Washington sentinel., 1854-02-10
THE TWO INTELLIcENCERs.

Although much panied at the course of the
National Latelligencer in throwing the weight
of its influence against the Nebraska bill, we
are not altogether without consolation. It's
namesake, the Petersburg Intelligencer, a whig
paper, is as true as steel. 1t has wisely and
nobly risen above all mere party considera-
tions, and declared itself warmly in favor of
the bill now before the Senate. 1t chides our
neighbor for taking the course it has thought
proper to pursue 1t does more. 1t answers
the article in Mondays httelligencer, and an
swers it completely. We present that answer
below:
The NATIONAL IETELLIeEScEK ON THE Ne
BRAsKA BILL.-The old saying that there is no
telling what day may bring forth has been
forcibi!y brought to our mind by the appear
ance in the National Iatelligencer of Monday
of its leading editorial article This venerable
and valuable journal has, contrary to our ex-
pectation. come out against the Nebraska BILL
and taken its position alongside of Benton
Chase, Sumner and the rest of the freesoil and
abolition opponents of the south. We have
rarely seen, in an important political crisis, the
course of the Latelligencer SO feebly sustained
by argument as in the present case. We speak
with entire respect when we say that, in the
article which we are noticing, the editors fall
very short of doing justice to themselves; for
. they have heretofore generally signalized them
selves in the discussion Of great issue by
their power Of reasoning and felicity of illus
! tration.
I'VE have read with care what they have
written in the way of exception to the Nebraska
bill, and we are constrained to express our gra,
tifcation at finding in their words nothing to
weaken or shake the opinion which we have
after mature consideration arrived at in favor
of the proposed measure. We regret that the
Intettgencer has taken the attitude which it
announces but we cannot follow its example,
for it is our sincere belief that, let Judge Doug
lass mot'res be what they may, his proposition
about the Missouri compromise involves not
particle OF violated faith. contains not sylla-
BILE proposing to abrogate firing COMPACT
There is in it no notification of solemn Gov
enant between the United States and the State
of Missouri; for the very bill itself expressly
says that the Missouri act of 1920 was SUPER
sEDED BY THE ACTS OF $780, and it is upon
this assumption or rather this FACT, that Judge
Douglas proceeds TO declare the superseded
law imperative Now, the only question to
be considered is, whether or not the compro-
mise of 1850 did actually or virtually repeal
that of 1920. If it did, then is the act of 1920,
as we contend it is, null, void, and of no force
in another word, it is imperative without the
need of any formal declaration from Congress
to that effect. We will not at present go again
into discussion of the affirmative of the above
proposition, holding, as we do, that either the
old compromise was extinguished by the new,
or that the latter is entirely misrepresented
when it is called a FINAL SETTLEMENT IN pRIN-
oEPLE AND SUBSTANCE of the whole controversy
about slavery. 1t was characterized in these
precise terms by Mr.. Fillmore, who APPROVED
It. 1t has been SO recognised by the present
head OF the nation, and by every eminent ma
uonai wing and democrat. Its purpose was
avowediy to terminate fully and forecer the
unfortunate excitements, which were periodi-
cally harrassing Congress and the country.
growing out OF freesoil and abolition apitations:
and 1t was intended and expected by all its ad-
yocates to cover the whole ground, SO far as the
FUTURE was concerned.
We think that we are amply sustained
by the records of the memorable session of
ls49-'50, and by the course of events since. in
this statement of the matter. II has been the
steady and earnest object of every friend Of the
new compromise, from the day of its passage
TO the introduction Of the Nebraska bill, to give
1T a paramount, supreme authority in its pro-
vince of operation; and we hear now for the
FIRST time. to our astonishment, that an enact
ment which was framed and passed amidst the
/ fierce elements of a strife that for the second
time in the history Of the government threaten
| ed. AN extreme issue---an enactment which was
designed and calculated to close finally and
| pypetually the angry contentious between the
north and the south, of which the slarery sub-
ject was so fruitfnl--we hear now, for the first
time, the extraordinary cry raised, even BY
press SO respectable as the National bateHi-
4.