Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-28
From the National American.
The Kansas N ebrasIta Bill.

The moment this bill was Introduced into the
Congress Of the United States we denounced II as
one designed for party purposes by It's author--a
morntebank Ia politics--and that 1t would reopen
the agitation Of the whole subject Of slavery which
had been fortunately quoted by Mr.. Clay's Com
promise Of 1850. We contended that it would
disrupt the then existing parties Of the country,
posed of the people both North and Southland
in that point Of view national in their organiza-
tons and that it would involve a sectional issue
dangerous to the peace and pepetuity Of the
union of these States
On the other hand, II was contended by its adj
yocates, that It's design was patrotic-that II 1t
should be sustained 1t would put an end TO slave
ry agitation forever, by settling the great principle
Of sguatter sovereignty in the Territories belong
Inc 70 Che people 81 the United States, and that Il
would establish the principle of equality between
the States and thus nationalize all parties which
would place the national government upon foot
Ing Of stability, and make the Union safe.
Well, the great principle Of sguatter sovereignty
prevailed, the Kansas-N ebraska bill passed both
Houses Of Congress and became law by the sig
nature Of what ia called National Democratic
President, with every department Of the govern
ment in the hands of his party and yet, in spite
Of all this, the agitation Of slavery has not been
quieted, the equality Of the States rests upon no
safer principle than before the passage Of the bill
nor has stability to the government been impaired,
OF the perpetuity Of the Union secured.
AT the time the proposition to repeal the Mis-
souri, Compromise was introduced In Congress, the
people in every quarter Of the country quietly ac-
quiesced in the Compromise measures of 1850.
There was no agitation upon the subject of slavery,
and there would have been none at this time II
the Missouri Compromise of 1920, which cettled
the question of slavery 40 far the Louisiana ter
ritory was concerned, had been let alone. Who,
them is responsible to the country for the fearful
agitation now existing upon the subject of slavery,
and to what cause is it to be ascribed? We an
swcr, that it is chafgeable, and only chargeabe, to
those who violated the pghted faith Of the nation,
by repeal Of the Missouri Compromise and the
passage Of the Kansas. Nebraska bill. If il be not
owing to that cause, then to what cause is it
owingY Let the advocates and apologists Of that
iniquitous measure answer the question.
1t is said that the principle established by the
passage of the Kansas-N ebraska bill should not be
disturbed But what that principle Is, we have
never been able to learn. Some of its friends say
that it is non-intervention the part Of Congress
in the affairs Of the Territories that it is
squatter sovereignty some again that It Is popu-
lar sovereignty, while others say it is Territorial
sovereignty. But whether it ID really the one or
the other, we are equally opposed TO it. First,
because we are unwilling that any number of per-
sons shall take possession Of any portion Of the
territory belonging to the people of the United
States, except upon such terms as may be pre-
scribed by the owners, and second, because we
are not willing to allow that such persons shall de-
termine the question as to our right to move into
such Territory, and to take with us such property
as we might think proper.
1t is true, that Congress did not establish any
government for the territory Of California, and that
the individuals who congregated there erected a
State government for themselves, by which the
people Of the slaveholding States were denied the
right of settling in that territory with their slave
property. But that was an isolated case, and was
the result Of necessity growing out of the failure
of Congress to- provide Territorial government
of the odious principle Of squatter sovereignty
the only principle, as think, which is contained
in the Kansas Nebraska bill.