The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-05

rCorrespoudence Of the Concord e. ~ -"'
too't''P piercois Home 0rgan.l
WASHINGTON, Feb; "a, 1904.

rcorrespopdence OF the Concord (N' ~ 4"'ai0'
WAsH1SGToN, Feb "a, 1854
THE Administration on the NetTaS6a Qaess'o' &c"
d0Us ae..-JVhat IS IT'S PoSaitn ngtc!
The treat questions which have been Ioi so i
weeks the leading objects OF interest ana astasols
here SEEM by the storm, and the interN 9 i -
another holiday to have been kept In aoey ance'
The Gadsden treaty, the Pacific Railroad quesuon'
the Deficiency bill, and the Homestead DILL ye' IT,
main in the hopper ,a..;, ,.
os the nation while it assumes no position winch IL
does not maintain and defend successinliy ana 70
The last to assume against which there Is not az
the first furious outcry-a prolonged anu iaDo-
rious attempt at panic making-ln all parts OF the
country Carried off by first clamors, and by all
sorts of policy but the true one, legislative bodies
have often been foremost in condemning measures
which their States have been prompt in sus-
tanning When Texas came into the Union,
when the compromise measures were adopted
and on various other important occasions, it
has been the lot of New Hampshire to with
stand the fury of the storm, to which all around her
was yielding. When all New England was afiOat
with the waves Of federalism in ls4o, New Hamp,,
shire looked down in triumph upon the food, and
repealed it from her borders with dsdain. In the
midst of unfounded clamors now, gotten up by the
organized efforts of factionists 1t is the high privi
lege of New Hampshire to be the first to speak
through the votes of her freemen. Let her speak in
that bold. emphatic tone which suits her history
and becomes her responsible position. Her voice
now raised in behalf of the liberal and patriotic
principles embodied in the Kansas and Nebraska
bill, win have beneficial influence upon every cleo
ton of the year. And in time to come, when the
days Of sectional chickering's have gone by, it will be
Of the brightest features Of her history that her
influence was so exerted at this crisis-that she
strengthened the ARM upheld the efforts and appre
ciated and shared in the patriotic feelings OF her
favorite son. when as chief magistrate of this nation
he was giving his whole heart and influence to
great national measure, which, though assailed by
fanaticism, destined to settle forever the Sec
tional CONTROVERSIES Of his country upon the perma-
nent basis Of justice and the constitution.
The success Of the Kansas and Nebraska oil, I'm
the House as tce Senate, may be considered certain
4! the Senate, nearly three cotes in four ,cu be giren
ga favor of 1t, and the House 1t viH haze thirty
majority at the least. tciH haze the hearty approval
of the President. The nine days clamor Of the abo-
ltionists and their allies will pass away, and soon
be looked upon in all respects ridiculous as the
noise raised by the same people on so many former
occasions.
If any one thing Is more certain than any other,
In reference to the compromise of 1850, 1t is this
that it recognized the right of the people in the
several Territories to govern themselves, and regu-
Late in their own way, matters pertaining to their
local interests. Utah and New Mexico came in with
full recognition Of this right. California having
already agreed upon q constitution excluding slave
~, was admitted with her extensive boundaries
stretching far below the compromise line, Congress
thus not only recognizing the right of her people to
act for themselves, but sanctioning what they had
already volunteered to do.
Who does not see that in passing the Kansas and
Nebraska bill Congress is merely continuing, in
1864, the policy commenced in 1850 The country
approved that policy Wings and democrats alike
endorsed it, and treated it as q Hnality And why 2
Doubtless because they found its legislation, ap
piled to the Territories just and expedient. What
was just and expedient in regard to Utah and New
sMexco then must surely be quite just and expe-
dent in regard to Kansas and Nebraska now.
What was done in 1850 was at the time under
stood to be final adjustment of all the old sectional
issues between the North and South 1t was in
tended to establish fixed principles for the settle
or acquiesced in it, were equally bound by that ap-
proval or acquiescence to stand by and maintain
what Congress did in 1850 in regard to Utah, New
Mexico and California and to sustain the same sort
of legislation in regard to Territories to be organized
hereafter. II would be strange approval OF the
legislation of 1850 which should improve the first
opportunity in Congress to vote down the great
principles settled by that legislation.
We have politicians who talk about the ''fnality"
of the compromise, if, being fnaty, it must no
longer be treated living thing-as if because it
was designed final adjustment, it could not here
after be applied to the adjustment of anything-as
If as nality, it must forsOoh be construed to have
made end, not of old sectional discords for the
settlement of which it established principle but
simply of itself The same class of questions which
finally settled to Territory being revived
as to another, would seem naturally enough to come
under the same rule of adjustment. But no: the
compromise of 1850 was a final adjustment, and
therefore, as to the future, adjusts nothing.
believe in no such reasoning. A clear, rational,
general rule in relation to slavery in the Territories
results from the legislation Of 1850. The true
friends of the compromise approve of that rule They
do not regard it as q dead letter, but as living,
operative principle Of peaceful adjustment Tor the
future, as it has been for the past.
regard the compromise of 1850 as finalty-
not on the grounu, % but because everlasting
ffrncplss are embodied in it, which are to ope,
rate unspent," until there is end inality to the
local questions and controversies to which those
principles apply.
Small, indeed, would have been our cause Of re-
jocing over the glorious settlement Of 1850 if few
provided no equitable rule for the settlement of f-
ture controversies This narrow view of the legs-
laton Of 1860 is contrary to the dictates Of
sense. 1t was not on account of Utah, New Mexico,
or golden California even, that the land rejoiced.
1t was because North and South, after twenty years
of fierce contention, dangerous to the country and
prejudical to its best interests had found plat
form upon which they could stand together. 1t was
because they had not only settled old controversies
but established just principles, by the observance Of
which new controversies should be prevented.
Correspondence of the Charleston Standard
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1854
The Chances of the Nebraska Bill in the House.
The Nebraska bill is dragging its slow length
along in both branches of Congress, and bids fair to
be standing topic for discussion during the greater
portion Of the session. It has now obtained firm
foothold in the House. although the measure itself
has not been properly before that body for debate.
But the large latitude of remark allowed all sub
jects before the Committee of the Whole has enabled
the opponents of the bill to its discussion
under cover of the Homestead bill. Numerous able
speeches have now been made in the House on both
sides of the question. Among the abest advocates
OF the bill was Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, who may be
regarded as speaking the sentiments of the Southern
wings in tho House upon the subject
The fate of the bill in the House is still matter
Of conjecture. The administration are doing all in
their power to promote its success. Secretary
Marcy, though at first OF opinion that it not ad
visabe to press the measure at present, has now
united with the other members of the Cabinet in
their endeavOr to secure its passage. He is exerng
all his influence to induce the New York delegation
In the House to unite in its support but as yet he
has not succeeded In making any impression upon
he "softs" 1t is said that there are but twenty
even Northern members of the House who can be
'tlied upon at all In support of the BILL and some
few Of these are not entirely reliable, they may
be obliged to yield to the sentiments Of their dis
tlicts.