Daily national era., 1854-02-08
WHAT OF THE NIGHT?o

WHAT OF THE NIGHTf"
1t is right to speak plainly the chances are
that the Missouri Compromise will be repeal
ed Twelve men in the Senate, clear-sighted,
firm, courageous, united, acting with method,
could either defeat the project Of repeal in that
body, Or damage il 80 much as to secure its de-
feat ia the House. Thsy soaId propose amond-
ments calculated to bring out the true nature
Of the scheme, it's bearings the motives which
originated it, and the consequences to which it
may lead, and then, by yea and nay vote,
compel it's supporters to reveal their real views
and purposes to the country. They could turn
the tables upon the schemers, and, as they have
re-opened the issues of 1850, compel them to
record their votes upon propositions to repeal
the abominable Fugitive Law, and to abolish
Slavery in the District Of Columbia. They
could delay the measure long enough to allow
the People time to pass Judgment upon it, and
instruct their Representatives in relation to it.
But, twelve such men in the Senate are not to
be found
The Democratic Senators from the free
y3
Administration, or committed to the support Of
Presidential aspirants whose interests are in
volved in the measure, and, moreover, habitu-
ated to submission to the Slave Interest are
either oonniving at or actually supporting the
Bill The Wing members from the North,
generally although unfriendly to it, are with
out wisdom in counsel, unity in action, or firm
ness in purpose. There are a few noble excep-
tions, on both sides of the Chamber, and these,
with the two Free Soil or Independent Demo
cratic Senator's constitute the only working
force against the scheme.
Some Democratic Senators who voted in
ls4s '4s, 80, to exclude Slavery from the
Territory acquired from Mexico, now 60 for a
Bill which proposes to open all onr Territories
to Slavery--and they represent too, constitu-
encies signalized two years ago by devotion to
the Wilmot Proviso One Senator, instructed
by the Legislature Of his State to oppose the
Bill declines to do SO, and, we have heard, in
tends to vote for IT. moved, we suppose, by pro-
found respect for the principle of popular self
goyernmsnt
As to the South, let no one expect miracles
Whatever may be individual inclination, the
necessitiG Of the slaveholding caste will over
rule il. The individual members Of an Oligar-
chy, or On Aristocracy, or Caste, are them
selves bonnd by the will Of the whole, and their
will is the result Of the aggregate ambitions
and necessities Of all. The Shareholder is him
self the dave Of the Slave Power.
Mr.. Badger, it is said, is opposed to the Bill,
and Mesrs Houston and Bell, it is rumored, are
willing to see il defeated but they all voted
against the motion of Mr. Chase to strike out
the false averment in the l4th section although
they did not believe it, thus encouraging the
Caucus arrangement, by which motions to
amend, whatever their character, emanating
from the opponents Of the measure, are to be
voted down.
Mr. Houston will oppose the Bill, probably,
for the ostensible reason that it may operate
unfavorsbly upon the interests Of the Indians
His hostility TO the Central Route for the Pa
ci6c Railroad, the prospect of which may be
improved by the organization Of Nebraska may
have more to do with bis course and, we have
no doubt, he is qnite willing that the North
should feel obliged to him for the fact Of his
opposition, whatever may be the real motive
Wore the North true to itself at this crisis, il
would find honorable men in the South coming
out openly against the repeal of the Compro
misc Of 1920. Its own disloyalty leaves such
men no ground to stand upon. Two Southern
Senators were converting few days ago, on
this scheme. Both agreed that il was wrong
but one was particularly anxious to persuade
the other 10 take open ground in the Senate
with him against it. At last, the Senator ap
pealed to exclaimed, Sir, where is your North
This scheme is proposed by Committee, o.
which the majority are Northern men-adyo
GATED by it's chairman, Northern man--urged
by the President, a Northern man. If we op
pose it, where is the North to sustain us And
we know that In the South we shall be doom
ed.v
Aye--and let the question cause the cheek
Of every Northern man TO tingle with shame
we repeat, Where is your North? 2"
In relation to the House, there may be NOR,
ground for encouragement; but as at present
advised, we cannot rely upon it. The tacti
clans Of the Senate have adroitly stricken from
the Bill the portion providing for appropria
tons, 90 that should it reach the House, il may
not be necessary to refer il to the Committed
Of the Whole on the state Of the Union. Th'
floor may be given to daring manager, anc
the screw Of the previous question be at once
applied.
1t was rumored at one time that the Demo
cratic members from Ohio and also from New
York, had agreed to oppose the scheme
Whether this were true or not we do not be
lievc that at present they have any common
understanding. "Give us the Bill Of last Sos
sion,r said one 10 Democratic member from
/ Ol.. r-~-.~c -. &, and s0