Demoine courier., 1854-08-03
From The burlington IoieGraph
RePgdiatiHg il as q Test.


who are disposed to asquiesce in the Ne
braska business, not because they ap.
prove of it, but simply because it has
been presented 10 !heui as party meas.
nre, We beg leave to lay before them the
opiEions OF democratic contemporary
abroad--the Cedar Rapids Era. That
paper, published IN the hear! of The Dem.
ocralic cauEty of Linn, following The
public sentiment everywhere prsJomin-
an! in lis lnimedtate vicinity Qhe demo-
cratic party of the county having already
resolved against the inIQuity.) repudiaies
the measure as lest of democracy. not.
wilhsanting ihe orders issued By the
Washington Union aad which have been
so faithfully echoed by several Of our
home organs. The Era, among other
thiugs, says:
We care not what member Of the dem
ocraslc party brings new measure be.
tore the people, whether he be chief mag.
istraie OF the Union, a Senator or pvi-
vaie citizen; we are not the least bound
to adopt itas democratic principle or
TO preserve isfrom the severest exposure
OF errors il may contain. 49,
The humbles, democrat! in the Union
has just as good right TO raise any new
dOciIine and demand that all democrat Is
shall sustain it or be read cut of the
democratic party, as the President of the
United States Or any other prominent
member Of the party.
We have made The foregoing remarks
as roductnry TO few statements which
we now offer in reference 10 The Nebras,
Ia bill, as party issue before the pGo-
pie IN the approaching election. We
did intend 10 iorego any further remarks
on Ibis subject, believing tina, the ques-
ton is well understood by the people,
bat some democrats are desirous of max
ing this question test of democracy
NOW aud as we deny iha, it is. we now
otler the proof to sustain our position.
First--its introduction is in direct
violation of the last National Democratic
Platform.
Second-l. has never been approved
by National Democratic Convention,
and VIC 60 rot know thai il ever will be
SO approved. ..
rhird--44 norihern democrats in the
House voted against the bill while only
43 voted for 1t.
Fourth-Whigs in Congress voted for
the bill, and Wings ou. OF Congtess ap-
prove OF it. .....s
Fiflh--A large majority of the Demo
cratic Press of New England aud New
York are opposed to the principles Of
the bill.
The same is tue with Democratic pa.
pers in every northern State.
In the States Of Wisconsin every pa,
per Of all parties is opposed to the lleas-
ure. Her Senators and Representatives
are all democrats, and all of them voted
against lis adoption.
The democratic press Of Iowa is di.
vided on the Issue, and in Chicago, the
home OF Douglas. every paper opposed
It Rstrenuously from its introduction TO lis
introduction to its final passage.
The Linn county Democratic Con.
ventlon passed EesolLiions against The
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and
in favor of the repeal of so much of The
Nebraska Kansas bill as repeals that
compromise, and so far as We are able 10
judge, four fllhs oil the Democrats OF
Linn county approve of those resoIu.
tons of The one referred TO.
Here then is the testimony; and we
leave it to any candid man, whig or dem
ocrar, 10 say if the Nebraska question
is test of democracy. Is it ;est OF
whiggery! We say no; for many, very
many wings are in favor OF the bill
Mr.. Fillmore aud most of the national
or silver grey wings sustain il.
1t is clearly question with which
parties, as such. have nothing TO DO, bal
one upon which men of all parties may
stand as they please. and nobody can
read them out. Men of both parties
have right TO labor 10 engrati the prin-
ciple into their next national platforms
or strive TO keep it out, as they may think
best.
We have thus presented this subject,
Tot in par,izan light. fer we repudiate
i, as party issue; but according to the
facts as they exist, and we challenge the
proof, by Illustration or Otherwise, W here
any principle has ever been made par
~ test prior to its adoption by the party.
We leave this question, aud we could
leave il forever. Nol because we fear 10
do our duty in relation 10 il, not because
we are not firm in opinions and deter
! minauon, but because the noslrils of men
have 100 long been filled with this nos.
trum of slavery agitation. TIE time
for silence IS probably passed, and tho
the voice of the press should be lushed
that Of the people IS yet to be heard -
From Maine 10 Nebraska. and back
that one uoice is get 10 be raised. The
fires are burning under The northern ceui
dror, and they cannot be eating guisAed.
DA sucking Nelson, of fourteen
writes homo from the flee. to his Dear
es, Cruz in the following terms: "Yo