Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-10-05
The oLAN+. QUESTION-THE RICHMOND
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ENQUIRER.
We have read labour-d article in the Richmond
Enquirer The design Of which defend Mr.. Cas- ag-
anst the charge Of being favor of the right Of the Ter
rltoral Governments prohibit the Introduction Of sa-
very when we first saw Mr.. Cas- letter To Nichol-
son. in January las, profoundly asonlshed at
the grounds he assumed in 1.-THE doctrines he avOwed
in references to this quesIun and when. time af
ter in May last read The speech Of the Hon L. II
Blyly d Virginia, in support, supposed, Of the
views taken BY Gen. Cas-, much concerned
hat We immediately addressed a a distinguished
membeo Congress, begging that the speech shond not
b. allowed to pass wered it seemed to
surrender the whole question.
From that tme until the late meeting OF Convention
Of the Democratic parry in this town. heard
that the views attributed to Mr.. Cass either doubt
ed or denied. Indeed, the Richmond Enquirer, as if
conscious Of the fatal tendency of Mr. Cass' principles
gives us the first inmaon that the party intends 10
throw its aTis him this point, by arguing direct
" in The teeth ofhs declarations. This, surely is
The last excess If partylsm.
we have laid our hands on Mr.. Cass' letter and in
his own words. convict the Enquirer After giving an
account of the change in his opinions in reference the
Wimot Provis,. he proceeds directly the lint in
question and remarks Speaking Of the Congress
onUht to adopt in the exercise Of the powers that body
admitted to possess J
..I should be limited the creation of proper govern
mens for countries, acquired OF settled and the ne
cpssary provisions for their eventual admission the
Union: -earing, IN MEANTIME, THE PEOPLE IN
n,BrlxG THEM 10 regulate their internal concerns IN
their o,rn ,rdi They just capable Of dot5 So
as he people Of The States"
This is said il direct reference the slave question
and he proceeds declare that ''dring This temporary
condiGon Of the territories ii is better to refer the sub
ect to the intelligence # respectable portion of our
cti-ens Ohe inhabitants of the territoes) than that
Congress should the exercise of the despotic
po,rer' contemplated by the Wlmol Proviso.
Again. After arguing the question further, he states
his conclusion as follows:
Briefly then, am opposed to The exercise Of any u-
rSiicuon BY Congress this marter-to wit: (Save
~ in the Territories, and an IN aror Of learinr The
PEOPLE OF ANY TERRITORY. hich may be hereafter ac
qured the right to regulate it for Themselves"
For this he gives FIVE distinct reasons the last of
which is pregnant with grave well electioneering
matter He adrotly addresses himself to his late fellow
advo~ares of he WiImot Provso. and asks them why
press the matter? why not leave il to the people of The
territorps2 file asks them in sgnfcan, language
is The object ottemporay exclusion for short period
as the duration Of the Territorial gorernments (by Con
eress r0rh the price at rhichh ,roud be Bnchased'2
He this question himself; and with great force
proves them that the ''object they aim at will GER
ainy be obtained cithou the Prorso, the action of
Congress. He here. ,cith marked purpose calls in Mr.
Buchanan and Mr.. Walker TO his ad-qnoiing the letter
of the former with most ALTERING commentators Read
the quotations in his words;
Neither SAYS the disting uisted ,rriter SHE soil
the climate The productions of California south of So
degrees 80 minutes, nor, indeed, of any portion of
IT, north south. is adapted To slave labor and
besides ere facility ,r0uld be afforded for the sare 10
escape from his master. Such property would be en-
rely insecure in any part Of California. is morally
impossible. therefore, that MAJORITY OF THE EMF
10 that portion Of the territory south Of Sc 80
which riH be chiefly composed hy o,u citizens ,rH erer
establish sidrery lrithni its limits.
SHOULD acquire territory beyond the Rio Grande
and of the Rocky Mountains, still more intos-
sbIe that majority Of The people would
tabsh slavery. They lhems Ives coloured pop,
Ldtion. and among them the negro does socially be-
long 10 culored race"
These passages he takes from Mr. Buchanan's let
ier,-expessng his high approval; for he was deter
mined Mr. B. should stand upon the platform with
him. He quotes, with equal admiration the letter
Of Mr. Walker. Secretary Of The l reasury and the
''.Northern 9TH Southern principles (and BY
the way, the least worthy of them all )-wh6 tell,
US. the quotation says. that
Beyond the Drl Nnre slavery will not pass not on
~ because II forbidden by a,c-( .uerican lar but
because thecoloed there peponderaes in the ratio
at ten Ia one over the whites and holding as they d
the gorcrnmeh and most Of the offices in their posses
sion. they c'H not permit he ensaeeent Of any portion
Of The co'ored race"
Now, with these facts Def US. is it amazing that
Southern men-eadng Southern papers should be found
endeavong to. defend Mr. Cas- or 10 satisfy the people
that he IS opposed 10 the right Of The PEOPLE OF A
1ERRi lORf 10 exclude slavery? Can words be
ma lie more explicit Than those he has used! Does not
the whole argument addressed as il is to the advocates
!tt ffovso IN PARTICULAR, and to the North gener-
ally. turn upon the poston that it is even better consl
ering the objects they contemplate that they should give
up the Wilmo ProviSo-nas much as the same results
would certainly follow it. with Mr. Cass they fell
back on he po,rcr Of The people Of The territory to ex
clud- liner than 10 hold 10 the pDwer Of Congress?
II this BE- the purP1r u the VIII lie leter-f this b.
not the elea, aud bvluus Of the words he em,huys
hep here Is force no meaning in language at ali