The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-03-20
Mr. -SIayery-The Union.

| tuuL uuo UCVN ioi hloliCu lOi ull.
Mr. Cass- -SIavery-The Union.
Messrs. Clemens, and Davis, Of Missis.
sippi, had accused Ger. Cass of incon-
sistency in reference to the Wilmot Pro-
viso. In reply. Mr.. Cass assumed dccid-
ed ground in favor of the Union. Mr
Cass said:
During the trial he had lately passed
through, (and he wished his greatest ene-
my no severer one,) letter written by him,
commonly called the Nicholson letter, had
been published. In that letter he had ta-
ken the same grounds that he had taken
in his speech. There had been no change
in his sentiments
If any one was mistaken in the Nichol-
son letter, then it was the readers fault; if
any one should be mistaken hereafter, it
should be his fault. He believed the pas
sage of the Wilmot Proviso to be uncon-
stitutional. He did not think so at first;
and when the subject was first introduced,
he doubtless would have voted for it, as he
believed several instances were on record
of southern men introducing bills with the
proviso contained in them. But after ex-
amining into the subject, he came to the
view that Congress had no power to pass
it. When the Nicholson letter was about
to be written, he entertained great doubts
as to the powers of Congress 10 pass the
| Wi.mot Proviso: and it occurred to him
that it was strange that the powers of Con-
gress over the Territories had been so long
undisputed. lie then applied 10 an honor
able Judge of the Supreme Court, Judge
Mclean and communicated to him his
zf,an,ibfsz ON 4ahe-suhieet and the Judge told
him that his doubts were correct, and re-
ferred him to an article on the subject
which had appeared in the National Intel
ligencer few days before, which had been
prepared by the Judge himself, The ar
ticle was read, and sustained his impress
sions, and then the Nicholson letter was
written. That letter asserted four propo-
stions: 1st. The Wilmot Proviso was un-
constitutional; Cd. Slavery did not exist in
the Territories; 3D.. That it was not likely
1 it would ever exist there; and 4th. That
the question of Slavery or not was ques-
ton for the people Of the Territories them
selves to decide The same views were
expressed by him in his speech. The
people of the Territories have right TO
settle this subject as all others for them
selves, and they will do it despite of all
YOUR powers. The world was full of Will
mot Provisos; once it came in the shape
of tax on tea, and the people decided it.
Whenever the sovereign power sets itself
to Judge for the people, that attempt to act
for them is proviso. Have the 10000 or
$4,000 people who may be in your Terri
tories no rights! Are they subject to your
disposal and to your enactments and reg.
ulatons, as we'll as the lands on which they
reside! lie thought not. They have the
power of selfgovernment, and they derive
it from higher source than Congress.
Mr. Cass then most eloquently depreca-
ted the undue excitement manifested at the
South and the North on this subject; and
could not sympathize with it; he was sick
of it. There were no wrongs to justify a
revolutions; ard no wrongs which revo-
luton would redress The Senator from
Virginia, in his speech on the fugitive
slave bill, while urging its passage, said
he had no hope Of its doing any good;
, that he despaired of its being carried out;
and. although he did not use the exact
: words, implied that the North would vote
! for it; then turn round and violate it; in
, short would act like set of knaves.
, Mr.. Mason said he never used any
language like this. What he said, was
: that no law which did not meet the loyal
, support of the people, would be productive
, of much benefit.
, Mr.. Cass said he was sick of the cries
of the wrongs of the North and the wrongs
, OF the South. He knew nothing of the
North or of the South. He was an Amer
: lean. He was citizen of the Union.
II There were fanatics every where. The
, South were not alone in their sufferings
/ Every nation had its fanatics, and every
: section ofthe country has its share ofthem
: The North suffered from them. They
r made war on their social and religious in.
' stitutions, So far had this feeling on the
) slavery question been carried, that at the
South any man who did not declare thai
: slavery was the best institution was fa
5 natic; and at the North, whoever was no
!. prepared TO run bayonet through every
: -tslaveholder was a doughface. .f
Y He then proceeded TO the subject Of dis
solving this Union without a war, and said
! it was out of the question; and the wal
j (which would follow it, would be bloody