The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-09

about the repeal OF the missouri compromise bul tnefe
was doubt whether the legal effect thereof not to
vive the Louisiana law of 1909 by which Nebraska was
slave territory. To remove all for doubt and to
free the question of nonntervenon in Nebraska from all
controversy Senator Douglas himself brought forward the
amendments which placed the bill in the shape in which
IL passed
II is due to the truth Of history TO state also, that the
amendments and approved by President Pierce
and General Cass before they offered in the Senate by
Senator Douglas These three gentlemen the earn
est consistent advocates of the Nebraska BILL from s
inception its final passage and entirely certain
legal effect in the shape ia which it passed is iden
caly that which they attributed 10 It in the shape in
which Mr. Douglas first introduced IT, We go further, and
affirm with entire confidence in ability TO maintain the
assertion that the bill finally passed does not differ
the slightest degree in principle from the Compromise
ofis5o
1t hardly necessary add that the aluson in the ex-
above TO the of the Union is also peryeron
OF position the subject 1t is true that the editor
of the Union has always opposed the Missouri restriction and
maintained that il nuy because OF its nnconstitu-
onaty but it ia true that he opposed its repeal
"when first preached in Douglass ambiguous bil' We
CONQUERED with Mr. Douglas that there ambiguity
in his bill that il repeal by necessary implication,
Of the Missouri restriction and that il most prudent
to adhere the language of the Compromise of 1850 to
avoid the cavs of tmd friends and the misrepresentation
of open enemies When the proposition first made in
the Senate amend The bill by inserting clause for the
cypress repeal Of the Missouri restriction suspected that
it was movement to stir up sectional excitement mas
much as it from wing senator, and suggested in
the Union that the proposition ought to be received with
nspip | there
were honest differences Of construction and of opinion
to the legal effect of language in the BILL and when this
became apparent we zealousy insisted such amend
rnents a, would remove all doubt
There never was moment of time when either Presi-
dent Pierce or General Cas Senator Douglass differed
as TO the proprey repeating Missouri restriction
and substituting in its stead the great principle of nonn
teryention Whatever sectional agitation has followed has
been the work of those who not less violently OPP
posed 10 the Compromise of 1850 than TO the Nebraska
act When President Pierce committed himself against
:he resurrection Of the slave struggle he committed him
self and his democratic friends against giving any just
ground for the renewal te agitation and at the time
committed himself and his friends in favor of faithful
adherence the principles Of the Compromise of 1850 lie
has kept his pledges with strict fidelity and it does not
lay in the mouth of Of the chief agaors to charge
the resurrection of the slave struggle upon the President
his friends the responsibility rests upon the Post and its
abolition friends and upon them the judgment of the
country win permanently fix it. FL
There is no public whose door the charge either
of temporizing of infdety to his pledges could be
laid with less of truth than President Pierce. Deep
y impressed with the necessity of finding permanent
and solid basis of settlement for the slavery question, and
thoroughly convinced that such basis furnished in the
principle of non-ntervenon he has utterly discarded and
repudiated all suggestions which looked like midty
temporzing and has thrown the whole weight of his adj
inistration into the scale of nonintervention. 1t
sometimes suggested in apologize tone by of his
less firm friends that his support of the Nebraska bill and
of the repeal of the Missouri restriction not cordial
earnest voluntary and determined, but that he in
duced by persuasion Of coercion give the
ure hating, acquiescng, ukewam support. If there
are friends of President Pierce who seek apologize for
their own halfway advocacy of the bill by atributng
him such tmdity and tcmporizng and reluctant support
they do the President well themselves the grosses
injustice They do themselves injustice because no one
ever gets credit for supporting friend with
timidity and indifference They do the President rank
justice because they ought know that his whole life
tabishes for him the character of prompne earnesnes
more of our democratic friends the North exhibited the
same courage and determination in maintaining the Ne
braska bill that President Pierce did the inroads of
aboonsm and know-nothingism would have been less
destructive to the democratic organization.
President Pierce in the Compromise of 1850 great
principle which it necessary TO rearm and make per-
and universal in the organization of Kansas and
Nebraska. To effect this he not deferred by the
camors of hypocrical aboltionis who proessed to be
greatly grieved by the violation Of nhe solemn
pact passed in 1920 That pretended compact stood
in the path of non-intervenon and he determined
strike It down and substitute in lis place princi-
pie of settlement solid the constitution ITSELF
1t is of the chief rumphs of his administration that
he succeeded in carrying faithfully the instruction given
the principles of the Compromise of 1850 He
pccted become parayzed and frightened from edeemng
his pledge because aboonsts raved and clamored and
falsely charged him with their agitation. The people
elected him because they believed he had the courage
despse and defy natcsn in any shape lie has proved
that their confidence not misplaced and he awaits
the popular judgment with every that it will be
in the language, "Well done good and faithful servant
THE ELECTIONS TODAY
Elections viii be held to-day in Pennsylvania for canal
commissioner and in Ohio governor and in both States
for members Of the State Legislature and county officers