The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-05

Territorial, had alone the right of determining
this question for themselves.
BY which General CAss meant, and was un-
derstood by the ''many Southern gentlemen" OF
the Democratic party whom he consulted at the
time, to mean:
/. That the people of the Territories acquired
from Mexico, whilst in Territorial condition,
might rightfully, through the agency of their
Territorial legislatures, admito exclude slavery,
as they should see fit.
2. That, with their exercise of this right,
Congress had no power, under the Constitution,
IN aIiy manner, TO interfere.
The Nicholson letter, thus understood by
g many Southern gentlemen" of the Demo
cratic party, bears date December "a, lS47,
and was Immediately thereafter published in
the newspapers of the day.
On the 29th of February, two months after
the publication Of the letter, the Virginia Dem
ocratic State Convention, which had assembled
at Richmond, adopted, among others, the fol
lowing resolutions
"Resolued, That republicans and citizens of
the free and equal States of this Union, do most
earnestly protest against the Winthrop and Will
mot provsoes, wanton violations OF the Constitu-
ton and wilfu assaults the rights and interests
OF one portion of our Confederacy, and do most
emnly declare that there is no power either in
Congress or Territorial Legislature, which is its
creature any,chere else save only in people of
a Territory in the adoption of State constitution,
preparatory to admission into the Union, to pre-
vent the migration Of any citizen Of any State,
with his property, whether it be slaves any thing
else, to any domain which may be acquired by the
common blood and treasure of all the States
" Resolved That this convention heartily re-
spends to the noble resolutions of the Alabama
State Democratic Convention, and will, under no
political necessity Whatever support either for the
Presidency or Vice Presidency any person who
shall not be the firm and avowed opponent of any
plan or doctrine which in any way interfercs with
the right of citizens of any State TO possess and
enjoy all their property in any territory which
may be acquired by the Union, fully, com
plete!y and securely citizens of any other State
shall enjoy theirs, except far that being unwill
ing to disturb the Missouri compromise, we are
content with adherence to its principles"
The same convention also reaffirmed reso-
luton of the Democratic State Convention of
Alabama, declaring that
=" The opinion advanced and main tanned by some
that the people Of Territory, acquired by the COM
mon toll suffering, blood and treasure of the peo-
pie Of all the States can, in other events than in
forming constitution, preparatory to admittance
as a State into the Union, lawfully or constitu-
tionally prevent any citizen of any such States
from removing to or settling in such Territory
with his property. be it slave property other
WISE ID a restriction indefenslbe in principle,
and as dangerous in practice, if such restric-
ton were imposed by act of Congress-
These resolutions unquestionably had direct
reference to some of the doctrines maintained
by General CAss in the Nicholson letter They
Indignantly repudiate one of the main posi-
tons assumed by him in that letter-that the
people of a Territory, acquired by the common
toll, suffering, blood and treasure of the people
of the United States, can, while still Terri
tory, and through the agency of territorial
Legislature, lawfully prevent any citizen of any
slave holding State from removing to such Ter
ritory with his slave property.
They proclaim such doctrine to be "as indie
feasible in principle, and as dangerous in prac-
tice, as the WIlmot proviso ITSELF and they
solemnly pledge the Democratic parties of Vir-
ginia and Alabama "under no political necessi-
ty whatever" TO support, either for the Presi-
dency or Vice Presidency, any man who main
tains that doctrine, or any other plan or doctrine
which, in any ,cay, interferes with the right of
shareholders to possess and enjoy their slave
in any territory acquired by the
Union, as fully completely. and securely as citi-
zens Of any other State shall enjoy their prop
oriy, sc.
These resolutions Of the Democratic State
of Virginia were adopted. as we
have seen, on the 18th of February, 1913.
On the 22d Of May following, the Demo
cratic National Convention assembled at Balti-
more, and on the 4th day, on the 4th ballot,
nominated General Cas- as their candidate for
President-the delegation from Virginia voting
for him every ballot
The vote Of alabama was divided between
Mr.. buchanan and Mr.. Uoodbuy.
Having nominated candidates for President
and Nice-Prcsident, the next thing 10 be done
was the manufacture, by the use Of ambiguous
phrases" Of one Of those platforms "of doubtful
alluded 10 by Mr. Seldom, which
could be made to answer party purposes in both
sections Of the Union. To this end. commit
tee 10 prepare resolutions was appointed, con
sisting Of one delegate from each State.
The committee met early after its creation,
and proceeded very tremendously in the con
Of a suitable platform. until they came
b. the slavery question. Here il was proposed
io adopt the same resolution, word for word, that
bad been adopted by the Democratic National
Conventions ~ 1910 and 1874. and which de-
clar,d.
" Thst Congress has no power under tho Consti-
tuition 30 interfere with control the domestic in
situations Of the several State, and that such
: states are the sole and proper judges Of every
thing spperiaining " their own affairs not pro-
hihi'sd ~ the Constitution that all efforts Of tho
Aboiitonis,s others made 10 induce Congress 10
in,ericfe 9TH questions u slavery, 10 take in
cipicnt steps n relation thereto. are calculated 90
= l~.d 30 ths most sisrrninr aud dangerous conss.
sssnrcs; and that all such sIorts have an newt.
shls t-piency 30 diminish the happiness Of the
peoPis, and endsnger the stability and pcrma-
nsufy ~ me Duion. and ought not 10 be o0unto-
uavrrH ~ 49, f,frnN "a 90, r.ffst-.t s...,f,.s