Washington sentinel., 1854-05-20
THE HYPOCRISY OF THE OPPOSI-
TION TO THE NEBRASKA BILL.

TION TO THE NEBRASKA BILL.
We give below an extract from the Philadel-
phia NORTH american and United States Ga
zette, of the 18th instant, one Of the most de-
cided opponents of the bill:
AS respects the Nebraska question, it has
been too generally and thoroughly debated to
leave anything new to be said nor is opinion
on the subject to be changed, at this late hour,
by verbal argument. IL is cery clear that
uhetlier the bill shall be passed on defeated, ii
can hare little, any, practical effect in deter
mining the condition Of the Territory IN refer
e,ace to the only matter for aOhich 1t processes to
make p,ocisioa. The. future settlement Of The
soil is maniJestly destined to ercl,tde slacery
from ii, Independently Of all legislation intend
ed to legalize its admission ruth the consent Of
The citizens Of that region. But the introduc-
ton of the bill is eminently censurable in re-
viving an agitation fearfully perilling thepeace
of the country, at a moment when it was
thought to be secure by virtue of a recent COM
promise, and because, also, it seeks to violate
and annul a solemn compact against the wishes
of one ofthe contracting parties.
If anything had been needed to demonstrate
the fact that the opposition to the bill by the
freesol and abolition parties was purely fac
tious; that the allegation that those territories
would become slave States was knowingly false
and that the whole purpose of the opposition
by these parties is to create sectional feeling,
to make the dividing line of parties sectional
or geographical line the above admission and
averment, by one of its leading opponents,
would strip the matter of every vestige of doubt
Thus, we see, under the cloak OF false as
sumption, these factious firebrands (who them
selves have uniformly ignored the Missouri
compromise, in letter and spirit are striving
with their utmost strength and guile, to perpe-
trate that very wickedness which, of all others,
George Washington deemed the dangerous evil
to be dreaded, to wit, sectional differences; his
parting monition to his countrymen being, to
frown down all persons attempting so iniqui-
tous a scheme, as being the most baleful foes to
the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the
country We appeal TO every fair and candid
mind Of the north to say, with the above ex-
tract before him, what would be the language
and sentiment of Washington, could he now
appear and address his countrymen. Would
he not say that the simple belief there stated, of
the utter improbablity of the Territory becom-
ing slave States should, of itself, insure calm
deliberation, and receive considerate opposi-
ton from those who conscientiously believe
that the Constitution and the laws exclude the
south from entrance with their slaves upon their
own property; that the south has both con-
science and intelligence, as well as the north,
and are entitled to equal weight and con-
sideration; that the bitter, malign, and foul ac-
cusations against such Of the northern mem
bers as concur in the southern view of the case,
or, not fully concurring, yet view the matter as
Of no practical moment whatever, are unde-
served, ill.timed, and mischievous; and that
any possible i'll which could accrue from its
passage, even supposing it wrong, would be but
a feather in comparison with the portentous
evil of a sectional division?
Is it not clear that all those northern mem
bers who vote for the bill do so alike from the
conviction of right, and under the impressive
monition of the Father Of his Country while
those who oppose it can sustain their opposi
ton only by the allegation of false pretences
and by inhuman ISLANDERS upon every supporter
Of the bill. Impelled by a maniacal fanati-
cism, this portion of its opponents scruple at
the employment of no means which may ac-
complish their purpose.
| Let our nothern brethren who participate
not in the political, infdel, or fanatical sen.
timent of the desperate opponents of the bill
let them, we beg, Judge Of the facts for them
selves.
At another time We may find occasion to
speak of those who think they see in the re-
peal of the socalled Missouri compromise the
seed or germ of future great evils. We re.
spect the apprehension and the sentiment Of
those who object on this ground and, without
undertaking to declare that men will not here
aftermake it pretext and cover for mischevous
measures, we think that if clear analogy be
always had, that no measure Of evil can legiti
mately find shelter under this as precedent.