Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-01

suits / think II viii be found rich and abound
ing In suggestions TO the probable consequences
OF the renewed experiment proposed to be made, in
localizng slavery agitation in Kansas
-Four years ago when il was proposed TO repeal the
Missouri compromse-to adopt the principle of nom
intervention, and concede TO the people Of the Terri
tories the right to settle the question Of slavery in
their own way--t was said by the advocates Of the
measure that as soon as the principles of it came TO
be understood all agitation and discussion upon the
subject OF slavery in the Territories wonld be local
lzed :, excluded from Congress-and the country
would be left in undisturbed repose So boldly and
confidently were these views maintained, that the
whole Southern delegation in Congress, Wings and
Democrats, with seven eight exceptions, together
with many Democrats from the free States, into
the support Of the measure. How were these bold
predictions verified? In less than one month Of the
time during which the Kansas-N Nebraska bill was
pending in Congress nearly the whole North was in
a flame of resentment and opposition. Old men, OF
high character and great influence, who had for
twenty years opposed the policy aud designs Of the
Abolition faction in the North, suddenly became its
allies and CONDUCTORS. Thousands of the best citi-
zens at the North who had exerted all their energies
TO rcpress all opposition to the execution Of the Fug
tive Slave law Of 1850, became suddenly converts to
FreeSoilism I4e religious feelings Of whole commu-
mites became frenzied. pupitwas converted into
AN engine OF antslayery propagandlsm, and hundreds
Of thousands Of sober-minded and conservative peo-
PIE at the North, who had never countenanced sec
tona strife the subject Of slavery, evinced that
they had thrown OF their conservatism and were
ready to array themselves under the banner Of any
party leader faction, TO check the progress of the
South in what they considered its aggressive policy
After that demonstration ofopposition at the North,
but little more said in debate Of the tranquillzng
character Of the measure. But its most influential
supporters from the South, becoming infauied and
irrItated by the fierce nvcctives with which the
measure was assailed, both within and out OF Con-
gross, became in their turn reckless apparently at
least) OF all consequences and seemed only bent ON
victory on obtaining triumph by passing the bill
1t Was in vain that they were admonished that they
were adding largely 10 the Abolition faction at the
North that they were increasing the Free-Soi ele-
ment Of political power in that section. They adj
nitted distinction between Abolitionsts and Free
Soers, and denounced all at the North who opposed
the bill as AbotioDiss and foes to the South. Some
gentlemen declared that the screams of the Abolition
isswere music to their ears II was idle to
IN sucha tempest passion that instead OF sowing the
seeds ofpeace as they had promised, they were SOW
ing dragons teeth, that would spring up armed men.
So intense did the feeling become the subject that
some Southern members of Congress- who had gone
into the support of the bill on the idea that the Mis-
souri, restriction violation of the treaty with
France, and who would not have listened for q me-
ment to the admission of aliens to the right OF suf-
frage in the Territories, lost sight of these views
under the influence of the Juror that was gotten up
among the friends well as the opponents of the
measure and they became even more determined
champions of the bill, when these grounds OF their
original adhesion were entirely swept away -one by
the rejection of the Clayton amendment, and the
other by the Badger proyiso-than they were at the
outset
There were however, few Of the supporters of the
bill who to the last contended that the incorporate
demonstrations OF opposition at the North were but
the ebultons OF temporary excitement, which would
subsde as the equitable and just principles
of the bill should be exhibited in their practical OPP
peraton in Kansas. On what fimsy grounds that de-
fusion was INDUCED, and how soon and under what
circumstances it vanished, need not recount. The
recollection of every patriot must still be painfully
impressed with them. 1t is enough TO say that
after these principles were putin operation in Kan,
sas disorder anarchy, and civil war, ensued in rapid
succession. 1t required the strong of the Gov
eminent of the United States and the interpostion
of the military force to sustain the Terrior al Gov
eminent; and even now after the lapse of four years,
we still find that the presence OF military force is
necessary to maintain peace So much for the effect
of that measure on Kansas and the country. How
has it been in Congress Need ask that question?
