The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-06-28
POLITICAL.
MR. CASS LETTER TO MR.. NlCuO L
SON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, ls4'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, ls47
Dear .Su:-l received your letter, and
shall answer it as frankly as II is written.
You asked INC whether am in favor OF
the ACQUISITION of Mexican territory, and
what are my sentiments with regard to tho
WiImot Provsn!
have so often and so explicitly stated my
views of the FIRST question IN the Senate,
that il seems almost unnecessary to repeat
them here. As YOU request 1t however, |
shall briefly give them.
IA paragraph having reference to the
Hon. gonlIcman's views in reference to the
war, is here omitted.
The Wilmot Provlso has been before the
country some time. 1t has been repeatedly
discussed in Congress, and by the public
press. am strongly impressed with the o.
nion that a great change has been gong Oh
in the public mind upon this subject-in my
own as we'll as others; and that doubts are
resolving themselves into convictions, that
the principles it involves should be kept out
of the National Legislature, and left 10 tho
people of the Conledracy in their respective
local governments.
The whole subject is a comprehensive one,
and fruitful nf important consequences. ii
would be -,imcd to discuss it here. shall
not assume that responsible task. bat shall
coufine myself to sich general views,
as are necessary to The fair exhibition o! my
opinion.
we NAV regret the existence OF slavery
IN the Southern States, anal wish they hal
lcen saved from lis Introduction. But there
i, is, and moi by the act the present gen
Grafton; and we must deal with ii as great
practical question, involving the IN '|t mo-
ipentous consequences. We have neither
the right nor the power to torch 1t where 1t
exists; and if VIC had both their exercise, hy
any means heretofore suggested. might lead
10 results which no wise man would willing
lvsencounter, and which no good man could
contemplate without anxiety.
The theory of our government pre- snppn-
scs that its various members have reserved
TO themselves the reeu alton of all Subjects
relating TO what may be termed their inter
nal police. They are sovereign within their
boundaries, except in those cases where they
have surrendered to the general govern
ment portion of their rights. in order 10
give effect to the objects of the Union, whelh,
er these concern foreign nations or the sew
eral States themselves. Local inst lutInnS
i'll NAV so speak, whether they have refer
encc 10 slavery. or to any other relations,
domestic or polite. are left to local au;horl
tv, either original or derivaive. Congress
has no right 10 say that there shall be
slavery in New York, or there shall be no
slavery in Georgia; nor is there any other
power, but the people Of those states, rcspec-
tivelv, which can change the relations exlS.
ting therein; and they 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
inchoa,e. and they do not prssc the pecu
liar attributes of sovereignty. Their rca-
ton to the general government isvcly mper-
iec,ly defined by the constitution, AMI it will
he found, upon examination, that in that III
strumcnt the only grant Of power concern
ING them is conveyed in the phrase, "Con-
gress shall have the power to dispose of and
make all needful rules and regulations, re-
sbectins the territory and other property
belonging 10 the United States" Certa n.
j. this phraseoIogy is very loose, ifit were
designed to include in the grant the pow
er Of legislation, over persons. as well as
things. The expression, the "terrtory and
property" fairly construed, relates to the
public lands, as such, to arsenaIs, dockyards,
forts, ships. and all The various kinds of prop
erty, which the United States may and must
possess.
But surely the simple authority to dispose
Of and regulate these, does not extend to
the unlimited power ofIegislation; TO thepas-
sage Of all laws, in the most general accepla-
ton of the word; which by the bye, is care
fully excluded from the sentence. And i'll
deed, if this were so it would render unncc-
cssary another provision Of the constitution
which grants to Congress the power to legis-
late, with the consent Of the States, respec-
lively over all places purchased for the cree
ton of forts. magazines, arsenals, dockyards
&C. These being the property OF the u
nited States, if the power to make 'needu
rules and regulations concerning them in
ciudes the general power of legislation, ther
the grant Of authority to regulate the terri