The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-02-08
THE ALL ABSORBING TOPIC OF TIE
DAY.

LIZ
The slavery principle involved in the Bill, of
Senator Douglas, for the organization of Ne
breska and Kansas Territories, is the all absorb
ing topic in Congress and among political circles
throughout the country. Those in favor and
thos. opposed to the slavery principle ia the
bill, which is to leave the question of slavery to
be settled by the people Of the Territories, are
marshang their forces for severe and we fear
protracted contest. The elements seem to be
working for this end and it is difficult TO conec.
ture, where the final settlement Of this vexed
question will leave parties and politicians. II
is broad and turbulent sea, exposed to squalls
and storms of angry and prohuess discussion,
which may wreck many doubling and tinid
politician and which certainly BODIES no good to
the government and the country We had
hoped that the compromise of 1850 settled per-
minently and for all time to come, this exciting
question in Congress but i, seems that the bat
tie is to be fought over again. That snlema
Act Of Legislation, the joint work Of men OF
riots Of the country, the noblest exhibition Of
wisdom, patriotism and mutual Cancellation, that
the records Of the country possess, is again to
undergo the ravages and storms OF bitter civil
and social contest The bitter experience Of
lS49 and 5O-the breakers which surrounded
and threatened to wreck the ship Of state then
the two venerable statesmen whose lives and
last dying energies were consecrated to the ser
vice Of their country in the disposal Of this
question-the triumphant satisfaction with
which the people hailed the restoration of the
country to domestic tranquility, seems 10 have
been lost sight Of by the politicians and we are
upon the eve of an other terrible season of an
>.gry strife, desolating gloom and perhaps civil
war and blood shed. The appearances are por-
ten,ious for such result. And what is it all
for? Simply to crafty small minority in the
country, who are animated by morbid pnilan-
thropy and whose leaders are fred bya personal
aad political ambition, which loves less the tran
guilty, prosperity and perpe.uity of their coun-
try, than their own pronloilon. All that is ask
ed in the adoption of this Territorial Bill, is that
the people Of the territory shall be permitted 10
exercise the r.gh; Of setting the question OF
slavery themssves-that the right Of oil the
citizens Of the United States, without regard 10
their location North or South Of certain line,
shall be consulted in giving organic law to said
territory the Compromise of 1850 shall
be faithfully and impartialIy carried cut, a
final and pertinent settlement of the dispute
between the North and the South, upon fair and
honorable principles, credi,abe alike to both
sections This was conceded in the adoption q
the Compromise, it was satisfactory to large
majority Of the people of he country, it was
adopted in the platform of each Of the great po'
litical organizations of the country in 1852, anc
was triumphantly sustained in the election o
Gen. Pierce, whose sentiments were boldly Sc
forth and partook Of no doubt or Inconsistency
upon this question.
We believe that it will still be sustained BY
the great mass Of the democratic party and tina
those VINO voted for Gen. Pierce, and thereby
gave their solemn sanction to the platform Of
principles prepared for, and adopted by him
viii exhibit both inconsistency and insncerty
il they now refuse 10 be governed by the pledg
es, which, in 1852, they voluntarily made ant
which he was glor6ed for making. If this ex-
pectation is not realized, disappointment and
dependency will darken many an anxious coun
teuauce.