Democratic banner., 1849-08-13
Letter from the Hon. W. v. N. bay.

ries ~propounded to him BY 9 portion Of the
democratic citizens Of this county, which
we will publish next week.
Mr.. Bay has not answered the letter from
Pike direct, but for want of time, has been
compelled to give an Indirect answer,
through copy Of . letter addressed to car
democratic citizens Of Marion county
This letter is very good so far asitgoes, but
III does not fully & explicitly meet the quss.
ltions ~propounded in the letter from Pike
lie has not touched the question Of the
power Of Congress, under the constitution,
to legislate upon the subject Of slavery;
nor has he given Us his opinion asst whsth-
or the resolves bf the last Legislature are
constitutional, and express the sentiments
Of the people Of Missouri or not. As to his
views in relation to these questions We are
still in the dark. Mr.. Bay, however, un'
|derscores the words "Wilmot Proviso," not
withstanding Col. Benton calls il the "Jsf-
|ferson Proviso," and says that only CAL
|hounites and Nulli6ers call it the Wilmot
|Proviso, and that BY that sign you may know
them from the friends Of the Union, (ths
Free SOilers) who, like him, call it the JEFF
Proviso. He also speaks very en-
|phaticslly of the s~ncroachmsnts ofthe North
upon the rights of the slaveholding States,
though Col. Benton denies that the North
has made any such encroachments, and as
'ssrts that it is foolish and wicked to lay any
such charge at their door. So far then as
he has given his opinions they are antagonistical
to those Of Col. Benton; but we would have
much preferred a direct answer to the letter from
Pike. That would have placed him on nc half
way ground either for the State and the people
against Benton, or for Benton against the State.
To this point Mr.. Bay must come. We shall in.|
on 9 direct answer to the letter from Pike
Immediately on his return home. He must face
the music and toe the scratch, OF he can no Ion.
ger represent the people Of the Second District
Below 10 the reply referred To-:
ST. LOUIS, July slst, 1888
Messrs. N. P. MINoR, s. r. MUaaAy, and others.
Geatlemm:-Your favor Of the 18th inst, vas
to me 1t this place. Az I an on myI
way TO the East, I regret that l have not time 20
answer your letter a. fully a. I desire. Just be-
fore lesving home I received Q commpaicatisnl
from several si6zens Of Marion county, the an
swer 10 which you will end enclosed, and which I
trust you will regard - responsive to yours. Ini
a11;kson A. -h,k 4 AhA~a ~kOS~S Z 0unrA pannnrk |
that I have no feeling or sympathy for Northern
Abohhonists, OF Northern slavery agita.ors, and
shall promptly resist, Is far % u in my power, al
enactments upon the right Of the slavs-holdingI
States.
lam, gentlemen. your friend and ob't. sery't.,
w. v. N. BAY.
s-. ..t. UnloH, Mo-, July 2ssh, ls49.
Messrs. Granville Blsksy, ". II. Miles, IL. r.
Bower, and others.
Geatemsa:-Yo Your favor Of the 18th inst, pro-
pounding certain interrogatories upon the subject
Of slavery, ives received just en- the eve of my de-
Parsure for New York, to winch place I am called
BY business OF pressing importance. It ID my In.
tention 10 return to Missouri prior to The mestingl
Of Congress, ct which tims I design giving to the
people Of the District my views sflength upon the
several subjects embraced Ia your letter.
To avoid In the meantime any misrepresentation
Of my opinions upon this exciting subject, 10 may
be well enough here to state that I IN uDquahR-
edly opposed 10 the Wamss Proviso, and shall vote
against b under any and all circumstance.
The doctrine which I have always contendedI
tor b that Of son-intsrusntion, regarding all legis-
lation on the part Of Congress in relation b this
- highly injudicious and inexpedisat.-l
people Of the Territories are competent to set
Tie the question for themselves, and II Congresst
would conform their action to the wishes Of the
people residing In the newly acquired Territories
when they ask admission into the Union, Il would
In my opinion avoid . great deal Of unnecessary
agitation.
With respect to the right Of Instruction, I have
no hesitation IN saying that ! leok upon u % ouel
Of the fundamental principles Of the democraticI
party, forming part ami parcel Of our POLITICAL
creed. II 70 engrafted, In spirit, upon our eonsti.
tuition and lswE isin aaion with tbs nstazs -An1t
charactef 81 our government, and 90 long - the
institutions under which we i've are objects Of re.
spect and esteem, % long will this i~nesdmabls
right be recognized blythe great mass Of the AEs-
people. ~
Irsgard the representative a. the mere ~servantl
OF the people, endowed with certain privileges,
and clothed with certain powers, to be exercised for
benefit, and for the promotion Of thar int
rests, and the moment ou deny the night to in
Struet, or the obligation to obey, that moment you
destroy the great link which binds him to his con
s~.ituents and makes him responsible 70 the crea-
live power. s. far then % am individually con.
cesna I shall epdesvor in 81. thing to conform my