Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-03-06
From the lnteIligencer, 2Olh ult.
LITTER FROM MR.. GEYER,

wings who voted for Mr.. Geyer at the
Senatorial election, differed from him
on the question of the constitutional
power Of Congress over the subject of
slavery'in the territories. They voted for
him with full knowledge Of his opin-
ions, and in doing SO, acted upon the
assn mption that this question was not,
aud ought moi to be made test amongst
Wings. We have, throughout, main
tanned that no such test was recogni-
zed by the Wing party; and, from the
following letter, addressed by Mr..
Geyer, to the editor of this paper, now
at Jefferson City, it will appear that he
fully concurs in this view. We be.
speak for the letter careful perussl
by every whig in the State.
ST.. LOUIS, Feb. 7th, 1851.
Hon. J. B. CRocKETr-Dear SU:-l
learned this morning, with much amaze
ment and no little modification, that
there are persons at Jefferson who en-.
tertain, or at least express tie opinion,
that ] have presumed to lay down o
new platform for the wings, or TO con.
struct one for new party, in which
my expressed opinion on the power Of
Congress in respect TO slavery is TO be
made the test Of orthodoxy. desire
to correct them promptly.
My opinion on the question of power
over the territories was formed during
the debate on the Missouri question in
lSl9--has been entertained ever since,
and is not likely now to be changed.
never supposed, however that it was
or ought 10 be made party question,
or that an opinion either way was re-
garded as test, by either of the great
political parties of the country. think
may say confidently, that it never was
SO understood in any one Of the many
warm contests between the Wing and
Democratic parties since their first
organization. There are many whig.
and Democrats who entertain the opin'
ions avowed by me. and l believe still
a greater number of each party who
hold the opposite in respect to the dis
puted power.
Although cannot but think that it
would have been better for the peace
Of the country, if the opinion against
the authority of Congress over the sub
ect had been more generally entertain
ed, | have never made i, test in any
vote have given since the formation
Of our State Constitution, and now re-
garding the question of power as no
longer of practical importance, as a
political question, an attempt TO form a
new party or re, re,organze an old one, by
such tests, would, in my view of it, be
an act Of folly, which | think am
lhCupuUlC VI COulI1llAlbS'
You well remember, that during last
summer, when it was reported that
such a test had been proposed, or acted
on by some, ! wrote and published my
views on the subject, in an address tt
, the wings; and, although | did not sub
. scribe my proper name TO it, you anC
. knew that there was no attempt OI
, design TO conceal il; on the contrary
you with my knowledge and consent
took some pains to have the article re
published elsewhere in the Slate, ant
TO have the name Of the writer general,
known. The view expressed in tha
paper | still entertain, and ! cannot al
low the mistakes or wishes Of others t
e place me in any other position.
9 Those who urged me TO become
candidate for the Senate, knew we
my opinions on the slavery questio
in all its aspects, and that ! could nc
, permit my name to be presented 10 th
Wing members, unacccmpanied by
It declaration of my view of the constil,
Is lional question, which had been moote
T. during the summer and in respect
. which, knew many of them held opiI
y ions opposite TO my own. In accorC
Is ance with this expressed determinatio
availed myself of the first suitable O.
casion 10 express my opinion in writir
S. not as test of Whig orthodoxy, b'
as an avowal ofmy own opinion, in N
st own words, due TO all the members, al
IN especially 10 those who dssenled fro