Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-06-13
The Nebraska Bill a Law.

W0 announced the passage OF the No.
brasks bill through the House, with the
Clayton amendment. which prohibited
foreigners voting In the
stricken out, Snd expressed
tho belief that ti,c Senate would concur
and the President sign the bill. This
belief has been realized. by rydc.
cisive vote the Senate concurrel, and on
Tuesday tho President signed the bill.
Our position on this matter is pretty
we'll known by our readers. And those
who have read our articles with evcn or.
dinary care, know that our opposition
10 the movement was not based upon O..
boi,ion or free soil grounds, beca ause
we have no sympathy in common with
them. In tie Presidential campaign we
held up tho Baltimore Platform as
positive guarantee that if Franklin
Pierce were elected 10 the Presidency,
he would in no wise countenance the
slavery agita,ion--that he would hold
that platform TO be sacred covenant
with tho people, tho violation Of which
would incur the penalty Of the peoples
dire disapprobation. The country was
tired OF the slavery agiiation; an agita.
ton fruitful alone Of evil TO the CO n fed
eracy--and, therefore, accepted the pos.
tive assurance in the Baltimore Plat
form, that the Democratic party will
resist all attempts at renewing, in Con.
gress or ont Of it. tho agitation Of ths
slavery question. unlcr whatever shape
or color the attempt may be made
Over his signature as President OF the
Ulited States, franklin Pierce nvo owel
his determination TO adhere 10 that pro.
vision of tho Platform; his New York
appointments were made with this end
in view. A Cabinet letter gove not only
New Workers bnt the people everywhere
to understand that fidelity TO the Balti.
more Platform would be regarded by
this administration as e test Of orlho.
doxy. We refer to Mr.. Gu,lrie's letter
to G. G. Bronson, Esq, and TO thorough
ly substan,ia,e wha, we say, we quote
thererrom the following passage: ~
i 'You are aware that to the principles
Of the Ballimore Convention an:l the
policy intima,cd BY the Inaugural AL.
dress, the President and his constitu
,ional advisers stand pledged b,foro the
world. They have been, and are, unit
el as ono man upon those principles
and that policy, ana had reason to be.
, lieve that all gentlemen, who consented
10 accept office under the adminislra'
ton, stood pledged 10 the same prlncl
, pies and policy $50 -.
, Up to as late date as the 20th Jan
, last, we believe, the Washington Union
supposed TO speak the sentiments of The
t President touching leading measures
inculcoted the same idea. The propo
t si,ion to repeal the Missouri Comprom
=. ise was brought forward by southern
Wing Senator, AMI at the time OF its in
1 PRODUCTION the Washington Union de
5 nounccd the project, and also inculcat
e ed fidelity TO the Baltimore Platform
o All this met the appreciation Of our ulg
: ment. Up to this time we stood witt
IS the President, the Cabinet and tn
(. Washington Union, because they main
" tainel the plighted faith Of the party
) bnt when Douglass assumed the paterni
y ,y Of this Whig project. engra fled it in
e 10 his amendment, and the Administra
}. ton, and the Washington Union, cam
j up to his support, of course we coul
}. not and would not espouse their new
n born faith, begotten ofthe sham pretel
10 of f'popular seUereignty. The true stat
e OF the case can be briefly stated, and W
S. state it more in sorrow than in anger
If President Pierce has proven recreant
at the Baltimore Platform, and instead
10 throwing his influence, as in mono
r. bound, against the renewal of the slav
st agitation in Congress he has fomente
IS it. All this doss not suffice. Not sati
:, fed with wounding the honor ofthe pa
ID ty, we are informed, semi. officially, tn
n. If We do not now give in our adheisio
Id 10 this treason to the party, we shall
r, excommuaic ated. Excommunicate tho
is who faithfully stand by the Baltimo
Platform, will they? This audacity
he equal to the DEVILS when from hi
q eninence he pointed out TO Christ ir
ne menso acres Of land, telling him that
re he would fall down and worship him
Id wsuId give it to him. The truth was 4
10 Devil did not own one inch Of it. c
q. precisely the same principle does !
ic Administration act when it alleges d
ly termination to cxcommunicate DEM
er Gratis, who will not give in their adhe'
RS on to its recreancy. 1t vninly imagin
Ts. il isthe Democratic party. and that,
al q matter Of course whateverit does mi
er meet the sanction Of those who have
r. bored to elevate it. II will yet discov
". that tits but an agent and nota pfin'
en- pal. ~"
ng So long as there existed dispositi
he to tolerate an honest difference Of opi
Id ion on this subject, we were disposed
,s. reciprocate; but as the mandate h
lbt gone forth that an absolute acquiescen
ii Is q test OF orthodoxy we shall !
~ ground our arms Of opposition TO 1t.
he are pretty con fident that the jugglers,
ell Washington will discover before |
Of months slspse, that the adoption by.
ste administration Of the project to rep
l, the Missouri Comproniise. and there
De, violating the Baltimore Platform, we
ell most, unfortunate movement, and u
er. this test will be contemPtuously spu
ing ed. 80