The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07
GENERAL CASS AND HIS DOCTRINES.

The late speech Of General Cass on the Terri
in the country. Neither friends nor enemies
seemed to be much impressed by it. 1t has pro-
voked no criticism, excited no discussion,
In Congress it has been the subject occasional
ly of unfavorable animadversions, in quarter,
however, which could hardly have been antcipa-
ted by its author.
By Southern Democrats chiefly have its posi-
tions been questioned. Messrs Brown and Sed-
don in the House. Davis and Clemens in the Sem
ate, have formally entered protest against the as
sumption that Congress has no power to institute
Territorial Governments, and that the people Of
n Territory have the right of governing them
selves Some have tried to show that the late ar
gument of the General went beyond the doctrines
Of the Nicholson letter-that it involved princi-
pies dangerous to the interests of Slavery-and,
while doing this, complimentary illusions to
Mr.. Buchanan have escaped them, indicating that
they deemed him entirely conservative and safe
in his views.
These things could not escape the observant
eye of one who had done so much to propitiate the
good will of the South and wished still to be held
high in its favor and, few days since, in de-
bate that sprang up in the Senate incidentally,
he took occasion to speak Of himself, his course
towards the South, and the treatment he had re-
ceved from some Of his friends in that quarter
He intimated that his political existence at the
North was terminated-that he had fallen vic
tim to his opinions and policy on the Territori-
al Question but Southern gentlemen were not
yet satisfed-some of them would tolerate no
public man who did not embrace precisely their
views respecting the abstract question of Slavery.
Slavery is the hardest of all taskmasters. The
man who thinks of satisfying all its demands,
should sit down a long time, and count the cost.
We observe in the report of the debate to which
we have alluded, reference to Judge Mclean
in such way as to convey the impression that
he fully sustained the Doctrines of the Nicholson
Letter Noer stutine his source in relation 10
the Proviso during the time antecedcnt to the
composition of the Nicholson Letter, Mr.. Cass
proceeded as follows:
"In examining the Constitution with reference
to the whole matter more narrowly than | had
ever done before mas adnied bg HE conuiaion
Congress 10 leeSld,e Orer Ms I.yrHo,HS; and that,
consequently, there m0S no porer 10 pass The jViimd
Proriso. Not satisfied with my own impressions,
and being unwilling TO take such ground with
out proper consideration, determined immedi-
atey to converse with some person fully CONVEX
SAINT with the history of the legislation and the
judicial decisions on the subject. In looking
about for that purpose it Immediately occurred
10 me that an eminent Judge Of the Supreme
Court, u Judge Mclean Of Ohio) from his posi-
ton and associations as we'll as from his residence
in the West could give me better information
upon this subject than any other person. Anti
cipating that some discussion might soon arise
that would render this explanation proper, APP
piled to that gentleman some days since, and re-
auested his permission thus publicly 10 refer TO
him. should deem Il necessary. This he cheer
fully granted, and now make use Of his name
with his own consent | Immediately repaired to
him and stated my doubts, as well as the circum-
stances which gave rise to them. need not re-
peat the conversation here. IL is enough to say
that he confirmed my impressions, and informed
me that, in an article published in the National
lntelligencer day or two previously, and which
had not SEEN should find his views fully set forth
That article has since been republished in other
papers, and has attracted good deal ofattention,
as il deserved; for it is powerfully written.
speak, sir, solely of the rpms whieh il presents
Of me poner Of Congress 10 iegsias for The Tsrri
tories. The question of Slavery which 1t discus
SEES do not refer to- After reading this article,
my doubts ripened into convictions, and | took
the ground to which shall always adhere, that
the Wilmot Proviso is unconstitutional. And
you have now, sir, the history Of my course upon
this subject"