The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-02-27
25.
Washington Correspondence.

LEAR o1R:-l o-day Gen. CasS commenced
! IN the Senate, speech upon the resolution of
MIR. Foote, of Miss, relative to the formation of
governments for Territories in which he will
give his views of the whole ground of the con-
trovcrsy which has grown out of the unfortunate
conception and birth of the Wimot proviso (so
called) The we'll established ability of Gener-
al Cass as a statesman and lawyer, and his pure
and exalted patriotism will give to his sentiments
and deductions great weight, and men who love
the Union and desire the happiness of mankind
and the continuance of our glorious institutions
will rejoice that he has come forward to brush
away the mist in which faction, and intrigue,
and Ignorance have involved the subject, as con-
nected with the rights Of American citizens re-
siding upon United States Territory, and the
powers of Congress to legslate for them. To-
day he was for the most part engaged in clear
ing away erroneous opinions which have from
time to time been put forth by judges, legislators,
and writer's, touching the nature of the power
which Congress possesses over the persons of
the citizens living in the Territories, and show
ing what the power of Congress is, by the Con-
|
showed that the idea which so many entertain,
that Congress have the right to lcgislate, in all
cases whatsoever, for the people settled upon
the public domain or territory, was very erro-
neous one-contrary to the nature of our insti-
tutlons, and to the intentions of the patriots and
statesmen who framed the Constitution; and he
demonstrated that American citizens, thus set
tied, cannot be divcsted of the right of self gov
ernmcnt, when keeping within the pale of the
| Constitution. Tomorrow he will continue, and
perhaps, finish his speech-and feel confident
that it will be lesson for abolitonsts and their
abettors, which will bring the blush Of shame
into their faces, if, indeed, they have left either
the feelings of shame or patriotism.
The time has arrived when good men who
love the Union should congregate, in the North,
South, East and West, and resolve to discoun-
tenancc the factious jargon about abolition, free
soil, and extension Of slavery. If abolitionists
have any desire to cmancipate negroes, they can
do so by contributing but small share Of their
means yearly in aid Of the Colonization Society
but they are hypocrtes, and regard not the
truth when they profess wish to see the negroes
set at liberty. The Colonization Society are
much IN want OF pccunlary assistance to enable
them to employ and fit out vessels with cmi-
grants to Libcria-but who ever heard of the alb
olitionists getting up contribution in aid of this
laudable obect' On the contrary, VIC find them
in opposition to the plan Of colonizing the ne
groes in Africa, and contending that they should
l>o 1>Ft. a.. A..
ri ight to this continent as the white man, &C.
If the free soilers want to continue their uproar
and ridiculous ranting, distinct faction, it is
| incumbent upon them to point out to the people
the particular locality which they desire to make
free soil. Every one now sees that Oregon,
California and New Mexico are, and must con-
tinuc free soil-and he that runs can read that
the present, if not the past abors of free soilers,
are worse than useless, and only continued
for the purpose of giving temporary conspcu
ity to factious men, who prefer notorety to peace
and the qualification of sinking ambition, to
| the best interests of the country.
There men, too, in the States South of
Mason's &, Dixons line who have obtained
some notoriety of rather doubtful character by
their abuse of the whole democracy of the North
accusing them of working in secret to under:
mine the institutions of the southern States, and
in that respect being worse than the wings, who
worked openly to destroy them. OF such is
Senator Clemens, of Alabama, who the other
day made himself ridiculous and his southern
brethren ashamed by his outrageous and iliber-
al TRADE against the northern democracy. But
the man was placed in the Senate by the aid of
whig votes-though hailng democrat, and
it may be possible that he felt himself bound to
discharge, in some way, the obligation which he
owed to the enemies of the great democratic
family. 1t was gratifying, however, to witness
the promptitude with which several of the dem
ocratic members from the South rose and repu-
dated the sentiments uttered by Mr. Clemens.
1t is to be hoped that the people Of the great
Northwestern Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Michigan and Missouri, will hold primary
meetings throughout those States in their sew
eral towns and precincts, and by their resolu-
| tons aid the exertons of such men as General
Cass, to put down the reckless agtators Of dis
union, in the North and South, and whenever
they can be found in the Republic.
| You may expect several copies of the speech
of General Cass soon after it is out of the press
Yours, S.
P.S S. Senators Jones & Dodge and their la
dies enjoying good health. The Iowa Rep
| resentatives are also well.
Y Ey' The American House, Galena, is up foA
/ sale, and will be sold. The proprietor is going