The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-27
"a ala n - b d. aaf.IIarIIs


A lew weeks ago Col Webb wrote an edi0fal
iettsF to the New York Courief and Enquirer, xiv.
ing an account Of visit he paid to Mr. Cass In De-
roil, and stating that the real convictions Of the
Michigan Senator were not iar removed from those
Of the wing party. Col. Webb referred specially
70 Mr.. Cass opinions about Internal improvements
BY Che General Government, and Congressional
legislation on the subject Of slavery in The Terri
tories. Mr. Cass, feeling that he was somewhat
compromised by Col Webb's statements, has writ
ten letter to Mr.. Richie Of the Union, in which
he fully explains his opinions and conduct in regard
to the two aforementioned subjects. That part
Of the letter which treats Of his course and votsson
questions Of internal improvement is a triumphant
refuiaton Of the charges Of Inconsistency that have
been 50 often brought against him. AS to the mat
tel of slavery in the Territories, and the right Of
Congress 20 egislaie on shat subject, we think he
defends the position he has before taken with
clearness and a force which contrast strikingly
with The confusion and indistnctness that seem to
prevail in Mr.. Calhoun's ideas on the question.
Ia fact it seems to US that The mattercan only be
settled in the manner pointed out by Mr. Cas-, to
wit--by letting the Territories themselves do all
the legislation which is necessary to be done on the
subject In the following mastery paragraph, Dir.
Cass points out the limits for Congressional egisa
4
lion in the Territories:
ssThose who maintain the right of Congress to.
pass the Wilmot Proviso, must maintain not only
/ The right Of that body 10 establish Governments,
and to provide for the necessities of legislation over
the public territory, which is one thing, but also
the power to direct all the internal Territorial
legislation at Its pleasure, without regard 20 the
/ will Of the people TO be affected by it, which is
\ another and quite different thing. shall not
enter into any sbIleiies touching the condition Of
\ the hriUmR with That
subject was good deal debated al The last session
Of Congress but it had been already exhausted in
/ the discussions previously to our revolutionary
! struggle We are sovereign said the British Gov
eminent to the colonies, and may lsgisate over you
as we please. YOuare sovereign said our fathers,
and may establish Governments butyOu have no
right to interfere, by your legislation, in our inter-
nal concerns. Such legislation, without represent
alion, is the very essence Of despofism. This dis
pute divided one empire. Let us take care that
similar assumption of power does not divide
another
Here we have the doctrine Of non-interference
by Congress in the matter Of slavery, once clearly
stated and summarly argued The powers of
Congress are entirely confined to the establishment
Of Government in the Territories. It has the right
topass only political laws--laws which regulate
and control the relations existing between the citi-
zen and the Government. The Government which
Congress organizes is the agency by which civil
laws--the laws describing and fixing the relations
between man and man--are to be established and
maintained It is strange that distinction so
potent and long established as that between civil
and political rights and laws, should be forgotten
/ by so many of our leading statesmen and poll
ticians. The conjunction Of the two terms, 9 civil
and POLITICAL ought to be familiar to the student
Of English history especially to the student of the
English writers politics during the latter half Of
the seventeenth centHry-that the distinction
should not have escaped the notice even of those
whose knowledge is confined to English and
American history.
But Passion, like the adder in its sting, is like the
adder, deaf A large portion of the Northern peo
Pile, goaded into fury by the violence of some pro-
slavery men, seem bent on returning insult with
insult, and appear determined to force the Wilmot
PFoviso on The country as set-of to the uncalled
for and insane denunciatons that some Southern
men indulge in towards Northern opinions and
Northern interests In this state Of affairs, with
the infuriaied Abotionits on one extreme, and the
crazy pro-slavery men on the other, il behooves all
those who have their senses about them, to sup
press as speedily as possible these unhappy bicker-
ings Of the North against the South, and The South
against the Notwithstanding which must produce
much illieeling, and may eventually lead to some.
thing still more terrible.