The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-09
THE HISTORY OF THE NEBRASKA BILL.

as much against its internal its external foes would
scarcely be exaggeraon to say that it has suffered
from treachery within its organization than from the
assaults Of its public enemies Amongst the internal foes
of democracy the New York Evening Post was conspicu
until 1t ceased have any pretensions democratic
associations sympathies. When that journal could
claim to belong to the democratic organization its danger
hereses and its strong abolition procvtes the
standing proofs relied upon by southern wings to fix the
charge Of seconalism and ee-sosm upon the northern
democracy In that way the Post contributed much for
years sustain the wbg party the South but the pres
position of that journal is VIGOROUSLY Of
compromising hostility TO the democratic party that it
known everywhere open foe and hence the north
democracy longer held responsible for its abol
tionism The southern politician the southern journal
that would refer to the New York Evening Post
democratic organ would be at denounced deficient
either in intelligence in honesty 1t stands towards the
democratic party the great sectional issue of the present
day in precisely the attitude with the New York T
bune the Boston Liberaor they all undsguised
abolition organs and therefore, all undisgused in their
tagonism to the democratic party.
These remarks suggested upon reading elaborate
article in the Post of October G. in which the editor under
takes to give the history Of the Nebraska bill and desg
the changes Of position by different prominent demo-
Gratis whilst the pending in Congress The
article is tissue &C Misrepresentation and perversion
throughout doing the grossest injustice to the dead well
the living, and carrying upon its face conclusive evil
dence that the Post longer seeks sail under demo-
cratic colors The paragraph in the article to which
wish call attention. after the assertion that Senator
Atchson had concocted scheme for introducing slavery
into Kansas by the repeal Of the Missouri restriction
proceeds as follows:
douglas was first hostile to the scheme He refused
chairman Of the Committee Territories, propose
Atchisons repeating amendment to the Nebraska BILL
opposed it; and when introduced last by Douglas
who surrendered Atchson Cass admitted in his Speech
predatory his voting for it. that it dangerous and
necessary The President opposed to it, disclosed
by the Uno which opposed the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise when first preached in Douglass ambiguous BILL al
though the editor is and known the time be- zeal
the repeal His holding back merely in respect
10 the Presidents scrupes, who doubly committed
against the resurrection of the slave struggle first by his
inaugural address, and then in his maiden message to
Congress-"
This total perverson of the history of the Nebraska
bin and Of the introduction into it of the clause repeating
the Missouri restriction is not true that either Senator's
Douglas Glass; President Pierce opposed to
the repeal of the Missouri restriction These statesmen
the early the earnest and the consistent advocates of
the principle of congressional nonnterventon in the Ter
rores and of necessity opposed to the recognition
by of Congress of the Missouri restriction which
in direct conflict with that principle The only question
that presented itself to Senator Douglas chairman Of
the Committee Territories, was whether the Nebraska
bill should be drawn in the language of the Compromise of
1885, and be literal copy of the New Mexico and Utah
bills so far the slavery question was concerned, and
therefore be rr=a, of the Missouri restriction By
cessary implication whether in addition to the lam
guge Of the Compromise of $780, there should be clause
expressly repeating the Missouri restriction
That the Missouri restriction was to be repealed
foregono concluson and the only dcbatable matter
whether it should be done by implication by express
peaing language Tho first impression of Senator Douglas
adhere strictly to the language of the Compromise Of
ls5o preparing the Nebraska BILL The great object
carry out the principle Of nonntervcntion and thereby
establish permanent and efficient rule for the settlement
of all sectional questions Theprincipeo nonnterventon
palpaby inconsistent with the Missouri restriction
and upon every sound legal principle its application to the
Nebraska Territory would necessarily abrogae and repeal
the Missouri line The popular Judgment had been pro-
nounced by overwhelming majority in favor of the
intervention principle in the election Of President Pierce
and that principle in the Compromise of 1850 not
accompanied by any express repeal of the Mexican law,
which understood to prohibit slavery in New Mexico
and Utah. Senator Douglas deemed it most prudent not
to accompany the nonnervention principle in the Ne
bska bill with express repeal of the Missouri act of
1920, which prohibited slavery in Nebraska Whether
the compromise act OF 1850 repealed the Mexican law
not was left by the compromise to judicial decision. So
Senator Douglas proposed leave the question whether the
adoption of the nonntcrventon principle in Nebraska
repeal Of the Missouri restriction judicial deci-
son although be fully satisfied that it did ope-
rate repeal, and in that opinion President Pierce
and General Cass fully concurred. But inasmuch
1t was known that the aboonists were eager
for any pretext for agitation and il appa-
that the proposition for express repeal of
Missouri restriction would be seized upon by them rs
violation of the Compromise of 1850 well Of that Of
1920 boh Of which compromises however they had uni
formy opposed) and be made the grounds of renewed
sectional excitement Senator Douglas determined draw
ing the Nebraska BILL avoid this pretext for agitation
by adberng strictly to the language Of the Compromise Of
1850.
After the bill introduced the abolition leaders in
Congress denounced it with violence as violation Of the
Missouri compact moreover, doubts suggested by
southern men as whether the repeal Of the Missouri
Comproniss was so clear satisfy slaveowuers ha
they might settle in the Territory and rick judicial de