Washington sentinel., 1854-02-04
PUBLIC OPINION ON THE NEBRASKA
BILL.

p
No matter what the political complexion of
q newspaper, whether democratic or whig, SO it
be true to the Constitution and to State rights,
1t affords us pleasure to copy from it. Yester-
day we copied an article from whig paper in
Virginia 1.-THE Petersburg h,tslligencer) on the
subject of the Nebraska bill, and we copy to-
day another article on the same subject from
another Virginia whig paper. 1t expresses
just sentiments. and expresses them in forci-
bic manner. We are yet to hear of the first
democratic journal in the south that has not
come out in favor of this bill we are yet to
hear of the first whig journal that has come
out against it. Some of the latter hare not vet
expressed themselves on the subject, but we
cannot doubt that every southern journal and
every southern man viii be loyal and true.
Those who fail, those who finch, those who
even hesitate, merit the strongest condemna-
nation. !.
1t affords us pleasure to extract the following
article from the Norfolk Beacon: Resolutions
were adopted contending that the Missouri CON-
promise was inviolable, and that, as a conse-
quence, the territory of Nebraska should be
given over to the feesoilers. The resolutions
have the most ultra abolitionism prominent
upon them. For instance, they assert in the
outset that it was the settled policy Of the ma
ton, as declared by the trainers of the Con-
stitution, that slavery should be confined within
the limits Of the States wherein it originally ex-
listed. This is an old abolition song, and it is
not surprising that it should be again brought
forward BY them when they are preparing to re.
sist again the just demands OF the south. They
then 60 on to lay down the doctrine that the
Missouri compromise is inviolable, which, from
the arguments they use, might have an effect
on those not acquainted with freesoil sophistry.
They don't mention how much opposition they
exhibited to this compromise when it was first
passed, and how they opposed its application
In 1850 to the territory acquired from Mexico.
In conclusion, they call upon the legislature Of
the State, and their senator's and representatives
In Congress, to resist unAinchingly and in such
manner as they may deem best the attempts to
repeal the Missouri compromise and they call
upon the President to interpose his veto in case
Of its passage. 1t was also resolved to send a
copy of the resolutions to the members of Con.
gress from New York, to be presented to their
respective bodies, to the governor of each State
in the Union, and to the President Of the United
States.
"Only three thousand persons, in the great
city of New York, could be brought together to
declare their intention of still continuing to
wage war upon the rights of the south.
The idea intended to be set forth in those
resolutions that the Missouri compromise is ir-
rspealable, and that its repeal would be un-
constitutional, is simply ridiculous and absurd.
The Missouri compromise is no part of the
Constitution, but simple agreement for the
settlement Of the slavery question in 1920
The statement that the south did not consider
the compromise Of 1850 as annullinp the Mis-
sour compromise is likewise erroneous. So
far from that, it was the reverse; (; the south
did consider that any Territory applying for
government would be left without any lepisla.
ton on the subject Of slavery until she applied
for admission into the Union as State. when
the people should decide for themselves. In
fact, they considered that the doctrine Of non.
intervention, as far as Congress is concerned,
was established"