Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-04-27
To the Editors Of The Enquirer:

, To the Editors Of The Enquirer: > o-o
Gentlen,cn:As you have published several articles ad
vocsng the claims of other gentlemen 10 the nomination
the Democratic party for the Presidency hope you vii
allow ME TO say word in favor of Gen. Cas:.
He was decidedly tho favorts Of Virginia tor the nonl
nation in lS44 10 he in lS48 When, in the torme
year, the course Of Mr. Van Buren, upon the texas cues
,on compelled Virginia abandon him and 10 look ont 70
The statesman whose standing above all others win MS par
ty was such that he could with most proprey De put for
ward as the competitor of him. who had been emphatlcal
the choics OF his party for the nomination. her eye
once fixed upon General Cass; and ne became IN tn
hand. of Virginia, the principal instrument OF Mr. Van Bu
rens overthrow and of the of the Democratic par
in consequence Of which Texas added Union
Without the cooperation Of him and his friends Fgin
could not have prevented the nomination OF h Van Buren
and II the conviction, the part OF his friends o lh
uct that has arrayed them in bitter emiiv 10 him. ant
prompted hom TO their unpatroc course in lSi9 by which
they contributed defeat him and his party. In
ouence of which, all OF the troubles Of 1850 thrust upor
u.s. The influences which defeated his election then
true to their hatred al work to defeat his nomination
now. viii Virginia make him sacrifice TO his enemies who
his enemies because they her encmes If she does she
will deveope trait of character weak as il despcn
ble with States and sections, as with ndiViduas-
they desire to hayo friends they must be true friends in
turn. If either desert friends for light or trivial causes
neither which pursues that will long have enI9 10
desert But sr such trait enerbes The Southern char
in the .eeton 81 io4o e ~ " ri
pec.d of il, II we continue to manifest it, vindicn
ourselves from any suspicion of it, before we go into
the Presidential canv ass, where il will inJure u.s.
Every principle Of honor, and even OF policy dictates 10
orunc in her last with ,heircommon oes UNLESS IN
the ime lie has done something forfeit her conf
ner than of another equally worthy. lthe first let no
be said OF him; the las let the sacrlhce De mace
For in that contingency it would be sacrihce 10
every of correct feelings. But it would be one In the
contingency contemplated which that cade would be FIRST
suggest His opponents TO acqnescc IN the lusuce
of this and hence they say that he allowed one consfuc
lion be put his Nicholson letter at the South ana
another the North; and that since his defeat he has dsa
vowed the construction placed upon II by the iome ana
lodged the the Fugitive Slaw Law; and finally that
it is injudcous ITO run beaten horse"
Whether the doctrine prupounded in the Nicholson letter.
relative 10 the extent of power of the Territorial Legsa-
be sound moi, shul discuss s cinphati-
cay now shall show presently II was in lS4S, ns pure
abstract question: as far the Presidency is concern
ed any other question Of law or morals II II were
proper do it, would be easy show that was the doc.
rine of John Taylor Of Caroline of Thomas Jefferson and
Of the present day But what is more pertinent 10 TINS
discussion s that the ayowed doctrine OF every proml
candidate Of the Democratic party for the Presidency,
including Dickenson Buchanan and Douglas. But the
point much that the doctrine ], unsonnd, as that
Gen. Cass did clearly expound IL in his Nicholson letter
and that he did and cay during the canvass OF
lS45 which of the constructions placed upon was the
true one. TO This point shall "onhne myself But II may
be due that should say in justice 10 all those great names
have mentioned that of them as far rs Know, a'"
taken ground that Territorial Legislature take from
any his private property secured 10 him by the Ia" OF
the land without just compensation. To deprive man by
legislation of his negro without compensation held as vested
property by law, Is thing. For Stale or Terri
toral legislature prohibit the introduction OF snves
from other States and Territories another aad very differ
thing The foier power In OF SaIes has been
very much questioned; lhes veY little. But even this
distinction s purely abstract IA, the Pesidencyis con.
cerned, will be manifest directly
Upon the charge Of intendd deception on The a Q! Gen
Cass in the language of his Nicholson iet" lie letter OF
Jefferson Davis and the testimony of Judge Butler and other
Southern Senators has put exnguishe All these gen.
testify that they understood Col Davis from actual
conference with him, before The election just he explains
himself now Well ss If he intended deception these
he el mhn ne
ton which it is said establishes IT, COL Davis was the
n law Of Gen. Tny or, and had much confidence in
hin and suspected unjusty doubt OF wishing for
pretex, support him in preference 10 General Case
Strunge say that the very papers, in the soulh which
charge the deception do not publish the reuaon although
| il comes from those high in their confidence!
