Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-06-27
Saut yOar eyes aud open your Mouths
PROG RESS.- WHICH WAY.


PROG u Esq. WHICH WAY.
Daring the Preside ,ial canvass the editor 0
ths Jeifrrsonian, together with every locofoc'
editor in the West, took the Cass Nicholson lei,
ter their creed. and the Baltimore Resoiu
tons their platform. They contenied man
faily for the faith delivered in that ietter.-Bu
they have progressed, AMI what pure de
mocracy in November last. longer bears tia
nane--with some of them-thcv now aver tina
"a change has been gong ~ for some tifn-' ia
heir ninas IN regard 10 the power winch Con
gre>s has over the subject OF slavery. Such
Gauge j. particularly manifest ia j D.>tric, Lis,
ours, where the noIern Democracy ara ia a hope
less minority, and II reminds OF tbs : alns
Called shut your yes aaI open your mouth.
An old friend told the other IA, how it was
played when he !. toy--al.i tins IS the wa,
they Ibid IT, The cosnulan,. given 10 close
the peppers ana open the bread aaI batter Re-
ceiver-'tyas done, ana instead of i sugar plum
being chuched INTO the vacuum, hand full OF
free sod went In--ker-dab. SO It is with the
Democracy hereabouts--lh-ir leaders tell then,
to 'shu, their eyes am open their mouths aud
before they of II. their mouths are
filled with free soii--t that Congress should pass
a law. which they have the power 10 do. 10 pro-
hioit slavery from going into ti,e Territories =
instead OF the sugar plum Cass' Nicholson
letter which they rolled. hae a sweet morsel
recently under their tongues.
We publish the follow wing extracts in order to
show the reader the opinions of the great men
eress this important subject he can form,
his own conclusion.
Il opposed TO the exercise of any iurisiic-
ton by Congress over this matter; Slavery IN
the territories because | do in the :
stttutiou, any grant Of the requisite power to
Congress. Gen. Cass' Nichols m Letter.
lit is ahsdrd to deny to Congress the power
TO iegisate as 1t peases upon the subject OF sI,,-
very in territories: 1t has exercised the power,
ana with the sanction of all authorities. State
and Federal. from the foundation of gov
eminent TO the present time. 1t is absurd to
claim it for the 'erritories-they have form,
OF government but that which Congress gives
them, and no legislative power but th1t which
Congress allows them.''--Beaton's .peeca al Jef-
tersoa City
''For myself against the permitting of
slavery IN any part OF the new territory; and
am for Congress declaring that the Territorial
governneu 1T shall not permit lis iutroduc ton du-
:Ing the territorial! existence OF the new acqui-
>Itton--cavIng the conventions that s'i al here
after form constitutions therein their piea-
sure i'll the premises i'll the formation Of such
think Congress has power to
20 thus far, and it may be doubted If il could 90
further. DO not place my opposition to this ex-
tension of slavery on the ground that the insti
luton Is against the will of God. or prob bted
By the Bible, fc. this position cannot be main
tanned The - 81, fth, 5ih ami 9Th verses of
he 2lst chapter of Exodus authorize perpetual
slavery. the separation of slave families and as
marsh treat,nen to slaves that alleged in the
.hia Roorbicks Of 81, To have been practced
~ Polk towards his Duck River gang. And
hose verses, be it reinembe red, form II part oil
he first code Of laws ever promulgated TO man;
code enacted. amid the thundcrs OF Sinai, by
Deity himself IS. Il. Perhias
"Many Democrats advocated the doctrine that
was inexpedIent for Congress, To pass a law
prohibiting slavery in the new territories, that
came TO rs free and would remain free unless
congress should pass law estabi Ishiug slavery
here THIS doctrine we believe would he sutii-
rent TO Keep those territories free had Cen Cass
cen elected. but the government being now IN
he hands OF a Shareholder, who is interested IN
he perpetuation of the ..pecuiiar institutions"
ma no Will use his Influence and patrnnage to
iect it. We believe II necessary that & oncrcss
houid pass a law prohibiting slavery from 90
ng there. which in our opinion it has the right
o do. flames Elder.
If Lewis Cass is again a candidate in 1852
nd Elder IS still the Jclfersonun editor, we do
rot hesitate to say that he will progress back
gum to the Nicholson platform, ans declare
hat he entertains serious constitutional scrupl-s
n gard to the "Wil,not Proviso;' - but il Thorn
$ IL. Benton should BE- the man, he'll swear
hat the horse eighteen feet high and that
congress has ''clear and unquestionable', power
yer the subject of slavery III the Terrtories,-
lie can progress both ways.