Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-25
disnosed of by taking lhe rigM Non, lhe

souri, in the Union, thereby violating
one Of the most sacred constitutional priv
ileges belonging to freemen, need not
say to you, sir, that by the restrictive fea.
ture of that act, the people were prevents
ed within the new Territories thereafter
formed North and West of the limits pre-.
scribed from regulating all their domes-
tic institutions in their own way. The
right of the people 10 form such Con-
stlutlon on this subject as they might de-
sire, was not only taken from them, but a
denial of the right necessarily reflected
upon their intelligence, ignored their ca
pscty, and struck deadly blow at the
very principle Of self-government.
Notwithstanding this attempt to Danish
the subject of slavery from Congress, il
still continued the forum for angry discus
sion, and fanaiical orators, found in it a
fruitful subject for engendering discord
and producing alienation between the
North aud South. So fierce did the con.
test become tha, in 1850 the Constitution
was only saved from utter wreck by a
Cass, Douglas, u Clay and Webster
rallying with united power 10 the rescue.
Hence the so called Missouri Compromise
affected at so great a sacrifice of princi-
pie utterly failed in driving the subject Of
slavery from the National Legislature.
The Constitution had been violated and
no practical good accomplished. ......
! have thus, sir, given very brief out
line of antecedent history, for the pur.
pose Of expressing to you the feelings of
the people, in favor of Legislation divorc.
ing the government from further conhec-
ton with this dangerous subject, in favor
of being restored to their rights under the
Constitution to settle this question for
themselves, and for the purpose Of bring.
ing out in more bold relief the part you
took in that ever memorable act, which
is certain to accomplish these desirable
objects.
In 1854, the Kansas. Nebraska bill was
introduced into the Senate of the United
States by Mr.. Douglas. chairman of the
Committee on Territories. In this bill the
doctrine upon this subject is for the first
time correctly inaugurated. 1t provides
for the repeal of the Missouri restriction,
and the people Of these Territories are
left free to regulate their domestic insti-
tutions in their own way; thereby restor-
Ing to them by the act admitting Missouri,
and transferring the forum for the discus
sion and decision of this mischievous
question from the halls of Congress,
where it gave unmistakable evidence of
the early decadence of the Republic, to
the people to be affected by ii, where il
properly belongs, and ever should have
remained. . H
Your friend and associate, the distin-
guished Senator FROM Illinois, the author
Of the bill! took the lead, and the hercu.
lean task of accomplishing this reforma-
ZION was committed 10 the hands of that
great man. The opposition made upon
the bill 10 the Senate. the bitter invectives
and nnmeasured abuse poured outuponthe
head of its distinguished author. form the
back ground to the finest political picture
ever drawn upon legislative canvass.
The bill sought TO correct an evil tina, had
been persisted in for thirty-four year, +,
and it could not reasonably be expected
the government could purge itself from
wrong SO long continues, without political
throes, groans and shrieks. ."f"
Ii sought 10 restore the doctrine Of the
sovereignty of the people, and in this
p@ rticular was but reflex of the senti-
ment Of Jefferson. tina, they are capable
Of self-government. BY it there is no
inhibition upon the power Of the people,
in framing their State Constitution, ex-
cept that imposed by the Constitution Of
the United States, TO wit: Republican In
form" Subjected to The ordeal Of an
elaborate discussion in the Senate, by
which it gathered strength, il passed that
body, and was commited mainly TO your
hands in The other wing Of the Capitol.
Here too, the bill was fiercely assailed
and if possible, the Struggle more desper-
ate, the contest more severe. and the
fight more mercileSs. than in the other
branch Of Congress. Sull, sir you never
faltered, and it is part Of The history Of
the times that without your extraordinary
efforts in its behalf il never could have
become law. 1t passed; the Territory
was organized; this desirable country
opened for settlement, and all the bles-
sings Of a free government, with the
right of the people to regulate their do
mestic institutions in their own way, Sc
cured to the present and future population
Of Nebraska. The area of Territory
embraced in your bill extends from the
Leauqui court, on the North, TO the Kan
sas line on the South, from the Missouri
on the East, to the Rocky Mountains on
the Wes,, watered with fine rivers, fertil'
izing streams, and refreshing springs
The surface Of the country lovely, and
J inviting, the sell full 10 bursting wrh vcgc'