The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-22
a SINGULAR MISREPRESENTATION.

Atucus, OHlo, says tnd1 III lou NC WIote d
letter to the National Era, in which he ex-
pressed his fears that Slavery would obtain
foothold in Nebraska. That is true. We pub
ished the letter, and sympathized with his ap-
prehensiOns. But, as there was no way of
reaching the evil then, except by calling at
tention to it, we did 50, although Mr.. Kephart
imagines that his single voice was UNDECIDED
But what we are particularly concerned
with is the following strange misrepresenta-
ton:
al returned" says Mr.. Kephart "to the
States early in the spring of 1853, arriving at
Washington few days after the inauguration
of General Pierce In conversation with the
editor of the Era at that time, | again ex-
pressed my strong apprehensions for the fate
Of Nebraska, there was then but one Terri
tory proposed) and my reasons for them. The
same fears were expressed to other friends of
Freedom, on different occasions. But they
were Knocked as idle fears. There is no dan
ger for Nebraska said the editor of the Era,
the Missouri Compromise settles the question
forever in favor of Freedom there Ny reply
was-' When did Shareholders eUer regard COM
pacts AGAINST SlGverq?' Others laid the same
hattering JUNCTION to the soul nor would they
believe there was danger till it was too late.
Although | grieve as deeply, perhaps, as any
other, over the contamination of this villany,
have at least the poor mitigation that on my
part it WAS not wholly unexpected, though it
is true the catastrophe came much sooner than
| had anticipated"
Mr. Kephart's " fears" were not knocked
at as idle" The friends of Freedom in Wash
ington knew the danger just as well as Mr..
K did, and they had labored for the passage
of the bill to organize Territorial Govern
ment in Nebraska Nth the Missouri ComprO-
mise as ITS basis, as the best protection of the
Territory against Slavery. None of us, MIR.
K, was blind or remiss. At that time, no
body dreamed of an attempt 70 repeal the
Missouri Compromise Mr.. K. held that Sla-
very would go into the Territory in spite of it
1t was to that we demurred, not, however, in
the language attributed to us by Mr.. K, bat,
with the remark, that by the Missouri Com
promise Slavery was just as efectually exclu-
ded from Nebraska, as it could be by any posi-
tive enactment.
Mr. X. was quite as innocent as the rest Of
us, unsuspecting people, of any suspicion that
an attempt would be made by Congress to re-
peal that Compromise.
So far from "laying aattering JUNCTION to
our souls, or misleading our friends, or repo-
sing in q false security, we were at special
pains in an editorial article, three columns
long, which appeared in the Era of April 18th,
1853, to present the whole question concern
ing Slavery and Nebraska, to the Public, ard
warn them that the Cause of Freedom in that
Territory was in danger. AS a matter of jus
tice to the Era, and to show how strangely
Mr.. X. has misconceved and misrepresented
the matter, we ask the indulgence of our read
ers for reprinting few of the closing para
graphs of that editorial.
ave see that the New York ETpresS whose
editor voted against the bill in the House,
would make the impression that the organiza-
ton of the Territory will open the way for
Slavery. All we have to say is emigrants will
90 there, whether the Territory be organized
or not and If they go there a0lth slGveS, there
aCa be better chance for deciding the question
under a Territorial Government than qOithOut
one A positive law, prohibiting the introduce
ton of Slavery, is the fundamental law Of that
Territory and it could be enforced by Fed
eral Court, but may be disregarded without
one.
"Wbat we need, then, is a Government, with
such officers as will zee that the fundamental
law be enforced. 1t will be the duty of the
Administration to appoint such officers; hence
the necessity of hGUing an administration i'm
bued NTH the spirit Of Freedom. Can we trust
the present Administration The record Of
General Pierce, the sentiments of his Inaugu-
raj, and the antecedents of the members of his
Cabinet furnish small ground of hope to the
friends of Liberty. We distrust the Admins
tration. So far from making its Territorial
appointments with view to protect the cause
Of Freedom in the Territories, zee fear that they
are dictated by an opposite mOtive.
*
awe wish to see Nebraska organized; but
what has already taken place authorizes the
belief that its judges and Executive officers will
be selected with a view to give Slavery chance
to obtain fcothold in the TerFitOry.* For this
reason, notwithstanding '0e knOuO that the con-
ditiOn of the Territory IS fred by the Missouri
Compromise, Ue hope that the friends of Free
dom an the neat Congress teiH insist upon The
Incorporation Of clause tq6irming hiS fact er-
press!y) into eUery bill that may be introduced
for the organization of a Territorial Govern
ment We acre uOilLing TO lOaiUe tbiS point at
tie late session, our friends acere certain the
Territory 1rGS already secured by lao against
Slavery, and 1Oere confident that the bill uootsld
pass the Senate. I'VE did not belieUe IL so0tad
pass that body, for such an erent 1oO,sld be I'm
precedented, but zoe SAID nothing publicly, de-
SirOus Of throwing no obstacles an the q0dF Of
the experiment. 1t failed--faited through the
opposition Of the SlaUehOlding Interest. 1t S0iii
encounter the same opposition hereafter, and the
men of the North and West, lcho are determined
to put ii through, 10Ottld do nell to make clean
business Of At. Let them leave no room for
doubt If as we believe-but as many slave
holders deny, and as the judges appointed by
Mr. Pierce may deny-Siavcry is excluded and
will BIO excluded by tho Missouri Compromise,
let the fact be affirmed in the bill organizing a
Territorial Government. Let the will Of
= Allusion made here to the course of the
President in turning out the twelve Judges of the
Territories, just before the article was written ard
appointing in their places Southern men, and others
favorable to Southern views.