The whigs and abolitionists are evidently
determined to make a desperate effort to
reopen the disturbing questions so satisfactorily
settled by the Compromise measures, and to
renew the slavery agitation. The occasion for
this is the introduction in the Senate of Mr.
Douglas' Nebraska Bill. This bill, as modified,
provides for the organization of two
Territories embracing the whole region of country
lying west of Missouri and Iowa, extending
west to the Rocky Mountains, and north to
the British possessions -- that portion lying
north of the 40th parallel of latitude to be
called Nebraska, and that lying between the
37th and the 40th parallels to be called Kansas.
The bill provides for the application of
the principles of the Compromise measures to
these territories; in other words, that the people
of these territories may decide for themselves
whether they will have slavery or not.
To reasonable and unprejudiced minds this
appears right and proper in itself. The people
of New Mexico, Utah, and California were
left to settle this question for themselves, and
there is no good reason why those of Nebraska
and Kansas should not have the same privilege.
This disposition of the matter is also
in accordance both with Democratic principles
and the Compromise measures, which deny to
Congress the right to legislate slavery either
into or out of any territory. This doctrine,
established by the Compromise of 1850, and
endorsed and confirmed by the Democracy of the
nation in convention at Baltimore in 1852,
and afterwards at the polls in the triumphant
election of Gen. Pierce, it is proposed to apply
to the Kansas and Nebraska territories;
and this we have no doubt will be approved
by the people. The reasonable and patriotic
men of all parties have had enough of slavery
agitation. They have seen its dangers, its bad
effects upon the peace of society, its utter
barrenness of good and its fruitfulness of evil,
and they have resolved to regard and abide by
the Compromise measures, in letter and spirit,
as a final settlement of the question. But it
seems that demagogues do not despair of
overcoming this popular repugnance to the
renewal of slavery agitation. They see a favorable
opportunity for the revival of old prejudices,
the opening of old wounds, the renewal of old
controversies, and they are preparing to
improve it. The whig and abolition papers and
bar-room politicians are uniting in this effort
as cordially as they did in 1846, and we already
hear the same old stereotyped cant on the subject.
But we do not believe that they can
make much progress in this work of a renewal
of the slavery agitation. We do not believe
that the people of New Hampshire can be misled
and cajoled by the old slang of these heartless
demagogues, who have so long used this
question for their own personal benefit. The
people have nothing to gain by such controversies,
and will not lend themselves to
This is the last chance for these agitators. These territories embrace all the unorganized territory of the United States, and these men see that now is the time for them to strike their last blow with this question. It is a desperate game, and they have evidently resolved to play it boldly. They see that they have nothing to lose, for if they fail, they will be no worse off than they are now. Both the whig and abolition factions are literally dying out; they are evidently "upon their last legs," and just in a situation where the most desperate experiments can be safely resorted to. In no other circumstances would they attempt to overthrow the Compromise of 1852, so soon after the people had given it they decided and emphatic approval. But if they could succeed at this, and thus open the whole question for renewed agitation and excitement, they probably think they could literally ride upon the whirlwind and direct the storm to their own advantage and promotion. But this they cannot do. We do not believe the people of this country are prepared to enter upon another experiment of this kind. On the contrary, we believe they will set their faces sternly in opposition to every scheme for the renewal of the agitation of this question. They will stand by the Compromise of 1850, and those who attempt to disturb or overthrow it will meet with a stern rebuke at their hands.
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