Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-25
PHE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

From the Missouri Daily Democrat, JAM IA,
IS54--(a leading Democratic Paper.)
ATcHIsoN VS.. THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
The position Of David r. Atchison, with re-
gard to the organization of Nebraska, is well
known. He has publicly proclaimed that he
will oppose the measure unless the Missouri
Compromise Act which forever prohibits Sla-
very in our Territories north of 36 deg 80 min.,
shall be repealed. He has the infamous dis
tinction Of being the first to announce this re-
qurement on the part Of the slave propaganda
lists. although he doubtless had his instructions
to that effect before he left Washington last
spring. The demagogues who use the npecn-
liar institution as political lever, are in the
habit of using him a. n cats paw, and, before
openly committing themselves, they wished TO
see what effect such proposition would have
upon the country. Since their re-assemblage
at Washington this winter, they have con.
cluded that their policy will be best subserved
by fresh agitation OF the Slavery question,
because, on the question of organizing the Ter
ritory Of Nebraska, they have everything to
gain and nothing to lose by pursuing such n
course. Accordingly, they have laid their pro-
gramme before the Senate through another
instrument Stephen A. Douglas, who repre-
sents o free State and a-constitucncy who are
opposed to tho extension of Slavery to soil
where it does not now exist
Mr.. Douglas as chairman OF the Committee
on Territories, has made report in which he
impeaches the palidify of the Missouri Com
promise, and submitted bill which provides
that the settlers in Nebraska may take with
them into the Territory all kinds Of property,
(which description il intended to include slaveP,
in defiance Of the prohibition in the Missouri
Compromise Act) and very reasonably, as he
and his conductors would have us believe,
leaves 10 the people, nc the time Of the forma.
ton OF new State the question whether they
will sanction OF reject the institution Of Sla-
very. This il right which the people have
in any event but unless the Missouri Compro-
mise be repealed, or, IA Mr. Douglas proposes
nullifed, there will be no slaves in the Terri
tory prior to the time Il becomes State, and
therefore fewer chances that il will he organ
lied as slave State The manenvre then,
is to authorize Slavery whilst it is Territory.
To accomplish this, the propagandists have net
as yet thought il necessary 10 take open ground
in favor Of repeating the Compromise Act, y but
they aim mt what il equivalent for their pur-
poee, il their efforts be successful, and will
evoke to the same extent an agitation danger.
GUS TO the peace and integrity Of the country
qualification Of the Compromise, by discre diting
its validity, and authorizing slaves to be held
north Of SO deg. 80 min, notwithstanding the
prohibition remaining upon the statute book.
This scheme has Atchison's appreciation and
his support, such as il is and therefore it be-
comes pertinent to inquire whether, rs a SEN
ator from Missouri, he is exclusively represent
ing the slave propagandists Of the South, or,
in any measure, the wishes and sentiments Of
his constituents ut home. The people of Mir
souri, have at a recent date, explicitly declared
their views through their immediate repre-
sentatvcs upon this very question, and have,
in accordance with recognised Democratic
doctrine, instructed Senator Atchison how to
act upon it whenever il should como up. The
following are the resolutions of instruction,
and the eighth section Of the Missouri Comprc-
mise TO which they refer is the one which pre-
hibits Slavery forever from the territory lying
north Of latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty
minutes.
Joint Resolution in relation to the Missouri
Compromise act Of 1921.
Resolved by tho General Assembly Of the
State of Missouri, NJ follows:
Sec /. That the peace, permanently, and
welfare Of our National Union depend upon n
strict adherence to the letter and spirit Of the
eighth section Of the act Of Congress Of tho
United States, entitled "An act to authorzs
the people Of the Missouri Territory to form a
Consultation and State Government, and for the
admission Of such State into the Union on ah
equal footing with the original States, and 10
prohibit Slavery in certain territories AZ
proved March the sixth, eighteen hundred and
twenty.