The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-26
PARTY TACTICS,

OF leading Northern politicians to Organic \
braska under . Territorial Goyernmor,
could easily have been accomplished Thu
that was carried through the last Hor.o
Representatives, by an overwhelming vote ,,1
without single word of reference 20 tho 81.
very Question, might have been brought +.
ward again, and it would have passed bo,,
Houses, without much opposition.
But this Slavery Question has ALWAYS t.,.
used as football by politicians, and aIwov,
will be. North and South they know the f.y
ings it arouses, the combinations to which :.
leads the embarrassments in which it is s,.
involve ambitious men, aspiring to Pres;denG,,
honors.
Were the authors of the Report and WN
on Nebraska blind 20 the consequences Of tbe;,
movement? Did they not clearly understand
that it involved the re-agitation of>tbe Slavery
Question, in ali it's forms ? Did they no. fave
see that it would bring up for discussion H.,
old questions touching the power Of Ccnsre..
over Territory and Territorial Slavery -,
right of the People of Territory to Ieg;,la,.
on Slavery, without Congressional intervention
the doctrines Of the Nicholson Letter the O,S
nance of 1877, the Missouri Compromise <,
&C.. ! Did they not foresee that General Ca,s
would be forced again to defend his old dog,cs
against Senator Mason and other Soutber,
Senators, concerning the right of the Peoule or
Territory to legislate in absolute independ.
ence of Congress? Did they no. foresec that
amendments would be moved on one side 70
put beyond all doubt tho abrogation of the
Missouri Compromise and on the other, to Sc.
cure its reaftirmation? Did they not foresee
what divisions the controversy would inevitably
lead to in the ranks of the supporters of tho
Administration, and how many unfortunate
Presidential aspirants would be seduced into
fatal committalsa
The Union seems to be entirely satisfied with
the movement, but the special correspondent Of
the Richmond Enquirer speaks in doubtful
terms Of its wisdom. He is evidently under the
impression that tie peculiar shape it has as
sumed is the result of political management for
political ends. He says:
Mr.. Douglass Nebraska bill is not deemed
entirely satisfactory. The organization of&e
territory south of Nebraska should be provided
for at the same time with it. Besides, there Is
discrepancy between the bill and the report
1t will lie scrutinized closely, and there is
general disposition IN Congress to deal fairly
with the rights OF all. The bill was prepared
somewhat hastily. 1t is considered a big bid
of the 'little giant for the Presidency. 1t il
also looked upon as quite a cunning test as to
tine SIDnprItU nf tho 6 oil IL.
adhesion to the Compromise Measures. In
this the spirit Of the thing is Objectionable. A
hit at the Administration or at its policy. or at
the prominent men who opposed the ComprO-
mise Measures, may be very adroit and skilful,
yet, in view of the pledge of all parties not to
reopen the past, or to go behind the platform
Of Baltimore, it is a violation Ia spirit Of the
agreement made by all. The fact is, that the
bill of Mr.. Douglas has much that is good in
1t, but the spirit in which it has been cOncoted
Is Objectionable. 1t is cracked up here as some
thing which is to catch and "trip up those
whom hls friends imagine to be in his way for
so. do not believe that there arc many in
the way of Mr.. Douglas, who will make his
chances for the Presidential nomination less
than they now are"
1t is impossible to predict the fate of this
miserable Bill. Members of Congress have
not yet maturcd their opinions or plans. Mr..
Dixon, of kentucky has introduced an amend
ment, providing in express terms for the repeal
Of the Missouri Compromise in relation to Ne
braska, as if he were rot sati fed with the in.
direct way in which the Bill secures the repea.
This may be mere ruse to meet, in advance,
an amendment proposing 10 reafirm the Com
promise, thus giving the managers Of the Bill
8 chance to say, that as the two amendments
represent tie extreme o.inious Of the Union,
the bill is fair compromise between the
two, being conceived in the spirit of mutual
concession.
The Texas Senator'S, it IL said, will contest
the organization of the Territory at every step
not on the merits of the Bill, but purely from
considerations relating to the Indians. Their
schemes for Southern roGte for the Pac:f5
Railroad have probably great deal more 70
do with their policy in this matter.
Mr. Everett and the Webster Wings in both
Houses of Congress, it is reported will oppoe
the Bill What will be the course of such Sen,
ators as Messrs. Pearce and Clayton, is a mat.
ter of speculation. Some suppose them too
honorable, too high minded, to lend their sup
port to a covert plot to cheat the free States
out of the only benefit conceded to them by the
Missouri Compromise.
In some of the newspapers is a statement
that only four members Of the Committee on
Territories in the House arc favorable to the
Senate Bill; and that Mr.. Or Of South CaTo
lima, will oppose it.
We know that in both Houses several sJanch
Democrats, supporters Of the Administration,
are pledged to resist the passage Of the Bill,
and they will probably be headed by Colonel
Benton.
Meantime, let the People speak out. They
seem to have become wearied with agitation
but Demagogmsm, ever thrrstirg this ques
ton Of Slavery upon them, gives them no rest
Let them shake off their leshargy, awake to the
true state of affairs, hold meetings, and roll IN
their memorials, sdmonishing their Represent
atives and Senators to beware how they sup
port measure which proposes to repeal
Compromise of thrty-three years standing for
the purpose of allowing Slave Institutions to sup
plant Free Labor in the half million Of square
miles between the Western States and the
Rocky Mountains.
DEATH OF NJ DE BoDIsCo.
IL is with sorrow we announce the death Oh
VI. DE BoDIsco, the Minister of Russia near
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