But il is soid that when pending the canvass, Gen. Cnss
found that two conflicting constructions were put upon his
ieiter he ought TO have come out and explained.
1t distinctly understood, by the Democratic party,
that after the Baltimore Convention had laid down its prin
cipes and its nominee had endorsed lhem that he should
write letters, und idhc issmas The
prety Of this manifest. The party itself IN con-
venton assembled, had made its issues Could they not
have complained if their candidate had brought in, without
with he others OF purely abstract charac.
teri To contend for such proposition give up the con-
test as one OF great party ana na.u" 10 r
from it, contend that party ought 10 nave s pat
form distinctly proclaimed and place upon II man VINO IS s
and let the battle be fought upon IT, Sup
nose Gen. Ca.s should be nominated for the Presidency by
the Baltimore Convention and he should thereafter be asked
he in favor OF the Elaine Liquor Law; ana ne shooa
the question and thus admit 10 be legitimate is
sue Presidential election, would not every democrat
sny that he had done most unathorzed thing Ell prac-
cay speaking that has quite us much perenancy 10
the Presidential the question whether eoii'
al Legislature has the power to egisate IN respect 70 'he
relation OF and slave, as no one douos mas n re-
spect tho relation Of man and "r and parent ana cno
Let me illustrates No law erecting Territorial Governments
from the adoption Of the constitution TO this ume
required the affirmative saTS0n ha orsr o, CON n
| al Of those laws establishing Territorial Govern.
mens been reserved TO Congress- to dsanproyo ihe
laws; but it's approval hs been required to give them
soldity The only event, them in which territorial law
can go before the President is in the event that Congress
disapproyes it, Suppose territorial Legislature shouio pro
hib the introduction of slaves into the Territory Doea
any one believe that Congress would veto The awl what
Northern man would vote for it2 How many Southern
would refuse force upon people, TO re a!ecle1 oy IT,
every candid will admit would not veto such law
and BY quence the question would to the Pre-
sident But suppose territorial legislature free 10 act
should pass law protecting the masters rights would there
be any danger Congress would veto H. and the question
be thus carried before the President? The doctrine com
plancd of furbds the dea This latter thing however
under the reign of fanscsm might possibly hapPen and
the only possible way in which the question could go
the President In that poRaioie CONTINGENCY "od,a n
the great have referred 10, and who would De oount
by them 10 that they were not rampled upon by
congressional majority
MIR Polk wrote his Kane letter Two constructions
put rpon it, In penns vania banners bore The inscription
Of "Pok Dues end The Tariff of AZ Wigs abused him
but did Democrats complain tina, he had not written line
upon line and pcccp upon prccept when each line
and each new precep would only have given rso ht
necessity of another line and another prccept There
no ambiguity the letter. and, consequently no matte
what constructions placed upon IT, there was no neces
I, s.ty for explanation.
i Whether tho Territorial Legislatures have The power
have been speaking Of not il is judicial one II al
much an one for c decision of the courts as the consitu
,onali,y Of the Maine liquor law. And only In the sng
improbable case referred TO- couo come peioe e f'esi
dent, .
But what Ia conclusive the fair dealing of Gen. Cass
this Tho winter ofter the election of AS he in open Senate
put his construction upon h~ Nicholson letter His friend
were then pressing him for denomination. Had he not al
strong on ipducement il he meant at any time 10 deceive
10 keep up deception have attempted 10 the frs
nstance7 Nay, had he stronger onei Yet the mo
ment the improperly Of his coming out in his own name
was removed he did it!
Before quitting this branch OF tho subject permit
mind those vgiuans who disposed 10 find fault wit!
Gen Cass In consequence his construction the Nchol
son letter that Of all the prominent candidates spoken
for the Presidency he is tbs only who has emphalica
denied the sonstiiuonaty of the Wio Provso. He hal
declared in the Senate that he would resign ha in ,h
Sennts ra ther than under instructions for it,
II ia said that General Cass lodged the the fugitive
slave law has been explained In justice 10 Judge Doug
las and others thousand times that The vote tha
bilI was taken Unexpectedly Gen. Cass was absen Blu