The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-13

Leyt witness
The Passage If the Nebraska BiM FOretaste
OF the Success OF the Lecompton bal
The success Of the Harris Douglas resolution
referring to committee of fifteen the question
of the Lecompton constitution, is hailed by the
foes Of the administration as u great defeat for
Mr.. Buchanan and as certain omen that the
constitution will be rejected in the House.
more delusive idea lever possessed desperate
faction. AS We have affirmed before, the Lee
compton constitution is legally begotten of the
Kansas Nebraska bill; and in the history of the
progress of that measure through Congress may
be found some data upon which to calculate on
The result of the present question. When the
first vote WAS taken Oh the Nebraska bill in the
House there was a majority against it of fifteen
votes, and this result was viewed at the time,
both by the friends and foes of the administra-
ton, as defeat for Mr.. Pierce's Cabinet. We
all know the final result of the bill in its tri-
umphant passage through the House, just two
months after that vote was given. And so it
will be with the Lecompton constitution. The
mighty majority Of one by which it has been
referred to special committee will have van
ished, perhaps before the committee have time
to report upon it.
AS the progress of the Nebraska bill forms an
interesting page in the history of this whole
question, and as it may fairly be taken as
test Of what is to follow in the Lecompton case,
We will give a short sketch of it,
On the 4th of January, 1854, Judge Doug
las as Chairman of the Committee on Ter
ritories, introduced into the Senate the orig
inal Nebraska bill, constituting that portion
of the continent Territory of the United
States, with its Northern and Southern bounds-
ries fixed at the parallel $3.50 and 40 de-
grees. The substance of the bill is too we'll
known to require any comment now. On the
18th he gave notice that he would call up the
bill on the 22d but it was subsequently post
poned until the 3Oth, at the earnest request of
several Senator'S Meantime the bill was be-
coming source Of much uneasiness to men
from all sections, including President Pierce
and his Cabinet. On the 22d of January Cabi-
net meeting was held on the subject and after
much discussion on amendment was suggested
leaving the validity of the Missouri Compro-
mise to be adjudicated upon by the Supreme
Court. This amendment was not acceptable to
the leading Southern men. Mason, Hunter,
Atchison and other Senator'S declared that
they would not be satisfied with any other
amendment than the following -" That the
constitution and laws of the United States,
which are not totally inapplicable, shall have
the same effect within the said Territory of Ne;
braska as elsewhere within the United States,
except the Sth section Of the act prepa-
ratory to the admission of Missouri into
the Union, approved March 6, 1920, which
was superseded by the principles of the
legislation OF 1850, commonly called the
Compromise measures and is hereby declared
imperative" This amendment was Submitted
to Mr.. Pierce, and after many shufilings and gy-
rations il was assented to by him.
On the following day Mr. Douglas introduced
new bill, dividing Nebraska into two Terrific
ries-Nebraska and Kansas-the former to be
contained within the 40th and 49th degrees north
latitude, and the latter between the 10th and
37th. and containing the above amendment
This bill was then printed, aud is the celebrated
Kansas Nebraska bill, the origin Of all the con-
troyersies and the cause OF all the shrieks
which have since disturbed the peace of the
Union.
In accordance with the notice Of Judge
Douglas, the bill came up In the Senate for dis
cussion on the 30th Of January, and from that
time till the 18th Of March following it was the
subject Of debate from day to day in the Senate
and Of general discussion throughout the coun,
try. Petitions poured into both houses of Con
- Art.N
were organized at various points. The Taber
nacle echoed with denunciations Of the bill and
its supporters; and FIVE hundred parson power
'remonstrance' from Massachusetts, was hurled
at the head of Judge Douglas. But in spite Of
all this the bill passed the Senate on the 18th Of
March. 1854, by vote Of 81 yeas TO II nays
On the 3lst Of January previous. Mr.. Richard
son, Of Illinois, had introduced the bill into
the House, but the first decisive vote
upon il was taken on the 2lst of March.
The bin then stood in this position On its in
PRODUCTION II had been referred to the Committee
OF The Whole on the state Of the Union, aud &C.
cubie2 place in the calendar behind two or three
hundred other bills which should be eiihe.. ais
posed Of or set aside in ordtf &c reach It. The OBJ
ect Of the administration party then was to get il
referred TO the Committee on Territories, where
II might be dealt with at any time. Mr. Rich
ardson determined to make this motion test of
the strength Of the administration on thc bill,
and he accordingly proposed that il be referred
TO the Committee ON Territories. AT that time
there was democratic majority of seventy ia
the House, and the Southern wings we're sup
posed to he on the side Of the administration
Mr.. Cutting, of New York, led the hostile army,
and met Mr.. Richardson's motion with an
amendment referring the bill to the Committee
Of the Whole A vote was taken, aud Cuttings
motion was carried by majority Of yfjtoea the