New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-23
NERRASKA.

Before the tribunal of Public Opinion all great pub
lie measures must ultimately come for decision. What
Congress or Legislature may 60 this winter is mpOr
tant but what the People thinking aud resolving
around their quiet fresdes is far more important.
We propose therefore before prejudice, passion, and
party spirit shall be aroused to cloud the public judg
ment ana stAe the National conscience, to set forth,
calmly and candidly, the question which is to be
decided by the Country in the organization of Nebras
ka Territory.
Some twenty five years ago, the Territory of Mis-
souri, formed State Constitution aud presented her
self at the doors of Congress- asking admission into
the Union On examination certain provisions Of that
Constitution shocked the moral sense and provoked
the deepest hostility Oithe Free States They did not
merely establish and legallze Slavery in Missouri,
where it had indeed existed under French and Span
sh domination long before well since
purchased this Territory; but they provided also for
legislation 70 forbid the settlement of Free Blacks
MulattOes within tie State Tie House Of Represent
atiyes, under the lead of Gen. JAMES TALLMADGE
Democrat) of this State rejected the application and
refused TO admit the State with her pro-Savery Con-
stituton In the Senate the opposition TO was led
by the Hon RUFUS KING (Federalist) also of this
Clates nut inc SldNc EtdltS were strung enough III
this branch to pass the bill with little or no aid from
the Free. There was no party division the sub
iect the Legislature OF our State unanimously re-
solved against the admission and throughout the Free
States scarcely voice was raised against the sweep
ing current Of spontaneous unorganzed resistance to
the admission Of Missouri with her ultra Slave Con-
stitution
At the next Session (lS20-l) strong Committee of
Conference between the two Houses was formed Mr..
Clay Speaker of the House being at its head and
through his great influence and unsurpassed efforts
bill OF adjustment was finally devised which has ever
since been known as the Missouri Compromise
This Compromise allowed Missouri to come into the
Union provided she eliminated ftOm her Constitution
the obnoxious provision excluding Free Blacks from
her soil but with this further condition or makeweight
OIL the side of Freedom and Humanity:
"Pr0gotd, that in al territory ceici By France 10 ne
UaifcG states under the Of louisiana which lies
north of thirty six degrees and thirty minutes north
latitude included within the limits the state cOuem
plated by this act. Slavery and Involuntary servitude
otherwise Ian in the punishment Of crimes whereof the
parties shall have been duly convicted shall be- AMI is
hereby, FOREVER PROHIBITED; Pr0rl1ed Gfr0ys That
any person escaping into the from whom labor
service is lawfully Claimed IL any State Territory OF the
Uu,td STATES, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed
and conveyed 20 the person claiming his her labor
service as eioTesaid.
This Compromise was once defeated in Committee
Of tie Whole and again in the House 55 to So but
finally revived andpusheL through by vote of57 to 81
TIE Herald Of Saturday, commenting on the cab
signed by Walter X. Jones and others for City Meet
ing protest agains, the passage OF Douglass NebTas
ka bill, most untruy bat we presume ignOrantly SAYS
This Indignation at the prospect Of carrying Slavery
StoNe the Missouri line Of 6 So may be natural enoagh
ott me parties to the cal % forge, that tie Ms
s@Ts ConFTofafs lre frsf Hr0 ~ tg TCgeag tic
~ 80 81 ~ the admission or CGiforli0 The people
y ue oe Aed defined is boundaries do 70 the thirty
No uesfee CT north latitude they had excluded tho
SUN ltVa me whole OF Il AID COnyr took them 10 on
'u SeshH ont every attempt at making the line Of
70 Q! J5stho southern houut nv II the S.ste
ihey gave 'ne SCUM not square inch Of California
though one hai Of i lies below ihe Missouri Co1,rr ise
| ine. ''
= glance at the terms Of the Missouri Commands,
VIII show that j; had and could lave no reference -
California or any other Territory recently ae,ui7e5
from Mexico, IS il is expressly limited to g lie T II,
tcyy etded ~ Frame 70 tie Uai;si States asier n,
ACRE Of LorsGaa"that IS 10 Nebraska aud all t,s
TerIory OF The United States lying North Of IS 81
west Of the Mississippi and east OF the Rio del Norte
| aul ;Ls Rocky Mountains Whom Congress Organized
/ Oregon, and expressly excluded S'aTery thereiron
soutleru ates p; vas ale % 2ssort il tie b;l tat
tie exclusion was based On tie fact that Oregon lies