Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-02-16
From the Muscatine Democratic Enquirer.
The Nebraska Bill.


lass, tor the organization of the terrific
ries of Nebraska and Kansas, is no,
such measure as we can support. 1t
proposes to repeal the Missouri com
promise, by which SO degrees and 80
minutes north latitude, was established
as the extreme northern boundary of sla.
very west of Missouri: and which has
been re affirmed and re-enac,ed by sub
sequeni national legislation. 1t propo
4es 10 anDul a solemn compact, entered
] into by the north and the south-to can
Gel an ayr ement. TO the strict observance
of which the whole ma ion is pledged.
Let us look at the probable result Of
this bill, if passed.
An extent Of territory reaching from
the Northern boundary of Texas TO teh
British Possessions, stretching from the
borders of Minnesota, Iowa and Ms
souri, TO the Rocky Mountains, contain
ing four hundred and eighty five thous.
and square miles, will be opened TO sla
very.
The tide of emigration and the car OF
progress will stop short upon the soil of
Iowa and Minnesota.
A law by which quantity of land
will be secured TO each actual set Ter, is
anxously looked for. OF what avail
will be such law where slavery can
come?
When this territory belonged to France
and Spain it as slave territory. II the
Missouri compromise which now forbid,
the existence Of slavery in it, is repeal.
ed, will not such repeal revive The old
Slave Law! And if free state should
be formed from this territory, and ask for
admission into the Union, will il not be
urged that her constitution is repugnan,
10 the fundamental law that governs her
soil; and that she cannot be admisud un
less she distinctly recognizes and estab
fishes slavery.
We consider this bill direc, viola
ton of the conpac. between the contend
ing forces of The North and the South,
made in 1920, and signed and sealed by
some of the brightest, stars of American
political history. 1t is needless and
wanton renewed of the slavery agitation;
and we fear is the prelude to more des-
perate struggle than any our country has
We. witnessed.
Our Washington correspondents lay
the blame OF all agitation on this sub ect,
to the charge of the aboll,ionists. We
differ from them. Its not the abolition.
lists alone, who oppose this bill.
The bill is repugnant TO the common
sense Of justice in the hearts of the A
merican people; and the people oppose
It.
The most influential papers in the
country oppose it. Even from the South
voices are raised agains, it.
We trus. that the objec,ional features
of this bill will be stricken out, and tina,
The provisions of the compromise OF 1920
will &c respected and enforcrd, in regard
to his territory.
We regret deeply tia, a proIninen.
democratic Senator should be the author
of this unGemocralic measure that
Judge Douglas should De the fl to in
settle the settlement in which both polit
ical parties acquiesce-lhat he should be
the first to cas-. the frebraud OF slavery
exiens on amid the inealible IN ats Vi
The present Congress.
The following extrac: from an article
in the Chicago Democratic Press. of TIE
9Th inst, meets our views upon this sub
ecsprecisely:
The Compromise Measures vf 1850
may justly be regarded as precedent
for all subsequent Legislation touching the
organization of territories, over which
an existing compact did not previously
extend. This we apprehend, is the posi-
ton of the entire democracy of the
country-.his is undoubtedly the true in
tent and meaning of the Baltimore plat.
form. Thus far, we believe The Illinois,
withou, exception, are ready to GO. la
the future organization of territories, not
covered by solemn compact, the prin-
ciple Of granting TO the people of these
territories to determine the character of
their own institutions, subjec, only 10 the
limitations provided by the constitution
of the United States. will doubtless con
troll Congressional action. That is GER
sainly safe doctrine-in fact, the only
true republican doctrine. And the sole
reason why it is not applicable to The
territory in question. is be cause of an
existing compact, pl, dye of mutual
faith between the North and South that
quoad hoe, this right shouit be restricted
as regards the subject of slavery.
So much of this compact as provides
for the protection Of Southern interests,
has been faithfully complied with. The
time has now come when the obligations
incurred by the other party to the com.
pact. The South has never minated an
expectation tina. it would be done, on the
contrary, it has from the first, a, divers
times ard in many connections, given ex
preston to its intention Of faithfully per-
forming the slipulations which it volun.
lafily entered into. lander these cir
cumsiances, we cannot but regard the
policy Of repeating the compromise OF
1920, as entirely uncalled for, consider
ed merely with reference TO the suhjec,
itself. But when we consider the agl.a.
ton, the intiamed passion, the sectional
animosi,y, which will inevitably spring
from IL xuo cappnt hnt "A a 10 IN a