Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-06-21
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, lS47.

Dear Sir-I have received your letter,
and shall aaswer it as frankly as it is
written. :.
You ask me whether I am in favor Of
the acquisition OF Mexican territory, and
what are my sentiments with regard to
the WiImo, Proviso?
| have SO often and so explicitly sta
ted my views Of the first question i'll the
Senate, that it seems almost unnecessary
to repeat them here. AS you request
it, however, shall briefly give them.
We omit paragraph giving General
Cass's views upon the subject Of the
War.
The Wilmot Pioviso has been before
the country some time. 1t has been
repeatedly discussed in Congress, and
by the public press. I am strongly I'M
pressed with the opinion that a great
change has been going on in the public
mind upon this suhjnct-in my own as
we'll as others and that doubts are re-
solving themselves into convictions, that
the principles it involves should be kept
ont of the National Legislature, and left
to the people Of the Confedcracy in their
respective local governments.
The whole subject is comprehensive
one, and fruitful of important conse-
qucnces. 1t would be hl-timed 20 dis
cuss it here. l shal! not ssIne that
responsible task, but shall conliEe my.
self to slch general views, as are neces-
sary to the fair exhibition Of my opinion.
We may well regret the. existence of
slavery in the Sonlhera States, aid wish
they had been saved from its iru cduc>
ton. But tIicre i, is, and notify. The act
Of the present generations; and we mus,
deaIa,with isas aslssaaISsa tisaE question.
quences. We have neither the right nor
the power to. touch it where it exists
and if we had both, their exercise, by
any means heretofore suggested, might
lead to results which no wise man would
willingly encounter, and which no good
man could contemplate without anxiety.
The theory CT ot!r gos"rnment pre-.
supposes that its various members have
reserved TO themselves the reg, alion Of
all subjects relating to what may be
termed their internal police. They are
sovereign within theii boundaries, except
in these cases Where they hav" surren.
dered to the general govcrnment pUr
lion Of their rights, in order to give ef-
feet. to The objects Of the Union, whetl.
er these concern foreign nations or the
several States themselves. Local ins'i.
tulions, if I may so speak, whether they
have reference to slavery, cr 10 any
other relations, domestic or polite, are
left to local authority, either original or
de-ivalive. Congress has no righ, to say
that there shall be slavery in New York,
or tha, there shall be no sl.very in
Georgia; nor is there any other power,
but the people of those States, respec-
lively, which can change the relations
existing therein; and Aey can say, if
they will have slavery in the former,
and abolish it in the latter.
In various respects the Territories
differ from the States. Some of their
rights are inchoale, and they dp not
possess lbe peculiar attributes of sove-
reignty. Their relation 10 The. general
government is impcr teclly defined bv
The consultation, and il will br found,
upon examination, that in that inslru-
meht tn. only grant Of power concerns
ing them is conveyed in the phrase -
F." Congress shall have power 10 dispose
of and make all needful rules and rrgu-
lalions, respecting the territory and o.
ther property belonging to the Uni'ed
States" Certainly this plraseoIogy is
very loose, if it we're designed to include
in the grant the whole power Of oflegisla-
ton over persons, as well as things.
The expression, the territory and pro-
petty" fairly construed, relates 10 the
public lands, as such, 10 a,senals, dock
yards, fo.ls, ships. and all the various
kinds of property, which The United
States may and must possess.
Blu, surely the simple authority to dis
pose of and regulate these, does nos rx-
lend to the un United power of legsIa-
tion; TO the passage of all laws, in the
most general acceptation of the word /;
which, by the bye, is carefully excluded
frvm the sentence. And, indeed, il this
we're so it would render unnecessary
another provision of the constitution,
which grants TO Congress the power to
lcgislate, with the consent of the States,
respectively, over all places purchased
for The erection Of forts, magazines. ar