New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-14
THE NEBRASKA BILL.
Editorial Correspondence ofthe N. Y Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Feb

WASHINGTON DlOnday, L co. Io iooi'
The Nebraska bill kills everything here in the shape
of business before Congress stone dead and things
BOW stand, so will they remain to the end. II the bill
shall be defeated something may hereafter be done;
but lift be successful then adieu every expectation Of
Pacific Railroads River and HarbOr bills anything
else. All Congress win then be up to the point,
aud nothing will 20 through. Fierce discussions will
have arisen between the members, and Washington
will howl again. The excitement is already intense
and deepening every hour. Southern men no less
denuucatOry of the movement in private circles than
are those of the North. They declare the South did
not ask for, would not have proposed, and does not
want the abrogatiOn of the Missouri Compromise; but
as Northern men, backed and urged on by Northern
President have introduced and recommended the mea
sure, they rot going to refuse tie boom 1t is IN
view Of the impending storm, and of the outrageous
swndle of the transaction, that they condemn its
thors Indeed the tone of feeling such to
age the belief that the whole of cOnspiratOrs viii
be ultimately crushed by the and indignation of
both North and South, and perish in the storm Of their
own raising. 1t is result richly due to such traitor
Gus conduct theirs; and fso righteous rerioutOn
should fall upon their heads it would be proper sub
ject for national thanksgiving.
gentlemen in Congress who would gladly see this bill
defeated, and who among themselves, do not hesitate
to deplore its introduction and condemn its arocity,
none are to be found who dare openly vote against it
We say none There may be few Indeed, crcum-
stances may arise which may deprive the bill Of quite
number of Southern votes. But they cannot now be
counted upon. Every where the cogardly excuse is
given that to vote against the bill would be to court
swift political destruction at home. Or as member,
in speaking of the subject to-day said, " might as
well 90 upon the dome of the Capitol and throw my
self down upon the pavement" 1t is but an obvious
remark to say that such Acknowledgements are indica
tive Of low and vulgar tone Of mind, and eyince
grovelng estimate and melancholy obtuseness in re-
gard TO the duties of public man and Legislator.
But alas such is human nature. One noble example
at this moment of lofty and chiyarous spirit of self
sacrifice would put flight thousand craven spprehen
sons ike these its followers would not be few nOrf fail
10 receive their reward even in this world For there
is no virtue more admired or more habituay recog.
nized by the mind than intrepidity whether it
be moral or physical Should no higher motive prevail
it is to be at least hoped that this papsbe cOnSdera
ton may animate some to take an elevated position
this great question and earesy assert their personal
Cesy and eEendence Dy avOte declaatory Oh their
real sentiments Amid the apparently conflicting claims
ofpolcy and duty iris well remember the valuable in
tructon that he who would bis life shall lose it,
and that lie who will lose his life shall find it, When
ever il shall to this that Congress is filed with
men who possess Of the spirit of selEde7oton,
the country will become the constant and worthless
prey Of demagogues such are practcing their H.
feInal act upon that body through this Nebraskabl
Unfortunately, however We fear that reflections Ike
these, pertinent though they be- will get no votes
sgains; the great iniquity What is wanted is action
action, ACTION The North must rouse in its might and
its majesty The People must declare themselves The
infamous scheme must fall, if it falls q. s before the
drectaauts fthe People 1t must be stunned by their
blows and be blasted by their maledictons 1t is no
tine for apathy and time for soft words. Congress
was never sensitive to the public voice than it is
to-day upon this measure Its attention is the alert
and It's ears are wide open Let them be filed with
TIE Accumulated thunders of universal condemnation
Of this atrocous aggression upon the Free States Let
those thunders roll TIL they shake the pillars of the