The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02

and the extent of the protection afforded by it
to slave property in the Territories, 80 they arc
not prepared NV i'm 1854 to recommend de-
rarture from the course pursued on tina! MEM
orable occasion, either by affirming Or repeal
ing the eighth section of the Missouri Compro-
mise Act, or by any act declaratory of the Con-
stitution in respect to the legal points in dis
pute."
But in their present Bill, they fatty contra
dict all this, BY asserting that the eighth sec
ton Of the Missouri Compromise "acas superss-
ded by the principles Of the legislation Of 1850,
and is HEREBY DECLARED INOPERA-
TIVEn
Their Bill knocks the brains ont of their
Report. They virtually declare that the prin-
cipies Of that Report were unseund, its analo-
gcs faneiul. its reasonngs sophistical, its posi-
tons untenable, its conclusions inconclusiye.
Their argument now stands thus ''The
Nebraska country occupies the same relative
position to the Slavery Question, as did New
Mexico and Utah when these Territories were
organized" the question whether the Mexican
Law excluding Slavery from those Territories
was in force or not, was the subject of violent
controversy; the question whether the Missouri
Compromise is in force or not in this Territory
is the subject Of violent controversy the two
parties arrayed against each other on the for
NOR question, sought each to enforce its posi-
ton by positive enactment: the two parties
arrayed against each other on this question,
insist each, upon enforcing its position by posi-
tive enactment: Agitation was arrested and
peace was restored then, by avoiding any ex-
preston of opinion by Congress on the ques-
ton, either by an act affirming or by one ro-
pealing the Mexican Law, or otherwise Agi-
tation now can be arrested and peace restored,
only by avoiding any expression of opinion by
Congress on the question, either by an act af-
frming or one repeating the Missouri Compro-
mise -
THEREFORE,
Be 1T enacted, That the eighth section of
tho act preparatory to the admission of Nilsson
ri into the Union, approved March 90, 1920,
which was superseded By the principles Of the
legislation of 1850, commonly called the Com
promise Measures Is HEREBY DECLARED mop
ERATIvE"
Admirable logic! Iron-linked reasoning
"The latter end of their Commonwealth forgcts
tho beginning" The Report condemns the Bill,
and tho Bill, tho Report. The conduct of the
organ" is just as logical and coherent The
Report was in its judgment, perfectly sound /;
so is the Bill. The former, assuming that it
would be unwise and indisereet for Congress to
express any opinion on the Missouri Compro-
mise, either by affirming or annulling it, it
claimed as in harmony with the views of the
administration the latter, eohtending that
Congress shall express the opinion that tho
Compromise was superseded in 1850, and affirm
in 1854 that it is null and void, it also claims
as in harmony with the views Of the Adminis-
trdtiOn! O. most sagaciOus Administration !!
Most consistent "organ!" Most logical Com
mittec!
We submit to tho Senate, that should it con-
clude to pass this admirable Bill, it should also
adopt and order to BIO printed on parchment,
the no lees admirable report, so beautifully IL
Illustrating and enforcing its leading provisions.
Both together will constitute noble monu-
ment of Senatorial wisdom and craftsmanship.
We begin to be alarmed for the psychological
influences OF Slavery. 1t seems in fair way
not only to annihilate Freedom; but Common
Sensc-not only to convert all our Territory
into slave soil, but to transform all our People
into donkeys.
Seriously, every reader will see that in the
short period from January 4th, when tho Ter
ritorial Committee submitted to the Senate it's
report to January 23d, when it submitted a
new Bill, ccntradicting every position in that
report it changed its ground completely, re-
versing all its opinions and policy, in implicit
obedience to the requirements of the Slave In
terest. In the history of the fluctuating, con-
Trajectory legislation of this country there is
not on record an instance of 80 sudden and
complete legislative somerset