The State guard., 1848-07-04

It is not my wish to assail or impugn the acts of those members of the delega- tion, for MT. Yancey has publicly attacked other members who did not vote for MT. Woodbury, as having abandoned their in- structions and it becomes necessary that we should place before the people the true history of the matter. If in our defence we place Mir. Yancey in an unenviable position, it is not our fault. We merely detail the facts and leave the inference that may be drawn to those who chooTe to make them.
 will now proceed to say something in reference to the nomination of Gen. Cass, against whom we find ara yed the ultra factions of both sections of the Union The nomination of Gen. Cass was eliec- ted by the South and West, against the North and East. He was placed in nomination by the South, and Virginia led the van of Southern States in his sup port. Has any one ever doubted the fi- delity of Virginia to Southern interests ! Has any one ever feared to place under her guardianship the rights of the South 2 The Virginia delegation was composed of more individuals, comparatively with her vote, than any other State represented in the convention. Louisiana was the next largest. There were perhaps ninety Southern men in the two legations.- They were to larger extent planters, and all of them slave owners. They were not, nor could they be, actuated by political motives, both delegations voted unanimously for Gen. Cass. They did so, because they believed in common with the people of the South, that on the princi. pies of the Wilmot proviso he was entirely with us.
 twill perhaps be proper in this place to ex- plain these views, and also to allude to the differences of opinion on the subject of interference with slavery in rthe territor- ies. The Wilmot proviso men hold to the doctrine, that Congress possesses the power 10 erclude slavery from all territory hereafter to be acquired. In this class of politicians will be found the entire body of Northern rhigs, some Northern demo- crats, and few whigs from the slave hol- ding States. The anti-Wilmot proviso men, who deny the power of Congress to ligislate on this subject, is composed of the Southern democrats, large portion of the Northern democracy. and, when they can be brought to direct expression of opinion, the, large majority of Southern whigs. In the ranks of the Southern de- mocracy, there is certain portion who claim that not only Congress has not the power to legislate on this subject for the territories, but that the people for them- selves have no right to decide the matter, until assembled together in convention prior to admission as State into the un- ion. Now the views of Gen. Cass on this subject, as expressed in his public de- clarations of opipion, are to this effect:
 'In varous respects the territories differ from the States,--some of the rights are inchoate, and they do not posses the dttr'. butes of Sorereignty." "Briefy, then, am opposed to the exercise of any jurisdic- ton by Congress over this matter, and am in favor of leaving the people of every territory which may hereafter be acquired, the right to regulate it tor themselves, un- der the general principles ot the constitu- t;on." "Because do not see in the con- stitution any grant of the requisite power of Congress and am not disposed to ex- tend doubtful precedent beyond its nces- sity-the establishment of territorial gov ernment when needed--leauing to the in- ha5itants aH the rights compatible with the relations they bear to tho confederd- tion." Because belieue this measure, # adopted, ,could ueaken, i not impair inc union of the States and ,conld so,c the seeds of future discord arhich rould grow up and ripen into an abundant harrest ot calamify."
 "It (the power of Congress) should be limited to the creations of proper govern- ments for new countries acquired or set tied, and to the necessary provisions, for their eventful admission into the Union, leaving, in the meantime, to the people inhabitng them. to regulate their internal concerns in their own way. They are just as capable of doing so as the people of the States and they can do so, at any rate, as soon as their political indepen. dence is recognized by admission into the UniOn."
 q am satisfied from all I have seen and heard here, that successful attempt to en- graft the principles of the Wilmo prori- so upon the Legislation of this Gocernmem and apply them to new territory, should e mew territory De acquired, would seriously affect our tranquility.
 Now the objection that is raised to this expression of opinion by those fractionists who are unwilling to support him, is con- fined to the views entertained in these words.
 "I am in favor of leaving to the people of every territory which may be hereafter acquired, the right to regulate it for them- selves under the general principles of the constitution" "Leaving to the inhabi- tants all the rights compatible with the relations they bear to the confederation" will now show that upon their own action Gen. Cass is entirely unexception- able. The powers of territorial legis- lation are limited to the specific range of