The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-02-02
The 6 Little Giant, still Bidding.

EE AT this day 1t will hardly be de-
MED by any candid man, that the Kansas
Nebraska bill was STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
bid for the support Of the South in the
Cincinnati Convention. At the time it
was proffered there was no demand for a
territorial government over the region
now included in these territories Be-
sides Indians and soldiers but few inhab-
itants lrod the prairies Immediately west
ward of the Missouri, and these mainly
hunters and trappers. who neither cared
for or desired any other government than
that of the rifle, any other law than that
Of force. The wild thirst for western
lands had, to some extent, been felt, but
in Iowa and Minnesota, whence all turn
ed their eyes, there were yet millions of
acres unoccupied, and open to the settler
and Spectator. There appeared. then,
no contingency that called for Mr.. DoUG
LAS measure, and we recollect that this
was one argument urged against the pro-
posed violation of the old and before sa-
cred compromise of 1920. But the time
was fast approaching for the making up
of the issues, and the selection Of the
standard bearer, of another political cam
paign. The necessity of standing we'll
with the slave power, as primary con-
dilion OF success, was well known to all
presidential aspirants. PIERCE, by his
subserviency to that power, was becom-
ing formidable as candidate for re-nom
inalion, and DOUGLAS, INSCRIPTIONS as
to the means by which ne advanced him
self, determined to make bold stroke to
supplant the President. And in the in
terest of his great ambition he consum-
mated the violation Of the compact which
but few weeks before he had declared
10 be as sacred as the constitution itself
But vaultng ambition often over
leaps ITSELF" and so it proved in this
case This new concession to the Mo-
loch of Slavery thoroughly aroused the
anti-slavery feeling Of the country, which
found practical work in endeavoring to
circumvent the scheme to Africanize the
territory once dedicated to fieedom.-
The Kansas troubles came, with all their
bitterness, all their bloodshed, all their
excitements. stirring the public mind al
most to its greatest depth. PIERCE had
perceived his rivals object. and having
the power, took its direction into his own
hand and made the work his own. But
the storm of Indignation at the North was
10, great for the party to brave in Pres.
idential canvass, and Mr.. BUCHANAN was
selected over his two competitors, be-
cause he had been out of the country,
and was not involved in their Ubiquitous
proceedings. Then DOUGLAS, who. with
insulting mien, had heretofore turned
contemptuously away from all appeals
made by the people of Kansas for the
rights and privileges he had promised
them. and only answered that he would
"subdue them then he, the Presider-
cy being lost, and the Senatorship be-
coming problematical, shifted his course
a little, and trimmed his sails to catch
the Northern breeze In this he became
obnoxious to the oligarchy he previous
" evinced so much desire to serve, and
thereby made it necessary. now that the
Presidential vista is again opening, that he
should tender new proofs Of his willing
ness to serve the slave power.
These he gave on the 93d ult On
that day he presented a resolution, and
made speech thereon, asking that the
committee on the judiciary be- instructed
10 report bill for thesuppression of con-
epiracies in one state against the lives. or
or institutions, Of any other
State or Territory. Or. ir other words, J