The State guard., 1848-07-11
Mr. Yamcey's position Nc. Q. IT

In my former communi- cation, which you did me the honor of publishing in your last "Guard," proved what has heretofore been the doctrine of the South in relation to slavery and the power of Congress connected herewith, and showed how dangerous it would be for us to abandon that position, and that Gen. CaS, our nominee for President, was fully acith us upon that subject, not withstanding the bitterness with which he was attacked by Mir. Yancey in his speech of the l7th ult., in the Council Chamber of your city. Since my communication referred to was written, the letter of Mar tin Van Buren, of the 20th ult., to the late Barnburner's Convention at Utica, New York, has been published, and re- ioice to find that this distinguished gen. tleman takes the same view that did ot Gen. Cass' position on this subject
 Alter referring to the laws heretofore passed by Congress for the organization of the territories, now composing certain States, and giving his views upon them, he says
 "1'hc doctrine which the Baltimore Convention has presented for the san@tion of the nation, is, in substance, that the laws l have referred 10 were so many vio- lations of the Constitution, that this au- strument confers no power on Congress to erclude slarery from the territories, as has so .ften been done with the assent of all. This doctrine IS set forth in the pub ished opinions of the highly respectable nominee of that Contention, acho, it is wel known, receired that distinction because he arowed h4at opinion, and who, it is eqaal- ly certain, acoald mol hare receiUed d if he had not done 80. It is proposed to give this doctrine the most solemn sanction known to our political system, by the elec- ton of its decIdred ddpocdte and supporter to the Presidency. If it receives the pro posed sanction of the people of the Uni. ted States, the result cannot be doubtful. The policy in regard to the extension of slavery in the territories of the United States, into uh;cb d has not gel been intro- duced, which has existed since the com mencement of the government, MUST CEASE, and euery act of Congress design cd to carry t into effect De defeated by the Veto of the Erecmioe."
 Again he continues-"The territories now owned by the United States, and ev- cry acquisition of territory that may here- after be made by the United States whether obtained by annexation, by ces- sion for a valuable consideration, or by conquest, must, ds long as this opinion is held, (the opinion of Gen. Cass. and as far as the acticn of the Legislature is con- cerned, be subject 10 the inuasion of s!a- oery. cannot, uiM my uote, contribute to his sanction"
 And why cannot he vote for General Cass? Because, in his own language, ''every act of Congress, designed" to assist its power to exclude slavery from the territories, will 'be defeated by the veto of the Executive" if Gen. Cass is elected. Because ''the highly respectable nominee (Gen. O. Is the declared advocate and supporter of the doctrine, that 'the con- stituaion comfers TO poseer on Congress to erclude slarery from the territories" Be- cause, in short, he holds to the Southern construction of the Constitution, and re- cognzes the rights of the South. It lis for this that the Barnburners of New York-at the head of whom stands, with unenviable conspicuousness, MT. Van Bu- ren-cannot vote for Gen. Cass; it is for this that he received upon his devoted head the pitiless storm got up by the whigs and aboltionists of the North against him; and yet it seems he is not sound, not alto- getter satisfactory to some of the would be-leaders of the South, and yet (and is it possible, let me exclaim) we are called upon by MT. Yancey to desert him, and hunt for a new candidate, and leave him to the tender mercies of his inluriated en- emies of the North l! No! We will stand by him so l,ng as he shall continue to occcupy his present position, endeavor ing to uphold hepillars of the Constitution. History shall never record of us such base ingratitude. We know how to stand by our friends, and how to reciprocate fa- vors.
 Although the letter of MT. Van Buren places him at the head of a contemptible faction at the North, and in that light to be regretted, yet I cannot but express my qualification that he has set forth so clear. ly and forcbly the position of Gen. Cass, upon the subject of slavery in the territo- ries; for while it teaches the so-called free territory" party of the North why they should oppose Gen. Cass, it teaches ws of the South, by the very same langu- age, why sre should give him an undivided support.
 And in this connection we have the sin gular spectacle presented, on the one hand, of Mir. Van Buren and his whig al- lies at the North, opposing Gen. Cass up- on the avowed ground that he occupies Southern doctrine upon slavery, and Mir. Yancey and his friends on the other, op-. posing him upon the ground that he does not occupy Southern doctrine
 In view of the good sense and intelli- gence of the people of this Union, it is notthe gift of prophecy to foresec that sipo;la TO s,lt will follow fhe effarts of hoth