 1t will doubtless prove of in-
est to many of our readers to know wherein
il does violence to the views-as is evidenced
by their unanimous disapprobative outcry-oi
Abolitionists, Free Soilers. ct id onne genus,
us we'll as some Southern men who are by no
means to be suspiconed OF entertaining senti.
ments in kind with the one-idea parties named.
IN regard 10 tie abstract question OF the consti-
tntionality and justice of slavery.
The following section fully explains the main
Object of the bill of Mr.. Douglass:
Section 81. and be IL further enacted, in or
der 10 avoid all further msconstrucion, it is
hereby declared to be the true intent and mean
ing Of tn act, so far the question of Slavery
is concerned, TO carry into practical operation
the following proposition and principles estab-
ilshed by the Compromise measures of 1880 to
wit: FrSt-That all questions pertaining 10 sla-
very III the Territories aud the new States to be
formed, be left to the decision of the pco-
pie residing therein, through their appropriate
representatives.. Second-Thal all cases involv-
ing title to slaves and questions OF personal free
dom, are referred to the aG adjudication OF the local
tribunals, with the right of appeal to the Su-
preme Court oi the United States. Third-That
the provisions of the Constitution aud laws of
the United States III respect to fugiives are 10
be carried into faithful execution in all the or.
gnnizcd Territories the same as in the States.
The great objection to this bill is, that its pas
sage necessarily repeals the following proviso TO
the act approved March 6, 1920 admitting Mis-
souri, into the Union, and known as the Mis-
souri, Compromise -
Psorided, That in all Territory ceded by
France to the United States under the name of
Louisiana, which lies north of 36 deg 80 min.
north latitude, not included within the limits of
the State contemplated by this act, slavery and
involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the
punishment OF crimes whereof the parties shall
have been duly convicted, shall be and is hereby
forever prohibited. Prorided al.oays, That any
person escaping into the same, from whom labor
or service Is lawfully claimed in any State or ter
ritory of the United States, such fugitive NAV
be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the per.
son claiming his labor service as aforesaid
1t will thus be seen, if the bill of Mr.. Doug
lass becomes law, that this question of slavery,
In Its relation to the common territory of all the
States, will be placed exactly where the Con.
stitution of the United States places it, viz: In
the hands of the people residing in the said ter.
ritory We have always held that the people
of territory, in forming constitution prepar-
atory to applying for admission into the Union
have the full right to say whether they will have
II a slave holding or free State. and Congress
has no right to consider that question fol a mo-
ment. in acting upon such application for admis-
sion. Such being our sentiments, we trust tn,
bill will become a law, and most heartily COM
mend the course of Senators Gwin and Weller
in tavoring the movement