The daily union., 1852-03-17
Gen. Cass's Nicholson Letter.

Col Jeneson DAVIS, oil MisslssIp which was published
in the Mlssssppian the 9th of January. 1884, with
request that should publish il, containing refuta
ton OF the charge frequently made that Gen. Cass
did not deal fairly and candidy with the South in his
celebrated Nicholson letter. 1t is due to COL Davis
well az TO Gen. Cass. that comply with this request.
especially the letter illustrates the characters of both
OF these eminent democrats for candor and integrity.
In order that the of the imputaton against Gen
Cass be clearly understood deem it proper TO
premise that, in speaking OF the extent to which Con-
gress might legisate for the Territories, Gen Cass in his
Nicholson letter made this remark:
" 1t (the interference oil Congess) should be limited to
the creation proper for new countries ac
qured settled and the provisions for their
eventual admission into the Union, leaving in the
time the people inhabtng them regulate their own
concerns in their own way"
1t will be remembered that the leading point the
Nicholson letter was tha, Congress had power under
the constitution 10 enact the Wilmot povso; and this
conclusion resulted from the fact mainlaned by Gen.
Cass that the constitution confers on Congress power
to legsate for the people of the Territories. Hence
the deduction legitimate and necessary, believed
by Gen. Cass that the legislation Of Congress should be
limited expressed in the foregoing extract. eavng, in
the time, to hs people inhabng the Territories The
right 10 regulate their IN their o,cn woy
the South whether Gen. Cass meant to assert that the in
habitants OF Territory prior TO their admission into the
Union as Staie could prohibit slavery. whether he
that this right could only be exercised when they
changed their relation OF Territories for that of States
The latter construction most consonant with the feel
ngs and views of southern democrats. and they gene
rally adopted whilst the former suited the purposes OF
southern wings the BEST and they accordingly adopted
hat In Can deli red a gre
speech in the Senate against the consiuonaiy OF the
Wmot proviso and in that speech he argued at length
the inherent, right Of the people OF Territory to regu
late their own concerns in their way, and showed
clearly that the southern democrats had not attached TO
his letter the meaning which he intended 10 convey 1t
was then that the charge that he had deceived the South
in his Nicholson letter had its origin and February 1885,
in another speech in the Senate, Gen Cass epeed this
imputation. by showing that the obvious meaning Of
his language in his Nicholson letter that the people
Of the Territories had the right prohibit slavery either
before or at the time of their admission States and by
way OF fully relieving himself from. the impuation, he
called on the southern senators then present TO know
they had not understood his Ncholsone he him
self then explained it, In response TO this CALL MIR But
Ter, of South Carolina, Mr. Davis OF Mississippi and
Others assenied to the correctness OF his declaration and
thereby furnished the strongest evidence OF the OF
foundation in the charge that he had deceived the South
During The exciting through which the people
of Mississippi have recently passed. this charge was
yived in pamphlet giving sketch Of the life OF Colonel
Davis and il was because OF the injustice done TO General
Cass in that pamphlet that Colonel Davis felt himself
called upon 10 come forward and do OF justice to
General Cass Every honorable mind will appreciate
this course and every impartial mind will at
that the charge against General Cass is without founda
ton We have no idea OF revivng the question whether
General Casss views as 10 the rights Of the inhabitants
OF Territory are correct not Our only object is TO
furnish the evidence that he has been guilty OF decep
ton upon the South and on this point the following let
ter OF Colonel Davis is conclusive.
LETTER FROM JEFFERSON DAVIS.
| BRIERriEID, (Dfiss.,) December ~, 1851
GENTLEMEN: When on journey to the northern eoun-
ties of our State in the month OF October last, saw
for the first tme pamphlet, entitled Sketch Oh the
Life Of jeff Davis' Sc, &c. There are in i some err
rors In relation TO subjects unimpoant 10 others that
will not speak Of them further than thus 10 indicate
their existence but there is OF different character
OF which desire, through your columns, 70 make public
correction This has seemed TO me proper, because the
pamphlet has been thrown into general circulation, and
bears upon its face conclusive evidence that IS the work
of personal and political friend The following passage
occurs on the 25th page:
"In the presidential election OF lsis Colonel Davis
placed in delicate and p some respects. rather PAN IN
position. His fathern-law-benerai Iayof-nao
come the candidate of the whg party, while he ever a
democrat faithful and true to bis principles felt eonsrain-
ed support General Cass the candidate o the party TO
which he belonged Tho principal difficulty with Colonel
Davis however grew OF his dstrnst in the sincerity
General Casss avowsl OF principle The Nicholson letter.
he felt satisfied intended deceive the South and
that General Cass was well apprzed that southern demo-
c,a,s were placing construction upon 1t which, when IL
should favor his Interests, he would disavow The doc
rrine OF 'squaler sovereignty. which the wing party
charged contained in that letter. and at war win All
onr rights In Territories he knew 10 be true from con
6ientia which he not permitted 70 os
close lie acted however, upon the prnope OF cnoioe
OF evils. and resolved to stand by his party principles
Bearing to the people OF Mississippi the confidential re-
ation Of Representatives possessed by the posiIon wih
which they had honored me of peculiar opportunities 10
learn the character and opinions OF General Cass was
under than the ordinary obligation, when addressing
nv fellow citizens IN advocacy OF his election 70 the
presidency, TO give my opinions cordially and iuiy-no
merely TO tell The truth, but 10 tell The whole rum
acted upon this rule Of conduct when admitted lha
General Cass held the doctrine in reference to the power
/ of the territorial inhabitants, which the wings urged
.;ns, him as disqualification for the presidency, and
which the democrats denied 10 be his opinion kept "a
cred nv obligation TO my constituents though cost me
the qualification OF my opponents and the censure OF my
friends Tme the revealer OF truth, have the hspp',
meas 10 know has since relieved OF the censure anu
but for the considerations have mentioned tne Doeue
criticism which has fallen upon the paragraph quo'so
Il would have passed unBotced The error ol 'ne snnor
statement consists in aitribnng to me tne OPINION 'na'
General Cass intended by his letter 10 MI Ncno'son o
deceive the Souh-by fraudulent assurances TO OBTAIN
the votes Of southern democrats, and when IN power 70