Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-31
Gen. CasS's Position.

1t seems that in all his twenty-column speech,
Gen. Cass failed to make his views understood in
regard to governments for the Territories. His
argument was that the power of legisating for the
Territories did not reside in Congress-, because it
resided in the people of the Territories and hence
1t was legitimate inference that he denied the
right of Congress even to institute Territorial
Governments. This doctrine would necessarily
have forced the General 10 sustain the advice of
President Taylor that no such Governments
should be organized by Congress. But that adj
vice, though, in effect tantamount to the principle
of ''non-intervention has been denounced, by the
Union newspaper, as dodge" dsgraceful
shuttle, and the like. Hence it was important that
Gen. Casss position should be once more defined,
and, accordingly, we find, in the Union of Tues
day, an article containing the following evidently
authoritative explanations:
"By the principle of non intervention we have under
stood Gen. Casss intention to leave the question OF
slavery in the Territories open one to be settled
by the people 1t was meant not to establish slavery
to prevent lis establishment against the will Of the
people nhabting the Territories 1t left the question
open be settled by the people themselves who
mainly affected by the existence or non existence
OF the institution.
at that General Cass in his speech denied the
C0nStlUu0H0J power oil congress to legslate Tor the
Territories and consequently to pass the Wilmot Pro-
vso. But General Cass denied the duties and OBJ.
legations arising out OF moral necesstu which in some
exlgencies above and beyond the constitution. And
therefore Gen. Cass does deny the duty and obliga
non OF Congress to provide governments for those
Territories recently acquired from Mexico But if we
understand his opinions such action by Congress would
be assumption OF power above and beyond the con-
stution, which moral necessity alone would Justify =
And this moral necessity extends only TO the establish
ment OF governments, and torbids the idea Con-
gress should interfere i'll any way with the local con-
Germs OF the people OF the Territories. II we compre-
heid the views and opinions OF General Cass, as ex-
pressed III his speeches. and other occasions, we be-
leve we have substantially given them above And,
therefore, although he holds TO the doctrine that the
stltuon authority in Congress legisate for
the people OF the Territories. the moral duty which
grows out OF the necessity OF projecting and preserving
the territorial possessions of the Union ustifies the
sumption by Congress OF the power simply to provide
governments TOR the people nhablting those erItores,
leaving 10 them the absolute and exclusive
OF their local concerns And holding to these views,
we have doubt General Cass would vote for bill in
con oruly with them, if he should have the opportu
nifty.
And here is just the point of difference between Gen.
Cas- and Gen Taylor. While they both agree that the
people OF the Territories should be left unshackled in
Their power to establish their domestic institutions and
organize governments preparatory to their admission
into the Union, they differ in this General Cass is in
Jaror Of procidng governments for their security and
protection in The intermediate period and Cen Taylor
is tor tearing them cothout any government or pYotec
tor, or security, at au
We willing the people shall Judge as to the sound
wisdom OF the two plans"