Has the subject of slavery in the Territory been
the absorbing subject of our thoughts and discus
sions at every session of Congress since the pas
sage of the Kansas Nebraska act? And for the
character and temper of the debates upon this sub
ect, have they not in asperity and hereeness, far
exceeded those of any anecedent period Of our his
tory2
Seeing that the principles Of non-interventon and
popular sovereignty established by the kansas-Ne-
braska act had not been successful IN depressing
slavery agitation and sectional controversy the freLds
of that measure appear in the last resort To have in
voked the Supreme Court to interpose its ermine to
stay the frariridal strife and that august tribunal
the last stay and hope If the Constitution TO preserve
the balance of Justice even amid the storms of danger
GUS and powerful factions has plunged into the yor
tex Of political and sectional controversy. But that
high tribunal with all the advantages of the respect
yeneration, and confidence, which IT has justly en-
loved for sixty years. has not been able to stem the
tide Of sectional controversy, which still rolls onward,
and threatens 10 sweep us on to fatal catastrophe
The President tells us in his special message that
every patriot had hoped the Kansas Nebraska act
would have put final end TO the slavery agitation
which for twenty years "conyulsed the country and
endangered the Union" That statement is not quite
fair &c he bad gone back thirtyseven years, he
would have included the Missouri Compromise.
Every patriot hoped that that measure was a final
settlement of all difficulties in regard 10 the Terrific
ries then belonging TO the United States. If the
President had adyerted to that other PERIOD 1883 and
1850 when there another slavery agitation that
convnsed the country and endangered the Union, he
might have said with perfect truth, that every patriot
had hoped that the Compromise measures then
adopted would put quietus upon slavery agitation
The great men Of both parties, the distinguished
statesmen Of the country Of the period of 1890 and Of
1 so realized by their wisdom and pa triotism the
expectations of the great founders OF our system who
anticipated difficulties on this subject So important
was the promised exemption from future slavery
agitation held out by the Compromise measures Of
1850 felt TO be by the people, highly appreciated
and hailed with such joy, that in 1882 when the two
great parties Of the country met IN Convention TO
make their platforms and nominate their candidates
for The Presidency, both felt compelled, by public
sentiment 10 soemnly pledge themselves 10 abide by
or acquesce In the Compromise OF 1850, and never
again 70 countenance agiuuOn on uie supJeCt VI
slavery in any form whatever Each OF the nomi-
nees Of the two parties, General Pierce and General
Scott in his letter accepting his nomination, pledged
himself that IL he should be called TO the Presidency,
he would faithfully conform TO the polcyto which
b s party had pledged itself upon this subject SO
deeply was tine interest diused throughout the coun-
try in favor Of maintaining the Compromises Of 1850,
that though there was not breath Of suspicion
against General SCOTS fidelity and sincerity in main
Inning the OF peace yet because u was sup
posed that he had some prominent friends who had
not that object so much at heart that slight ground
,f disrust had the effect 70 ru the election IN favor
y, The morerusted candidate Of the Democratic party,
General Pierce trusted for the devotion of his
friends 20 the maintenance OF the Compromise OF
IS50-by the overwhelming number OF 262 electoral
rotes to 40 given General Scott; while the distn-
rushed Senator from New Hampshire, Mr.. Hale,
Who allowed his name 10 be run on the Free-Sofl
icket received in the whole Union popular vote OF
,nly one hundred and fifty-seven thousand 57 000D
md not single electoral vote That however is not
he strongest evidence Of the feeling that was man
tested in regard to the Compromise measures Of
$50 In the elections which came of in the fall Of
s52 and in the succeeding spring one hundred and
ifty. nine 5g) Democratic members were elected TO
he House Of Representatives, giving the Democratic
,arty majority Of eighty four (s4) in that House.
Mr.. HALE. And lost my election TO the Senate
he same year.
Mr.. BELL. Yes, sir and others, then members
4 the Senate as well as yourself. might never have
,een returned 10 the Senate again, but for the pas
are of the Kansas ebraska act
When Congress met in December, 1858, the DEM