The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-10-27

not al all surprised 10 see unaccompanied b,
any acknowledgment of its paternity. !
was cooked up in the dark, printed in til,
dark, and We are assured upon the best au
thcriiy was intended TO be kept DART, unit
within few days Of the election. Bui ac
cidentally a copy Of it 90, out, and the get
tiers up of the concern were somehow una
BILE 10 get it back again. So they put Dol,
face upon the matter, and let it reach tht
light Of day, no, only in handful form, bu
also through the columns Of the paper VI
have named.
We have said ibis is an infamous publ.
cation, and if any thing characterised by
the most reckless disregard Of truth can be
called SO, we. shall prove that i, is. The
d"enncn' is simply copy Of Gen, Cass'
Nicholson Letter, accompanied with a sor,
I draining commentary OF it, by some barn
burner, who, from considerations of Sclf,rc-
spcct, probably, was unwilling TO let his
name go forth with them. The author,
however, was beyond doubt lawyer, deep
vcrsed in the science O! hair.spli,tiuC and
commenting the plainc>t language into Oh
security, aud putting the face OF faisehood
upon plain truth. TyrOs in the profession
can CLEAN from this doCumen, deep lessons
/ in the subtle science OF twi>,iEcalion, and Of
carrying on the most raScally schemes under
the show Of straightforward honesty.
! We will give few specimens from this
document, by way Of showing its character,
and the high state of perfection which the
science we have alluded TO has attained in
this town.
Here is an extract from Gen. Cas- letter:
am strongly impressed with tie opinion
that GREAT CHANGE has been going
on in the public mind upon this subictt-iu
NJ \ OWN as well as others and that doubts
are resolving themselves into convictions.
that the PRINCIPLE it involves should be
KEPT OUT OF THE NATIONALL LEG
lSLATURE, and left to the people of the
contederacy in their respective local gov.
erilments.
And this is the comment upon it,
Gen. Cass was once Wllmot Proviso
man. Here he acknowledges that he has
CHANGED.
Cass' change is so great as to repndia,e even
the principle Of the Provisu, and 10 desire TO
keep it out of the national 1t gisa,urc.
Now see the subtety of this When the
Wilmot proviso was frs, brought before
Congress, at the close of the session OF Con.
gress in lol6, Gen. Cass, with many other
menbers Of Congress, conceding fully that
the territory acquired from Mexico coming
INTO the Union free should remain so, was
inclined TO vote Tor it; but further reflection
satisfied him, as the country is satisfied at
this time, except few hot -headed barn
burners, that there was no necessity for leg.
islation by Congress on this subject, and he
change his mind to just this extent. that in.
stead OF Legislation by Congress to exclude
slavery from the territories, he thought the
laws OF the territories themselves had better
do it, as they have done it elTectualIy. Blu,
in thus changing did he "repudia,e the prin
cipie OF the Proviso," as the above comment
says-the principle that the territory should
remain free? Byno means. He loves the
principle as much as ever-his change is
only in regard to the renue.
Here is another specimen. Gen. Cass
says:
In various respects the Territories differ
from the states. Some Of thsir riahts are
lachodfe. and they do not possess the pecu-
liar attributes Of Sorereignfy.
Upon which we have this edifying COM /
ment:
Here Gen. Cass denies 10 the territories |
the ATTRIBUTES OF SOVEREIGNTY; can they
then Legisiaie! He in another part of this |,
letter says that he is "opposed to the exer-
else OF any jurisdiction by CONGRESS-" over
slavery in the territories, because he "does /
NOT see the CONSTITUTIONS any grant ofthe /
requisite porer," consequently, according TO !
Gen. Cass, neither Congress nor the terrific |
ridi governments have the POWER TO EN-
cLuDE SLAVERY FROM THE TERRITORIES.
What are the Contributes Of sovereignty p, |
They include the right to legislate upon all
'ubjee'S of internal or external policy-com-
llete control Of the public domain-and per-
Feet independence of all foreign control. OF
course the territories do not possess these. |
But does it thence follow that they cannot 4
make laws in reference TO all such subjects
'fin'ernal policy as shall not be inconsistent
with the constitution and laws of the L. S? /
Why, SO far from denying them this power,
he whole argument of Gen. Cass is that
they have and ought 10 exercise this very |
power.
Que more specimen. Gen. Cass says, in
reference to the territories previous TO their
as states
DURING THIS TEMPORARY CON |
DlT1ON, IT Is HARDLY EXpEDIENT !
TO CALL INTO EXERCISE A DOUBT !
Full AND lNVIDlOUS AUTHORITY, !
which questions the Intelligence Of respec.
table portion of our citizens, and whose lin !
ita'ion, whatever it may be, will be rapidly /
approaching its termination.
The comment:
Gen. Cass thinks it would, be sINVIDI- !
OuS' towards the STAKEHOLDER in Congress
toexclnde slavery from the territories. This /,
is the argument of every northern dough
face and southern propagandist of slavery.