Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-24
PUBLIC OPINION.

PUBLIC OPINION.
L now seems probable that time will be Sc
cured for full expression Of public opinion in
relation to the repeal Of the Missouri Compro-
mise Alter the speech Of Mr.. Toombs yester-
day, Mr. Hunter obtained the floor, and on his
notion the subject was postponed till Monday,
when he will deliver his views.* How many
more speeches are proposed, we do not know
but the powerful opposition to the measure has
alarmed its friends, and compelled them to put
forth their strongest efforts to carry il. They
find that they can no longer rely upon the
power Of silent vote.
Meantime the People are indeed moving.
The Administration is beginning to be appre-
hensive even about New Hampshire. The
People there are deeply excited, and the Ne
braska Question win enter into the approach
ing election. On that election will depend the
composition of the Legislature, on which will
devolve the choice Of United States Senator.
There is large portion Of the Democracy Of
New Hampshire that can hardly be reconciled
by any sophistry to tho repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, or to the conduct Of the Admins
tration in making this pro-slavery policy its
leading measure.
Pennsylvania is not so reliable" ein this
crisis for Slavery as was expected. The Ger
man population Of that State is hard to be
moved, but it is beginning to grow FESTIVE I'M
der this new dispensation of Slavery. Pitts
burgh and the adjacent region are pretty thor
oughly aroused Indignation meetings called
to condemn Douglass Nebraska BILL are an
nounced in various sections Of the State. We
should not be surprised to see resolutions
against the measure pass through the House of
Representatives.
A telegraphic despatch from Hartford pro-
claims that the Democratic State Convention,
which met there on the 22d, and nominated a
full State ticket passed resolutions, by nearly
q unanimous vote, sustaining the Ordinance Of
1887 and the Compromises of 1920 and 1850,
and opposing the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise
At q Public Dinner given at the scat Of Gov
eminent Of Kentucky, to the Hon. John J. Crit
tcnden, by the Wing members Of tho Legisla-
ture, some Of the Democratic members, by per-
sonal friends, and many private citizens, the
toast-master announced that he had letter
from distinguished Wing Of Mason county,
the venerable Adam Beatty, in which he urged
the country TO stand by the Missouri Compro-
mise. The report says that the announcement
was received with great applause.
From what we can learn, there are Demo
cratic Senators from the North who would be
clad 10 receive instructions from their State
Legislatures to vote against the Bill. Let them
be grati6ed ss soon as possible.
II is often said here, and we doubt not with
truth, that General Cass would have rcjoiced
had no such measure been brought forward,
but that the position no took in his Nicholson
Letter imposes upon him now the obligation Of
supporting It, The General lacks courage II
seems to us that even he could oppose tho Bill,
for very satisfactory reasons. Suppose he
should say-aIt is true that, as an original
proposition should have opposed the Missouri
Compromise act, on the ground Of want Of
power 10 Congress to pass such an act but
the circumstances under which ID became
law were peculiar and exceptional, investing il
with the character Of compact between the
North and the South, and this compact has no
quired certain force and obligation from the
universal acquiescence in II Of the People Of
the United States for whole generation.
So far as il secured advantages to one SEQ
j
ton, it is an accomplished fact; to repeal il
now, when the other section Is to receive its
equivalent would be TO violate at least an
honorary obligation,
With these views, | am unwilling to give my
vote for any bill which shall unsettle settle
ment so long considered by the People Of all
sections a. conclusive and final" We submit
that the defence would be good one-and
that the conscience Of the General would suffer
as little as his consistency. But moral courage
and individualism are not characteristics gen.
orally Of American statesmen. The majority
Of them at the North are in bondage TO Party,
at the South, to the esprit De corps Of the slave
holding GLASS; everywhere and always, subject
10 the Slave Power.
*we have since learned that Mr.. Hunter deliver
Cd his speech to-day.