Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-07
Gen. Cass on the Right of The People Of Ter
ritory to prohibit Slavery.

Gen. Cass on the Right of The People Of Ter
ritory to prohibit Slavery.
The Democratic party of Virginia will not be
apt to thank Gen. Cass for his tardy frankness in
declaring that he meant his Nicholson letter to be
understood as holding that the people of Terri
tory, in the Territorial condition, have the right to
prohibit or admit slavery at their pleasure This
declaration was fully made in his ponderous speech
delivered some weeks ago, but he had occasion to
repeat it still more emphaticaly on Monday last
We quote from the official report, portion of his
remarks:
Mr. CAss. Mr.. President, letter OF mine, which
to have become somewhat historical has been
often referred to in this discussion, and many
structons have been put upon it, that feel called upon
TO read portion OF it, that it may speak for ITSELF
Like the leaves OF the Sybils, it has any meaning,
would appear it is so dark that every may read it
in his way, Or in fact, in way at all My friend
from Louisiana (Mr. Downs has remarked that the Sc
nate has already been conounded with number of
explanations OF that letter. Sir repeat again what
said emphatcally upon former occasion, that, if any
msundersands that letter. the fault is his, mine
have heretofore appealed upon this subject, and have
inquired whether, at the time my Nicholson letter ap
peaed, it not distinctly understood that it took the
ground have since taken, that the inhabitants off
Territory have right, subject OF course to the lima-
tons OF the constitution, 10 regulate the subject of
slavery for themselves, and especially the appeal
were
time the letter appeared, some OF whom, and especially
the Senatorirom South Carolina Mr Buter and the Sc
from Mississippi tMr. Davis signified their assent
to nv proposition. will read portion of the letter TO
show that it ought not to be misunderstood Speaking
OF the right to establish Territorial Government, say
But certain it is that the principle OF interference
should not be carried beyond the necessary implication
which produces it, 1t should be limited to the creation
OF proper governments for countries, acquired or
settled and to the necessary provision for their even
tual admission into the Uionn leaning, IN the
lime, to the people inhabiting them to regulate their
internal concerns in their 0lcn aDay."
Is there one man on this floor who has any doubt
to the true Interpretation OF this letter? Now that
the excitement of an election has passed away and we
all look cooly things they are is there any
man. here elsewhere, who put any other consruc
honupon this letter than that which its words plainly
import that in the " mean time" during the tendency
OF the Territorial Governments, they should be al
lowed manage their concerns in their own way!
Does not slavery come within this category! Is not
domestic concern! Is not that the doctrine OF the
South, OF common sense, indeed! No Territorial Co.
vernmen established which had no power to
regulate the domestic relations OF husband and wife, OF
parent and child and OF guardian and ward and if the
inhabitants competent to manage these great nte
and indeed, the interests belonging to all the de-
partmens OF society, including the issues OF life and
DEATH they not competent to manage the relation OF
master and servant, involving the condition of slavery
If we had been called upon to draw up wr-
ting to be signed by Gen. Cass, which should con-
tain the strongest veriicaton we could desire, of
the arguments urged by the Wings of Virginia,
in the canvass of lS4S, to show that the Demo-
cratic party was precluded by solemn pledge
from supporting him, we certainly could not have |
devised any thing more complete than Gen. Cass's
own voluntary assertions. We are surprised that |
he seems not to be aware of the controversy |
which prevailed in Virginia on this very point of
the meaning of the Nicholson letter. The SINH
larity OF this explanation to the commentaries then
made by his Southern opponents, is so striking
that we may be pardoned for reproducing, from
our own columns, the following sample of the ar
guments adduced by the Wings, and strenuously
resisted by the Democrats:
Our readers know that we have commended that Gen.
Cass in these passages of the Nicholson letter. lays
down The doctrine forsworn by the Virginia Democratic
Convention, that the people OF territory during their
Territorial condition, may prohibit slavery, if they
please We need hardly repeat that we base this con-
struction chiefly these grounds:
LIST. That Gen Cass repeatedly declares, IN general
terms that the regulation OF slavery must be lett TO the
people OF the Territories );
3D. That he understands, by the power to regulate
slavery, the power 10 g exclude" or annihiate;
Sd That he does not limit the right of people OF
Territory regulate slavery precise time when
they are in popular convention organizing State
government because he says, explicitly, that m the
time" before " their eventual admission" and
during their temporary condition.. they may "regu-
late their Internal concerns an their O,1n toay, and
are just capable of doing the people of the
States :"
4ih. That Gen. Cass adopts the sentiment Of Mr..
buchanan, that majority of the present people OF New
Mexico and California may legally withhold Their
consent to- and actually prevent the establishment OF
slavery amongst them and also adopts the sentiment
OF Mr. Walker that the coloured race nhabiting those
territories hold he government their esson and
will not permit the enslavament Of any portion Of the
coloured race.
We should not have attached much Importance
c. Coss,o raitaratior Of h;s naorl;o~ A.
that the people of Territory, however small their