The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-15

The Nsbsaska Bill-FDlscy and Duty OF the
House Majority.
Our readers win have seen, from our Wash
ington telegraphic advices, as published IN yes
terday's HERALD, that the majority of the House
of Representatives were reduced on Saturday
last to an armistice with the minority upon the
Nebraska bill It had been the expectation and
the fixed purpose of the majority to bring the
bill to final vote before Tuesday, though 1t
should require continuous session night and
day, Sunday included, upon the principle, as
laid dewn by Mr.. Webster, that there are no
Sabbaths in revolutionary times" The ad-
journment, therefore, on Friday night, was
point gained by the minority, and the early adj
journment on Saturday over to twelve o'clock
this day, was still more important concession
of the armistice extorted from the majority.
The leaders, in behalf of the bill, have rested
this armistice upon the probabilities OF satisfac-
tory compromise with the minority against the
meeting of the House at twelve o'clock to-day
such compromise as will secure the early pas
sage of the Nebraska bill without return to
the disorganizing scenes Of Thursday and
Friday nights We have not been disposed
however, to entertain much confidence IN
any such arrangements, when the issue be-
tween the parties involves all the contin-
gencies of thorough-going political revo-
luton. The temper Of the ant-Nebraska
coalition in the House, as exhibited In the
long session Of Thursday and Friday the tone
Of the anti-slavery organs Of this city, Tging
the destruction Of the Capitol itself as prefer
able to the submission of the minority to the
passage of the BILL and the drift of the speeches
of the Saturday meeting in the Park, afford no
satisfactory indications of the compromise an
ticpated by Mr. Richardson. Frankly, we have
to say to the House Chairman on Territories,
that the ground lost in any contest by the me-
iority is thus much gained by the minority !;
and that where the majority, with the power in
their hands to carry out their object, send over
flag of truce to the enemy for suspension of
hostilities for day or two, in expectation of a
compromise there is danger, more or less, of
an ultimate defeat of the majority when they
least expect it,
We are hardly prepared to believe that the
outside revolutionary agitation, especially in
this neighborhood, during the past week, has
had any depressing influence upon the nerves of
Mr.. Richardson and the majority. We presume
that he and they feel perfectly secure, and are
only DESTROYS of conciliating the minority as
far as possible to the inevitable result of the
passage of the bill, and the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, line of demarcation-that unconstitutional
line between the North and the South,
through the Territories-in all of which the
| citizens of all the States have an equal
| right of Inheritance. We suppose that Mr..
Richardson prefers to mollify rather than exas-
| perate the minority upon Nebraska, in view of
other subjects of Western Importance yet to be
| considered. But where great constitutional
| principle is the question, there should be no
traffcking and trading with factious minority
opposed to the supremacy of the fundamental
law Having the principle in their BILL and the
power at their command to enforce it, the ma
jorty should not stoop to compromises with
factious agitators. They should, after having
| given liberal margin for debate-which has
been done-push the bill forward to vote, re-
gardless of the outside pressure or inside in
| trigues to defeat it, come from what quarter
they may.
Perhaps we may be informed from Mr.. Rich
ardson to-day of some agreement with the mi
nority for the final closing Of the debate upon
Nehraska--perhaps not. In any event, let the
bill be passed. Its passage has become neces-
| sary to silence the anti-slavery agitators, in
putting them to the test Of obedience to the law.
1t is also manifest that until this bone OF
contention is removed out Of Congress,
there can be nothing done in the practical
business of the session. Let the bill be passed:
let the regular appropriations follow and
let us see if something good does not
succeed, upon the Homestead bill, Benefits
land bill, and the various stockjobbing, land
robbing, railroad schemes pending before the
two houses. We are inclined to suspect that
Nebraska if carried successfully through with
out delay, will operate most admirably in de-
stroying the numerous coalitions Of land specu-
tors through the defeat of their unconstitu-
tional projects and monopolies Best of all, we
anticipate the total breaking up, root and
branch, rank and file, North and South, East
and West, of the two old rotten, demoralized,
and effete whig and democratic parties, upon
| this constitutional rock of the Nebraska bill,
and reconstruction Of parties and Of
the administration, more in consonance with
the spirit of the age than the present dis
ordered state of things Let the bill be passed.
THE WANTS OF Our CRY PoPuLATIoN-Su
GEsTIoNs FOR STREET IMPRovEMENTs.-Ther is
perhaps no city in the world that presents
stranger anomalies in its local arrangements
and government than that in which our lot has
been cast The Capitalization Of nearly all the
business and wealth Of such large community