The daily union., 1856-04-05

they resolved adopt it, and leave the responsibility t
any excitement that might follow upon those who Nigh,
resist just principle
Ii palpabe that upon the justice and equity
the people of the South had as much right to the free en-
oynent Of the territory the people of III.
North 1t clear that this plain right could not be m
y enjoyed long they were repeed from the Terri.
tory by the Missouri prohibition. The history Of the po
showed that three distinct occasions CODprs
and the treaty ymaking power had snnulled the Missouri
restriction, aud that slavery actually existed within as,
portion Of the forbidden domain, and that this anuul
of the line Of restriction had been quietly acQueos
in for nearly twenty years The past also furnished The
evidence that the Missouri restriction for suV
hour aequesced in obligatory act whether vieved,
a mere law compact by the people of the North
but that down to the final passage of the compromise meas
ures of $780, they rejected it final rule Of settlement
1t was equally known that the principle of the Compromise
of 1850 the doctrine of nonnteryenton or popular son.
ereignywas inconsistent with the Missouri restriction
aud WAS substituted in Its stead rule for solving h.
question of slavery in the Territories was further seen
that lis application Nebraska and Kansas could only la
resisted by that reckless spirit oaanaticm which closes
is eyes justice and honesty and hypocrcaly seeks to
up sectional prejudces and passions for the accomplish
President and Congress had to choose between right and
justice side and the danger Of encounteng rey
val of sectional agitation the other There was no hes
tancy the choce and the passage Of the KansasN
braska bill the result
What have said furnishes complete refutation of the
charge repeatedly made by abolitons that the authors
and supporters of the Nebraska bill responsible for the
breaking up of that happy reose and sectional fraternity
which preceded its introduction into Congress President
Pierce and Judge Douglas have been held specially respon
sibe for the agitation through which that measure was
passed. and through which its ratification is be secured
in the presidential election There just responsibility
from which either of these gentlemen will shrink but
it is denonsrable that the sin of revving sectional ag-
ton does not rest on them.
1t was not necessary to honest opposition to the Ne.
braska bill that there should he sectional agitation Per-
was that those who had acquiesce
the Compromise of s50 merely further opposition
useless, would allow the Nebraska b which reaRrm
ed the great principle of that compromise pass without
opposition. But will any candid mind contend that the
appeals made by the abolition leaders the religious as
well sectional and political and social prejudces and
passions known TO exist the subject of slavery was an
honest mode Of opposing the measured viii any one
deny that the introduction of the bill seized upon with
eager avdty for the purpose Of stirring up agitation for
political objects? Is it of history that the war
fare waged upon the supporters of the measure and sp
eialy upon President Pierce and Judge Douglas was
marked by and degree of personal vtupeaon
Misrepresentation and calumny that have had no parallel
If the merits of the principle involved in the bill had been
met and discussed in open manly and honest manner
as they being discussed throughout the country
we should have had only the of political excitement
which have often occurred. 1t was the infusion into The
contest of wild religious anatcisn of passionate enbu
sasm and of the wickedest appeals 10 social and sec
uonal prejudices accompanied with the most agpra-
vating personal vtuperationthese were the elements
in the opposition to the bill which have destroyed the re-
pose of the country broken up the aernal relations Of
the different members OF the confederation and the
North against the South in which threatens the
durability of the Union For this perilous condition Of
things the eboon opponents Of the Nebraska bill are just
y responsible; and yet with the erontery Of unaoyed
npudenee they seek to shift their sins upon h. heads Of
President Pierce and Judge Douglas
The moment the bill reported to the Senate by Judge
Douelas, it became apparent that the calm which was
prevailing deasve, and that sbotonisrn had abat,d
none of its hostility to the great principle of popular
sovereignty The snake had been killed he had only
been scoched Judge Douglas saw that the struggle Of
1850 was to be renewed that the principle Of
Intervention was 10 be surrendered. There was
hesancy 10 the choice. The conflict commenced and
maintained with hrmness and perseverance until The
bill passed On side the democrats led by Judge
Douglas in the Senate aud supported by President Pierce
in the executive chair struggled with that determination
and energy which necessary the establishment
principle that would finally crush the ebood Of abo
iionsm-a principle which would forever expe agitation
from Congress and transfer the question Of slavery he
Territories to the people of the Territories On the other
side the aboliionists struggled for their very existence
they struggled with desperstion-beoause they saw in
triumph of the principle of popular sovereignty the de-
struction Of their stronghold for agitation.
No sooner bad the bin passed Congress than the struggle
was renewed with unabated violence amongst the people
the free States Fanatesm regned triumphant nearly
all the elections. Abolidonism combined with know
nothngsm (which bad just then developed Its
gani@tion,) and with every other that afflicted the
free States, swept like tornado over the North Amidst
the gloom which the democratic party our gallant
leaders stood firm by the great principle Of popular
ognty rayng the true national men, encouraging them
to remain faithful and confidently assuring them that the
storm would soon exhaust its fury and enable the popular
mind TO and the ascendency Of the pn
cple Of the Nebraska bill Whilst the noble champions
OF democracy we're trsversipg their respective States and
breasting the storm President Pierce stood at The helm
til.