The daily union., 1854-01-12
Ihs Albany At.s ana tAs Nsbrsska aus.,,ou

Ihe article which we copy below nom the ALBANY
Atss. on the Nebraska question win attract attention
and probably provoke much criticism. Those psDsy.
which have persisted In designating the Atlas a. f,,
soil" journal. notwithstanding its endorsement of la
Baltimore platform and lis jealous support of the pu
cples aud poeyo the administration. will see or !,
least affect TO see. this art Gle the confirmation %
the want OF sincerity which they have so per,in,.
cously charged upon that journal Standing immov.blv
upon the policy Of extending the hand OF codal friend
ship all democrats who have honestly adop,sa N.
national creed. and faithfully sdhersayo it's proysons
have firmly resisted all attempts TO throw discrsd;,
upon the Atlas for gone opinions and freely reeog
nised ii reliable organ Of tho democratic pary In
this state OF things, shall be slow to concede that o
confidence has been misplaced but il is due to csndo
and 10 our own consistency that say. that whilst W.
shall not ashly suspect the fidelity of the Atlas y.,;,
It's want OF fidelity should become manifest we sh,n
discharge our duty as firmly and earnestly as wa
have done in resisting the and excesses Of itu
assailants
We make these remarks. not by way OF threat for the
Atlas has the undsputed right TO adopt ts own course,
but we make them under the conviction ha the Argus
has done the Atlas injustice in its comments upon the al
tice which we publish below. According to our inter.
preaton OF this article, the Atlas takes the ground that
if the clause inserted in the Nebraska bill from the Com
promise Of 1850 had been omitted the revival of the
slavery agitation would have been avoided but, whilst
we understand the Atlas to regret the introduction
Of that clause because of it's tendency 10 revive the
slavery question, do not understand it to commit itself
against the bill reported by the chairman Of the Com.
mttee on Territories. Believing that our Interpretation
Of the position Of the Atlas is correct cannot admit
that the Argus is sustained in the following remarks
SAT last the Atlas has spoken language precisely such
as II used at the of the last agitation
careful, wcconsidered and deceptive Il uphods the
legal prohibition Ly Congyss the Institution of slavery
from the Territory of Nebraska This 10 proviso in s
old shape. IL IL what the democracy always opposed
iurevfva would feopen-if there did not already exist,
the vast gulf between the democracy and the free. .soer
We should be wanting in candor If we failed TO say
that the tone and sp which characterize the sentiments
OF the Atlas are calculated to excite regret amongst
those democrats who have recognised as an orthodox
organ of the party II comedies that 80 far a the ter
orial condition Of Nebraska is concerned, Senator
Douglass bill is unexceptionabe" This is concession
OF the great point which the contest OF 1859 was
maintained by the Wmo provisoiss is he doctrine Of
congressional nonneryention during the period OF ter
rtoria existence. The objection OF the Atlas refers to
the provision which declares;
And when admitted State OF States the said Tor
:, into
tho Union, with without slavery as their
uay prescribe at the time Of their admission"
The objection Of the Alias is, that this provision a.
sumes 10 affect the condition OF State over which Con.
gress has power and that when the bill "speaks Of
what future Congress may do. it carries the evidence Of
lis own nulliy s words" We do not understand
the Atlas to take the ground with the Tribune that the
ordinance of 1887 is conclusive OF the question: and rem.
des any action of Congress null and vod-that we re.
gard as the abolition free-soi position but the Atlas
maintains that as this Congress prescribe rule
for future Congress which will Be obligatory there
fore the insertion Of this clause was nulity URn
the same principle understand the Atlas to concede
that The clause in the compromise Of 1920 was not in
vested with such obligatory force 10 be epeaiable by
subsequent Congress and hence that provision, too
was nulity Upon these positions it seems to us hat
the objection OF the Atlas falls the ground or q, least
only indicates aversion to making plain. selfsvidsnt
declaration, viz that when State applies for ad
mission in;o the Union. it has right to recognise ala
very not in its constitution, and Congress has "no
power TO interfere with It's decision Of that question
Taking this view Of tho reasoning Of the Atlas. We
conclude that the Argus has misin,erpreed its position
and that the article contains nothing which indicates The
purpose Of that journal cooperate with .soiles
abolilionisls in opposing the bill
But the for the insertion OF the clause cri
cscd by the Alias should be distinctly stated The csn,e
is copied literally from the compromise scs OF 1880 ~ to
Utah and New Mexico Portions OF their territory
situated north OF the Missouri-compromise line Its in
sertion in those acts demanded q solemn recog
milton OF the great principle OF congressional non-n,er
vention. This principle lay al the foundation of the
Compromise II il be said with correctness
that the Nebraska bill proposes 10 repeal the compro
mise act of s2o might il have been said with equal
correctness TO the Utah and New Mexico bills II il
be irue maintained by the Atlas that this clause in
the Nebraska bill will be dead letter on the statute
book with equal force could il be said that this
clause In the Utah and New Mexico bills was
dead letter. And yet the declaration in this clause
was essential TO give vitality 10 the Compromiss OF
ls5o-it was the recognition Of great principle.
and such received and acquiesced in by the coun-
try as an essential element in the settlement OF the
slavery question. We shall not undertake TO MAINTAIN
that this clause, either in the Compromise OF 1850 in
the Nebraska bill, es,op future Congress from dis.
regarding its provisions; bat in the language OF the Al
las. there is sui obligation imposed by every such
arrangement-the faith OF the public men who participate
In IT, and OF political parties who acquesce in IT, that the
bargain will not be consummated side and repu
dated the other" This is said by the Atlas in refer.
TO the compromise OF with greater force