Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-08-08

ever. never lie and Webster and Ben
on we'll understood the force and effect of
caving the Mexican law untouched, that
{ would forever preserve that territory
rom the blight Of human bondage IL the
government was truly and honestly ALL
In accordance with the princi-
Dlcs OF IL founders. They found the pre-
Existing law in favor Of the right and
irnaly maintained non-inierference With
h. The Bills organizing New Mexico
md Utah were PASSED and the Mexican +
law preserved. Ia addition % this these
Bills also contained this provision. All !
the laws passed By the legislative assem-
hlv and Governor shall be submitted 10
the Congress Of the United States, and II
,iisapprovsd shall be null and Of no effect.
" here was the haggard ghost &c Squatter
Sovereignty when that Was adopted II
NJ contrast this legislation with that If
1854. wcmay discover who IL i that has
departed from the faith responsible for
the agitation and sectional strife which
threatens the perpetuIty OF the Union.
We may DO So with unerring certainty for
the reason that the country 10 which the
Congre-. If is'i gave territorial govern
fnent~ occupied the same relative posi-
ton "a the slavery question as did New
Mexico and Utah when those territories
were organized. In the one, slavery had
been abolished and prohibited by the Mex
lean law aud ia the other By the act Of
the American Congress Of 1920. common-
Is called the Missouri Compromisc. Ia
both, the pfc-existing law may BE regarded
ia legal elect ~ the same. \ Bill organic
ing the wait remnant OF the Louisiana pur-
chase into a territorial government had
been referred TO. the committee on terri
tories in the Senate, and on the 18th of
January 1854, Mr.. Douglas the chairman,
made special report accompanied by
what i known n the Nebraska Bill.
That Bill wisely conformed TO the lcgis-
lation Of 1850. left the Missouri Compro-
isc undisturbed, and the report Of Mr..
Douglas presents potent reasons in favor
of maintaining intact the letter and spirit
of the compromise measures Of 1880.
Said he, "thc wisdom Of those measures
i attestcd, not less by their salutary and
beneficial effects in allaying sectional ag-
itation and restoring peace and harmony
10 an ifritated and distracted people, than
bv the cordial and almost universal APP
probation with which they have been re-
ceived and sanctioned by the whole coun-
try. The committee therefore deemed
II their duty 10 incorporate and perpct-
uatc IN their territorial Bill the princi-
piles and spirit Of those measures, and in
order to do SO they had preserved invio-
/ late the Missouri Compromise. So APP
parcntly devoted was this man Douglas
on the ith day Of January, 1854, 10 the
Missouri Compromise, that he wss con
strained 10 say that any action other than
non-interfercnce with II would Involve
the same grave issues which produced the
agitation, the sectional strife and the fear
I ful struggle of 1850 Said he, "as Con.
gress deemed il wise and prudent To re-
frain from deciding the matter in contro
versy then, either by affirming or repeal
ing the Mexican laws, or by an act dcclar
atory of the true intent of the Constitution
and the extent of the protection afforded
by il 10 slave property in the territories
So your committee are not prepared 10 re-
commend departure from the course pur
sued on that memorable occasion, either
by affirming or repeating the sth section
Of the Missouri act, or by any act declar
atory of the meaning Of the Constitution
in respect 10 the legal points in dispute.
He then tells rs how fortunate il was so
the peace of the country. and the sccur
ity of the Union, that those measure
were adopted and how the two great po
litical parties affirmed them rs a cardi
nal article of their faith, and proclaime,
them 10 the world as a final settlement o
the controversy, and an end of the agita
ton. He further asserted under tn
solemn obligations of Senator, that g!
respect for the avowed opinions of Sena
tors as well as Il proper sense OF patriots
duty enioins upon your committee the pro
priety and necessity Of a strict adheRnc
TO the principles and even literal adop
ton Of the cnactmcnts OF that adjustment
in all their territorial Bills so far as tn
same are not locally inapplicable. II
To this date there was no evidence or man
Hesitation of departure from the faith
no suspicion in the public mind Of "A wan
of devotion 10 this well settled policy O
the government Every intelligent free
man knew that this question of SLAYER,
was practically settled by law in ever,
inch Of Territory owned by the genera
government. That there was no way o
reviving agitation except hv reopcnnl
some wound which had been healed. l.,
undoing what had already been well dom
by wise heads and patriot hearts Yet
strange To say, this same Nebraska Bill
was rccommitted 10 the Committee on Ter
ritories to sleep the sleep Of death, wa
dropped from the Calendar of the Sen
ate, and within twenty days after ihes
loud professions of devotion TO the lcttc
and spirit Of the legislation Of 1850, which
preserved the Missouri Compromise inyi
olatc we find the Nebraska Kansas Bill
rising in IL stead. which has proved L
be "A common disturber Of the public peace
and trust in God the ASSASSIN Of tn,
Democratic party. The amendment final
~ incorporated ia this. substitute Bill IS a
once cowardly and false: cownrdly in no
daring 10 repeal the Missouri Compromis,
By direct enactment. and false in tho a.
sertion that IL was inconsistent with tn
legislation Of 1859, and therefore "inop
crative and void
The fatal work was done by those Wis
few DAYS before maintained that Z"
proper sense Of patriotic duty cnjoincd
upon them not 10 do il. Yes, by thos'
who did not feel called upon 10 vote.
even upon the discussion of 50 pomen
,ious question. for the reason that i
would ''involve the same grave Issues which
produced the agitation, the sectional strif
and th, fearful struggle Of 1850. an,
would b. 81 deparferc from tho cours.
pursued on thai memorable occasion.
True. indeed, Il was departure on.
whose Highways and byway. are marke,
with scenes revolving 10 the patrio, ant
discrcditable 10 the sons Of n glorious an
cestry. Had the Territory Of Kansas an,
Nebraska been organized leaving th.
Missouri Compromise undis;urbcd. rs wcr,
the Mexican Laws by the legislation o.
1850, then he who endorsed the enc coalc
have consistently sanctioned the other
| But. a. Il IS, | maiatain that 30 man WIZ
honestly endorsed tho letter and spirit al
the compromise measures II $50. can en-.
dorse the Legislation II "a without max
ing . record glazing wish Inconsistencies
In the one case Congress refused 70 re.
peal OF snaul the Mexican Laws which
kept slavery ont. and in tn other. will
vandal hand, tore down a fime-honore.
st II the American Congress q LEI ia.
very IN In both cases tho Territory va.
free BY law. That lav was preservedin the
one and annuliei In the other IN the one
case Mr.. Davis, II Misc appealed 70 ths
Senate 70 annul the Mexican Laws: ha,
Mr.. Clay told him never Ia the
Z ofhrr "a uriffrr = fal1elar.1 thu. ia