Secession Era Editorials Project

Passage of the Nebraska Bill.

Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas State Gazette and Democrat [Democratic]

(6 September 1854)

The final passage of the Nebraska bill, through the Senate, was publicly announced by the roaring cannon, on Friday morning, the 26th ult., at half past one o'clock. The cannon which announced the birth of this great measure, it is to be hoped, sounded the death knell of slavery agitation in the Congress of the United States. The bill has, ere this, received the signature of the President, and become a law.

The provisions of this bill, as well as the position of the editor of this paper, in regard to it, my be seen by reference to the Gazette and Democrat of the 3d of February last. By that paper, it will be seen that the provisions of the bill were not only endorsed and advocated, but its triumphant passage predicted, and the basis of the vote on which it would pass laid down.

The dark demon of abolition agitation, which has so long possessed a part of the Congress of the United States, has been exorcised, and while the good and the patriotic, from one end of the Union to the other, are reverently joyful, and are offering up, to the God of nations, thankful prayers for the blessing, the spirit itself appears to have taken possession of the swinish hangers on, about the purlieus of some of our public places, like the devils spoken of in scripture, who, on being cast out, betook themselves to a herd of swine. It is to be hoped that the figure may be carried out, by finally drowning those in whom it now rests in the pure and tranquil waters of the sea of wholesome public sentiment, which now purify the country throughout its length and its breadth.

This spirit out, slavery agitation in Congress is dead, and the occupation of those, who have ridden to fortune on its flood-tide, is gone. And while the country prospers and rejoices, these demons who have fattened on what has been her curse, will grow lean and vent their impotend ravings at those who have been the means and instruments of her deliverance.

Those who have grown rich, and proud, and arrogant, on the agitation of slavery, before Congress, may well, in the bitterness of their hearts, and their misery and poverty, say to those who have been instrumental in passing the Nebraska bill:

"You take my house, when you do take the prop that doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live."