Washington sentinel., 1854-05-28
From the New Haven Register.
One Hundred Guns for Nebraska.

At sunrise this morning, one hundred guns
were fired from the public square, by order OF
the democratic town committee, in honor OF
the passage Of the bill giving territorial gov
| ments to the people of Nebraska and Kansas,
! and the triumph OF the principle of constltu
tiona freedom involved therein. Thirtyone
guns were first fred for the thirty-one sover-
eign States; then one each for Kansas ana
Nebraska; then thirteen for the original States,
and the majority Of the bill; then salute for
the President, followed by salutes in honor Of
Douglas, Richardson, and the friends of the
bill.
We are not particularly partial to demonstra-
tions of this noisy kind on party triumphs;
but there has been such an amount of misrep-
reservations, both of the bill and its friends
such bold. faced system Of abuse and calumny,
from press, pulpit, and stump that no one can
question the propriety OF the manifestation OF
gladness which is felt by the friends of the bill
on its final passage.
The settlement of the vexed question Of
slavery, by the establishment of the principle
of non-intervention, and leaving the whole
question TO those interested, under the guaran-
tees of the Constitution, will put an end tothat
agitation which has been SO fruitful of mischief
and of danger to the Union. 1t can no more
distract the legislation Of Congress, or prove a
bone of contention between the north and the
south, but to the highest courts of the country
will be left all cases involving either its exist,
ence or perpetuity. Confidence will be restored
between the different sections of the country,
trade will derive new impetus, good feeling
succeed to jealousy and hatred, and the meas
ure will soon be one Of the most popular ever
adopted by Congress. The friends of the Union
will take their position upon it, in such mum,
bers as to defy opposition, and keep the fell
spirit of ruthless and blind fanaticism within
proper bounds. Based upon the Constitution,
carrying out the first principles OF our repubi-
can institutions, yielding nothing but what fair
ly belongs to State sovereignty and individual
rights it is emphaiicaly peace measure, and
impregnablc to assault.
The free States are not injured by this act;
but by reasonable concession will be greatly
beneftted. The territory in question will be
as free from slavery as if the restriction OF
1920 had never been adopted while hateful
geographical line, over which one portion OF
the Union has taunted the other, and attempted
to act the conservator where they were not as
particularly interested, and over which nature
itself had established laws irrevocable by man,
will be obiierated, and the forms OF local gov
ernment take such shape us the inhabitants OF
the new Territories may desire, subject only to
such restrictions as are imposed by the Constr
tuition of the United States-the highest au-
thorty known to the people.
Looking, therefore, above the bluster and
bitterness with which this bill has been assail-
ed and which is one of the natural conse-
quences in the establishment oil all great re-
forms, it is essentially a season Tor rejoicing
with all well-wishers OF their country.
[Netc Haren Register.