The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-03
Judge Douglass Bill.


All accounts warrant us IN cherishing the be.
lief that this bill for the final settlement Of the
vexed question OF slavery by expelIing the whole
subject from Congress, and permitting it to rest
for the future upon the republican basis Of self
government will pass Congress and become the
law of the land.
1t is with the deepest regret and sorrow that we
observe the efforts that being made to make a
party issue Of it, that prolific source of Pres.
Dental capital, it may be reserved for exercising
its pernicous but powerful influence in the canvass
of SO
The Missouri Compromise was doubtless entered
into by patriotic of all parties and sections with
the most commendabe inducements and antcipa-
tons. 1t was thought, and by Southern men,
| that it would forever heal the wound which the
| agitation OF the subject had inflicted upon and adj
miration and regard then entertained for our
Federal Union.
Such was the spirit, such the hopes which ami
mated the endorsers Of that Compromise, (as 1t
has been misnamed.) Time has passed on, and
to attain the epoch of its passage we have now to
gaze through the mist O. 81 years. How worthy
ana yet how vain was the spirit how molly
cherished and yet how sadly disappointed were
| the hopes! They were wise men, but they failed
to tathom how deeply and how firmly the anti
| slavery sentiment had become radicated in the
hearts Of the Northern people, And unfortunately
| III 'ho 'oiy ioIheuy WHICH they aPpIc0, was III.
corporated the principle Of Intervention the part
. of Congress for the exclusion of slave property,
from the territories Of the United States 1t did
not escape the keen penetration of our enemies,
and the Missouri Compromise proved but brief
armstice that was followed by agtations that have
shaken the Union 20 its very centre and threatened
to enguIph, and did consume privileges of the
Southern people, the most nestimable; the most
prominent among them, the right of locomotion to
any portion Of the common country, privilege
denied only by the most absolute of the continental
despots OF Europe, and one that the Anglo Saxon
never before permitted TO be interferred with.
10 abrogae this restriction, the south almost to
man irrespective Of parties, together with patri.
Otto men OF the North are now making every eff
fort. The Bill, at first, met with no opposition
except from aboIitionists. A prominent Wing
from kentucky. Mr.. Dixon, one of the Senators
from that State, with a spirit which canno: be too
highly commended, most cheerfuIly declared his
approval OF it. We believe that the majority nay
the whole body OF the Southern Wings will support
1t, If 1t is not made party issue. To prevent this,
the Washington Sentinel has used the most patr-
otto efforts. But we are sorry to that its con-
temporares the Union and Hatelligencv have not
been actuated by the same motives. The former
declares 1t ." test of true democracy ':to support
the Bill. The Sentinel takes the position very
Justly that it is not test Of democracy, but Of
patriotism and equity 10 the South. X
Judge Douglass speech should be published IN
every paper in the State. that the people may be
mai" thoroughly acquainted with the whole history
OF Tins important sutJrct.-IT1nnsLoro Regater.