The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-05
SLAVERY IN NEBRASKA.

1t seems that Slavery actually exists in Ne
| braska, and that the sham Democracy of that
! Territory have, with characteristic devotion
to the "peculiar institution" defeated bill for
its abolition. The bill passed the House Of
Representatives by vote Of FL To IT, but has
been defeated in the Council by Z to 6.
The Omaha Nebraskiqn, the Locofoco month.
piece of the Administration in that Territory
thus bemoans itself over the passage Of the bill
through the House
! "The bill to prohibit and abolish Slaverv in
this Territory passed the House on Saturdsy
| last, with the word abolish stricken out. EigL,
Democrats voted for the bill, and seventeen
against it. We indulge in no structures. much
as we deplore the result. The bill has passed
| one House, and ii is regarded by at least nine.
tentis Of the community as Republican ric
toTy-the Republicans themselves so regard IT,"
We trust that the Republicans will not dess
from agitating the question until they succeed
in wiping out the last vestige of Slavery from
the Territory. 1t is no excuse for them to say
that the institution has little more than a nom.
inal existence, or that not more than twenty
slaves are to be found in the Territory The
virgin soil of the West shoald not be trodden
by one slave, and no man should be permitted
to desecrate it, or to insult the majesty of JUS.
tice, by holding a human being to compulsory
labor in that land, which was for thirty.three
years consecrated to Freedom. The repealers
of the Missouri Compromise should be permit,
ted to take nothing, in form or substance, by
their perGdiOus policy.
The Republicans of Nebraska could ask no
better issue to 60 before the people than this
question of abolshing and excluding Slavery
by popular sovereignty. The Democracy Of
the Northwest profess to be opposed to Slavery
extension, and profess to hold that the people
Of the Territories may, by unfriendly or hostile
legislation, exclude the institution from their
borders and the Republicans should by all
means press the issue upon them. Let them
show their sincerity by their votes.
This question was introduced at the previous
session ofthe Territorial Legislature, but was de,
feated, though it met with more favor than was
anticipated Nothing is more certain than
that it will triumph, and that the day is not
distant when the party which upholds Slavery
voice of the PEOPLE.
The following particulars, from the Nebraska
Republican of December 2lst will be read with
Interest,"
THE SLAVERY BILL
The bill to prohibit Slavery or involuntary
servitude in this Territory, except as punishment
for crime, passed the House of Representatives
on Saturday last, after most desperate struggle.
The Administration party, led on by the Gov.
ernor and Secretary of the Territory, resorted
to the most unscruplous means to prevent It's
passage. These officials were both busy in the
lobby, trying to induce members to vote against
1t. The Secretary far forgot the dignity Of
the office which confers so much honor upon
his name, as TO write insulting amendments,
which he induced certain members to offer TO the
bill. But their efforts were in vain the thirteen
Republican members were constantly at their
posts, and, with the assistance of several indie
pendent Democrats, passed the hill. Much hon
or Is due to Messrs. Lake, Hanscom, Stewart,
Myers Strickland, and their associates. for their
bold and independent course upon this bill.
They brayely de6ed Executive dictation. and. in
the face OF the most violent threats from the
officials, discharged their duties to the people
In manner that entities them to the thanks
OF the friends of Freedom everywhere.
But while we award praise to them personal
ly, let 1t not be forgotten that the Democratic
party, as such, has prooed rec,eant and false 10
all ats professions, Of depofion TO the yfgLks of
the people. The eight independent men who
united with the Republicans to pass the bill
are denounced by the officials as traitors. But
we can tell the craven tools of official dictation
that the people will not so regard them; tbey
will stand by them so long as thew stand bv the
right and resist the base attempts of the Fed
eral tyrants to dictate what the PEOPLES Rem
resentatives shall or shall not do
The bill reached the Council on Monday.
There the officials were more successful in the
warfare than in the House.
MIR. Little, of this county, moved its indef
mite postponement, and the motion was car
RED by the casting vote Of the President The
Secretary was in the lobby, and so great was
his anxiety, that when the vote was announced
ne could not restrain his joy, but burst forth
INTO applause, threw up his hat, and INDUCED
in divers dignifed marks of his qualification.
How long will the people of this Territory
submit to the dietation of the officials sent
here by the Administration ofJames Buchanan,