Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-01-26
Gasteru Gimes.
Nebraska Territory.

of the Nebraska Territory is now attracting
much attention. Opposition to the Dill mas
manifested itself in some quarters, on account
of the nonintervention principle, as regards
slavery. recommended in the report OF the
Congressional committee to which the subject
was referred.
The Nebraska bill assumes that the Com
Dromise of 1850 settled the slavery question,
and recognizes the right Of the Nebraska COM
munity to determine its own constitution when
il comes into the Union and to clothe it with
the attribute of selfgovernment. The people
of an old state, Kentucky for instance, can
abolish slavery or they may retain slavery
In either case the general government would
have nothing to say to it. Would anybody
say that, by the constitution, power is con-
ferred on congress to restrain the action of a
state as TO its local affairs Would not this
infringe palpably on state rights! This is
precisely the position this report and bill pro-
pose to regard Nebraska in from the start
on the footing of equality with the states.
They propose to keep out the slavery ques-
ton from the action of congress-as in the
compromise measures it is kept out of the ter
ritorial governments of Utah and New Mex,
leo. Should this bill succeed, then Nebraska
Utah and New Mexico will stand on the same
footing; and the policy will be so fixed that
the settlement of this questian will be final
ity.
The question, then, whether Nebraska shall
tolerate or forbid slavery is left for the deci-
sion of the people-just the source where, in
a government Of the people, the question ought
to be left. The compromise settled the ques-
ton in this manner, and the people also set
tied it when they called the present national
administration, boldly avowing the doctrine at
the outset, into power.
There ought, then, to be no serious opposi-
ton to the bill by democrats. The sentiments
it contains are among the cardinal doctrines of
the democratic party, reaffirming the prnci-
pies under which the democratic party rallied
under the leadership of Gen. Pierce and
gained glorious victory. The following are
the most important provisions Of the bill 80
When admitted as State, the said Ter
rltory, or any portion of the same, shall be re-
ceived into the Union, Nth or WithOut Slavery,
as their constitution may prescribe at the time of
their admission.
That the Legislative power and authority of
said Territory shall be vested in the governor
and Legislative assembly.
That the Legislative power of said Territory
shall extend to all rightful subjects of legisla-
ton, consistent with the constitution of the
United States and the provisions of this act
but no law shall be passed interfering with
the primary disposal of the soil !; no tax shall
be imposed upon the property OF the United
States nor shall the lands or other property
of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands
or other property of residents.
Writs of error, and appeals from the final
decisions OF said supreme court, shall be al
lowed, and MY re taken 10 the Supreme
Court of the United States, in the same man
ner and under the SINE regulations as from
the circuit courts of the United States, where
the value of the property or the amount in
controversy, to be ascertained by the oath or
affirmation Of either party, or other competent
witness, shall exceed one thousand dollars
except only that, in all cases involving title
to slaves, the said writs of error or appeals
shall be allowed and decided by the said su-
preme court, without regard to the value of
the matter, property or title in controversy
and except, also, that writ or appeal shall
also be allowed to the Supreme Court of the
United States, from the decisions of the said
supreme court created by this act, or of any
judge thereof, upon any writ of habeas corpus
involving the question of personal freedom
and each of the said district courts shall have
and exercise the same jurisdiction, in all cases
arising under the constitution and laws of the
United States as is vested in the circuit and
district courts of the said Territory, and the
respective judges thereof, shall and may grant
writs of habeas corpus in all cases in which
the same are granted by the judges of the
United States in the District of Columbia