The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02
WASHINGTON, ID. c..
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1854
The SPIRIT OF THE RELIGIOUS PRESS

There is power, and which exerts mighty
sway, known as the Religious Press. We are
glad to see everywhere the expression of men
of all sects uniting in speaking their sentiments
plainly, fesrlessly, and fully. Witness these
extracts, which of the many we Gull, only be-
cause they speak for great bodies of the reli-
gionists of our country.
First, from Zion's Herald, an organ of the
Methodist, under date of February Is Ma
king up the weeks summary, the editor says
:" AT home, the Nebraska bill still attracts
the chief attention of the people, as well as of
Congress. We wish it excited stronger abhor-
renee and more active opposition than it docs
The people seem to think that such political
villany, such violation of good faith, as is in
volved in the repeal, virtual or formal, Of the
Missouri Compromise, is impossible, and will
not be consummated. They know how South
erners boast of their honor. They know that
when the North admitted Missouri as q slave
State, it was because the South formally stip-
ulated that the territory north of 80 deg. 80
mln should be forever consecrated to Liberty
They know that the South must therefore
trarnple upon its own plighted faith, its honor,
Its integrity, and respec tabity If it violate this
Compromise. They can hardly believe such
political profigacy to be possible. Hence they
view the discussion with a calmness, which
will be fatal if continued too long. For moth
ing will save Nebraska from the pollution Of
Slavery, but such a protest from the North as
will convince Northern politicians that from
the moment they vote to repeal the Compro-
mise they are politically dead Let this i'm
preston be made upen them, and Nebraska
may be saved We hope our readers will do
their best to teach their political representa-
tives this lesson by sending them some very
plainly worded letters and protests"
The Amtrioan Baptist of the 10Th February
thus speaks of this bill of iniquities We ex-
tract from long article.
This bill sweeps away all former arrange
ments for the restriction Of the crime and curse
Of Slavery within certain boundaries, and pro-
claims, alike in States and Territories, through
out all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof,
liberty to perpetrate that crime and to entail
that curse upon future generations, if they
choose. Let this doctrine receive the solemn
sanction Of a Congressional enactment, and let
the people Of the nominally free States submit,
as they have submitted to previous aggressions
OF the slave power, and their acquiescence will
be regarded as an invitation to that power to
extend its sway over the entire North. The
garrison that consents to the destruction of its
defences virtually consents that the foe should
occupy its citadel.
But will the people of the North thus SUBJ
NIT This remains to be seen. As yet, they
are scarcely aware of the evil with which they
are menaced. They have not adequately con-
celved of the extent OF the meditatcd mischief
They have not deliberately weighed the con-
sequences Of throwing open to the unrestricted
entrance and occupancy Of the slave power, in
the very centre and heart of the continent and
OF the nation, a territory exceeding in magni-
tude all the existing free States, with the ex-
ception Of California. Ii is the policy of the
conspirators to hurry through their nefarious
scheme to It's contamination before the people
Shall have time to perceive and protest against
1T. To some extent however, such protests
have already been uttered The voice of re-
monstrance, we trust, will continue to be heard
In both Houses of Congress, 80 long as the con.
templated measure is pending Should it final
ly pass, sterner duty than that of remon-
STRANGE will devolve upon the people of the free
States, the duty of firm, unyelding resistance
IL they are recreant to that duty-if they yield,
tamely and passively, and permit the pollutions
and miseries of Slavery to overspresd that
broad, fair dominion, which their fathers con-
secrated forever to freedom, they will deserve
themselves to wear the chain.n
The Northern Chridian ADVOCATE, Method
ist) published on the 18th inst, says
" The Nebraska Iniquifg-If the men who
figure in support Of the Pro- Slavery Nebraska
ball had any reputation to lose they would
surely lose it-for nothing is more certain
than that all who vote for that measure will
take their places on the roll of infamy. Their
worst enemies need not wish them m Ore bank
rupt IN character than they will be when this
act OF wllliul, shameless treachery is consum-
mated. The very attempt, whether successful
or not Will seal the fate Of those who make it.
Such unprincipled political aspirants may
never hope to redeem themselves in the estima-
ton OF honest men. Having done what mis-
chief they could in the brief hour of their au-
thority, they will retire into as much obscurity
as Providence allows to such as commit the
highest erimes-that is, they will be known
only to be despised
80 far as Slavery is concerned the whole
movement Is sheer niatuation Tie old max
im is about to have another verifc alton.
whom the gods will to destroy, they first make
Tools Let these political gamesters carry on
their war against human rights in this scan
aaious manner, if they please. They will find
IN the long run that honesty is the best policy.
Anti-Slavery men will not initiate their mean
ness IN disregarding solemn compacts. This
glory the SlaveOcrats and their Northern allies
reciprocity of effort wherever honorable
effort can be made, we greatly mistake the
temper of the nineteenth century. The nros.
pect now is that the bill will not be forced
through Congress with the suddenness its pro-
jector designed
And the Free Presbyterian, February 81 a
paper published in Albany, has an article from
which we make this extract
Nebraska-This is the absorbing subiec.
Just now and we'll it may be- i'm view of the
audacious and startling attempt to open this
fair domain to the blasting curse of Slavery
The address on the first page, from the Repre-
sentatives OF Ohio to their constituencies and
which bears the unmstakeable impress of the
accurate and logical mind Of Senator Chase
We commend to the earnest attention of our
readers. Its facts and arguments must COM
mand the assent Of every candid mind, while
Its exposure OF the Infamous project now on
foot to extend the area Of Slavery must excite
the indignation of all not utterly lost to all
sense OF national or personal honor.
"The address il confined mainly to the no
litical view Of the case. But there are other
considerations of even still higher Importance.
The moral aspects Of the question of Slavery
are of the first moment. Ii is confessedy the
embodiment of every element of hostility to the
Gospel of Christ and the kingdom of righteous
ness, which he came to establish. The Cos, el
is LoyE-Slayery is embodied hate The Cos
pei is LIGHr-SIavTy is Egyptian darkness
rhc Gospel is PURITY-Slavery Is the incarna-
ton of lust Gospel is JUsTIcE-Slsvery ID
foulest injustice. The Gospel breathes PEACE
Slavery Is organized arar on the rights and
happiness of its victims Every element of the
one is the direct opposite of the other Before