The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-07-25
KANsAS.NEBRASKA ACT BROKE
DOWN.


The Charleston Mercury, of the 9th inst,
contains an article on the Kansas Paci6cation
Bill OF Senator Douglas, in which it is freely
admitted that the old KANSAS. y EBRAsKA ACT
IS AN uEMTTIGATED FAILURE.
Mark that, people of the South! The
Charleston Mercury admits that the great
panacea of the Bogus Democracy, which was
to cure slavery agitation, is an absolute, unre-
deemed failure, by THE CONFESSION OF ITS
AUTHORS AND PRoMorERsl
We take the liberty Of copying some OF the
expressions in the Mercury's article and beg
for it the attention of every reader:
Senator Douglas has added much to his
previous reputation, by his reports and
speeches, this session, on Kansas affairs. He
has beer bold, able, and consistent, in his VIM
dications of the principles of the Nebraska
Kansas bill, and in his efforts to carry them
out in Kansas. But the Fates have been
against him. His great measure, phich iods
10 settle f0rerer The question of sLarery IN the
Territories, remoUe agitation from The floors Of
Congress, and giue peace TO The Dhole country,
has disappointed The expectations Of It's friends.
Upon all these points, the Nebraska. Kansas
bill, so far as Kansas is concerned, has proved
faiure-a failure in all that could give it
practical value. The question of slavery in
the Territories is as far from solution in
theory now as it was ten years ago, while
practically it is complicated by the intensest
excitement on both sides, and by violence and
blood. We have before us the startling
anomaly of party actually rejecting all over.
lures of peace, and stalking its success in the
Presidential election upon the continuance of
the civil war in Kansas
Nor is this all. The Kansas. Nebraska bin
is not only practical failure, but Senator
Douglas is himself forced 10 confess IL, and
eren TO introduce a bill into the Senate ,ohich
proposes in The face Of its principles, "Con.
gressiondl in,eruenfiOn." 1t virtually admits
that the people of Kansas cannot take care of
themselves, cannot decide peaceably the
question of slavery, and that nothing but sin
tervention by Congress"-thc very evil which
Mr.. Douglas constantly denounced, and which
the Kansas. Nebraska bill aimed to suppress
can save the Territory from anarchy. Mr..
Douglas, the great champion Of popular souer-
eignty, is noio the advocate Of Congressional
Intervention
We credit him with every desire to have
this question settled fairly and equally. But
he has had TO deal with elements stronger
than any principle of Congressional legisa-
tion-elements which defy law, the Consti
tuition, and the calculations of parties, and
which, while he is shouting hosannas to the
Union, are sapping its foundations. A North
ern man. he little knew what fierce fires slum-
bered in his own section, and around his own
home, and with what implacable fury anti.
slavery would visit those who dared to speak
of justice to the South Still less did he
Imagine that measure which afforded every
facility to free.soil emigration, and which was
urged, if not by himself, by other leaders of
the Northern Democracy, ms 'the best Adolf.
lion measure ever passed." would be repudi
ated from one end of the North to the other
as an outrage and an insult.