Washington sentinel., 1854-02-10
EFFORTS TO PRODUCE POPULAR
EXCITEMENT.

The Detroit Free Press rebukes in severe
terms the efforts made by some ofthe presses of
the country, and their Washington correspond
ents, to create excitement in the public mind in
relation to the Nebraska bill Nothing would
more delight the abolitionists and freesolers
than to see the masses of the people lashed in
to furious and frenzied excitement 1t is not
by calm reasoning andqui conviction that their
wicked purposes can be achieved. They can
only succeed by appeals to fanaticism; hence
they always seek to get up wild agita
ton, popular tempest that they may ride
on the whirlwind and draw along after them
those weak and foolish men whose morbid SEN
sensibilities and sickly sympathies can beplayed
upon. The longer the question is left unde-
cided the better will they be pleased. The
longer it is kept before the Senate and the
House of Representatives. and the more it is
discussed, the more will their mischievous OBJ.
jects be promoted. We do not doubt that they
will flood the two houses. of Congress with
their petitions, remonstrances, and frantic ap.
peals. We do not doubt that, if time is al
lowed them, they will present complete and
compact organization throughout the country,
and employ every kind Of agency to impress
the country with the idea that they are power
full in numbers and in strength.
1t is different with the friends Of the bill
throughout the country. They will not take
the trouble to get up petitions and memorials.
will ha IL u
calm and silent effort When made to believe
that popular commotions and agitations tend
to promote the public good, then, and not till
then, can we deem it wise to procrastinate the
decision of this bill
With the Detroit Free Press, we believe that
the country is now in repose; but we also be-
leve that, if the opponents of the Nebraska bill
are permitted to have their way, they will
kindle the fires of strife and agitation. We
subjoin the following extract from the Free
Press:
Now the country was never calmer than at
this moment, and Congress is not going to do
anything to disturb that calmness. 1t can't be
disturbed. Neither whig believing nor aboli-
ton howiing can do it. Nothing can do it, if
The democratic majority in the Senate and
House but do their duty. No action, short OF
an abandonment by Congress of the fixed prin.
ciples of the democratic party, can produce
agitation among the masses of the people.
. The great prevailing public sentiment OF
the north is sound on the slavery question
Never since the adoption of the Constitution,
has it been more sound or better settled The
ompromise measures of 1850 have not only
been acquiesced in. but they have been ap-
prored; and so long as they are preserved in
violate; SO long as their principles are sus-
tanned by the legislation of Congress the peo-
pie of the north will be satisfied 1t will only
be departure from these principles that can
excite indignation, not loud, but deep
And of all the northern States, not one is
sounder than Michigan. We believe, to-day
could the plan of organizing Nebraska and
Kansas, proposed by the Senate Committee on
Territories, be submitted to the democracy of
this State, that ninety-nine out of every one
hundred votes would be for approval. The
principle OF congressional non-intervention in
the domestic affairs of the States and Terrific
ries is strongly intrenched in the popular heart
The battle on that principle has been fought.
and never was victory more nobly or more
thoroughly won.
Mr.. Douglass bill may not be perfect bill
it may need amendments. But the grand prin.
ciple embraced init-that of leaving the people
Of ofNebraska, and Of all other territories to take
care of their own local affairs-is right and to
that principle the democracy of Michigan and
Of the Union are committed, and they will ad
here TO il with firm and unyielding tenacity.n