Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-02-25
NEBRASKA.
Revival of the Slavery Agitation.

Revival Of the Slavery Agitation.
The topic which at present engrosses the atten
ton OF Congress, apparently 10 the neglect o
much else of interest and importance to the PEG
ple-and one which it is feared will again oper
that comparatively healed public sore, the sIavery
agitation-is the bill lately offered by Senate
DOUGLASS, of Illinois, creating a new Territory
out of a portion OF our North Western possessions
to be called "Nebraska''-in which inroluntar,
Slavery ~N be determined by the people Of said Terri
Tory. These words, or those of similar Import EN-
braced in the bill, are the cause of the excitement
respecting it
1t appears that the bill has not taken a part,
course. There are many eminent Wings support.
ing it, and many of distinction in The Democratic
party who oppose it. 1t is feared that whatever
may be the fate of the bill. that it will be the un,
happy cause of again originating the slavery agi-
tafion, which all good men of whatever party
throughout the Union would deeply regret. 1t is
opposed by Southernefs principally upon this very
ground, that its passage would certainly bring to
life an evil, dangerous even to the existence of our
government, which it was fondly hoped was at
rest forever; that however unjust they considered
any law (the Missouri Compromise for instance
ane the Compromise Measures of 1850 which
prevented slave owners from going with their pro-
perty to any territory over which our flag floats,
and there establish themselves as free and indie
pendent as our Northern brethren or as those who
DO not own slave property, yet, COR the sake of
peace 10 the country, they are willing that these
measures shall remain undisturbed, however much
they may conflict with their interests or however
unconstitutional they may conceive them to be.
Other reasons which influence Southern members
in their opposition to the bill, flor it is conceded
to be a Southern m~easure) the opposition Of Dem
ocrats as well as Wings, is the improbability that
Southerners or slave owners would ever settle in
the territory in question in consequence of the in
applicability of the climate to slave labor-that,
at this time that Congress is legislating upon the
subject, there is not a single white inhabitant ex-
cept public officers, in all the country which it is
in contemplation shall form this Territory of Ne
braska-and that in all human probability, should
the bill pass as desired, leaving the question of
slavery to be decided by the people who settle it,
that there would be a unanimous voice against it,
because such settlers, beyond a doubt, would come
from Europe, from our Northern States, and from
other sections where slavery, as it exists here, is
bitterly condemned, although many of those who
curse it, may fare worse and are even more SER
vile than our negroes. Hence the fallacy of again
disturbing this dangerous subject. The above,
we believe, is something of the view of the mat
ter which influences the opposition to the bill of
HoUsToN and other Southern members. O
Should this bill pass, the Compromise Adjust
ment of 1850 will be considered as invaded, and
in fact annulled SO also will be the fate of the
Missouri Compromise, which prohibited slavery
forever in any territory North of SO deg. 80 min.1
This being done, the enemies of the Fugitive
Slave Law act could with very good grace insist
upon its adjustment also, or for such amendments
as would render it of no avail-and thus raise a
storm of angry feeling and evil passions between
the people of the North and South, which has had
no precedent heretofore, and which might end in
a manner to be deplored by every lover of our in
situations, and destructive to the hopes of those
~ "o'iu looh " the peIpetulty 7 OF
our Union as the greatest, grandest blessing, since
the Christian advent. -a
We like the bill in one respect and dislike il in
another. We like it because it says that the
South with its slave property, as co-partners in
every portion of the soil claimed by Government,
has the guaranteed right, given by the Constitu-
ton, to emigrate to and enjoy the benefits of such
as well as all other citizens, but which
she is now prevented from doing by the Compro-
acts Of is2o15o. We dislike it for the rea-
ION as stated above. that it might bring into exis-
:ence again an evil that might prove our national
destruction. This sentiment may be called a
weakness on the part of those who thus argue,
md that the rule should be to contend for right and
ustie irrespective of consequences. This is no
oubt the correct principle as general thing-but
are exceptions to all good rules, and the
bove policy Of opposition to the Nebraska bill is
one Of them. In this case, prudence is