The daily union., 1852-03-17


crime, would neither have advocated his claims, nor
have given him my own vote The letter TO Mr. Nchol-
son. according 10 my construction contained the opinion
famlliarly known the doctrine OF squser sovereignty
General Cass has not only admitted the correctness oil
that construction, but contended that IL was the only one
oil which his Language was ana sad he could
leter was written, TO prove hat sneh was ms meaning
al The time
condered his meaning quite plain when he proposed
nhe letter referred TO- limit the action OF Congress.
relation TO territories to The creation OF proper govern
mens and 10 the necessary provision for their evenu
al admission into the Union eayng IN hs mean tme 10
hs people inhabing them ate their oion in
their soay" But was douby assured by conver-
saon with Judge Mclean. OF the Supreme Court Of the
United States, 10 the meaning oil General Cass That,
presume is the conversation to which the author OF the
pamphlet referred Thus learned that General Cass con-
suited Judge Mclean in relation TO the position taken IN
his Nicholson letter, and what was has own nlerpfeta
ton of that part OF il which afterwards, during the
presidential OF 1885, received tuch opposite
sirucon The conversation private. and did not
consider myself at liberty TO refer to II when in the
canvass OF lSis my construction oil General Casss mean
ing excited no little feeling against me among my po
cal friends IN Mlsssspp ana when, .nsleioIe mad he
strongest temptation to produce authority to sustain my
position.
Gen. Cass on the 2oth of February, 1880, by speech
his having consulted Judge Mclean then stated that
81 knew OF the conference TO which he had alluded.
very after occurred - and since the publicity thus
given to it, have spoken Of it whenever deemed proper
to do SO.
did not feel that dsrust of the political integrity OF
Gen. Cass which is attributed TO me; on the other hand
/ argued that he would redeem his pledges. did not
them do now, believe that he had authorized any
to say to the democracy OF Mississippi that the true
o. nj ee, WAS 70 a d Wne n ey
territorial inhabitants as possessed OF power TO prohibit
slavery, until they should form constitution and be ad
was to the people Of Sate not the inhabitants Of
Territory that the power belonged Ii Gen. Cass, in
1913, bad authorized confidential friend to announce
that as his interpretation in 1885, he would not, in the
Sanate. have Dlaced n different lam
guage, and quoted to justify him in saying that he could
conjecture how different opinions could exist as TO its
meaning, and that ii any one had misunderstood him be-
fore, it was his own fault.
II was not dls,rus Of the political integrity. belief Of
fraud anticipation OF reachery, but objection to the
opinion of Gen. Cass in relation the legislative power
OF territorial inhabitants, which constituted the "princi
pal difficulty" with me-
Il will be remembered that in the presidential canvass
OF lS4S the doctrine of squatier sovereignty" had no
advocates in Mississippi. Wings asserted it TO be the
creed of Gen Case. and denounced than the
Wmot Provso Democrats strongly reprobaied the doc;
trine and denied that Gen Cass entertained it. differed
from my political friends to the fact which alone
an issue was joined, and admitted that the wings were
right in the assertion that the doctrine clearly
taned in the Nicholson letter Yet, | supported Gen
Cass candidate for the presidency and advocated his
election before my fellow citizens OF Mississippi fully
my physical condition would permit. | did so, not
because Of any federation for the opinion to which have
advered, as being then so universally condemned by the
people Of this State, but because considered il
neced with the functions of the President and because
believed Gen. Cass reliable for defence against the
danger then apprebended-the danger from Congress
sonal legislation or the nierdcon OF slavery in The Ter
rtories held that he was bound 10 veto the Wilmot
proviso" any law which Congress should pass pro-
hiht slavery in the Territories; that he opposed to
the abandonment destruction of that great conservative
feature in government the presidential veto that he
pledged TO the resolutions OF the Democratic National
Convention, declaatve Of the cardinal principles of our
party; that il elected he would be surrounded BY dem
ocratc counselors and would, In the main, administer
the government according TO that political creed which
believed most conducive TO public prospery-peace and
The failure of Congress provide governments for the
territory acquired from Mexico was followed by events
in California which gave the highest practical import
ance to the doctrine OF "squaiier sovereignty" lis
character was changed from speculative to real and
with The change came the extraordinary political deve
opment ihs, they who had most bitterly denounced it in
theory had become lis apoogsts and defenders when put
into practice II, them democrat had foreseen in lS4s
all which has since transpired, what would he have
gained by leaving his party and opposing its canddae
My purpose, however, is not 10 Justify my course
but merely TO correct misappre henson in relation TO
and to this end refer to remarks made by when the
transaction recent, and which had been pub
ished in the debates OF the Senate before the pamphlet
in question was written.
On the Goth Of February. $780, in the United States
Senate, replied TO Gen Cass as follows:
"The senator from Michigan in abiding to myself has
spoken OF having charged him with inconsistency
certainly intended TO make such charge against the
honorable senator from Michigan lie said that he spoke
in feeling Of kindness me have doubt
IL and think might claim much from the honorable
.c Of his heart made no charge Of Inconsistency npon
him; but on the other hand regretted find him consist
ent in a position which originally considered erroneous
and think has been shown, events be produc
tive Of evils the magnitude OF which, dimy in
the distance may be soon called upon to measure
always construed his Nicholson letter he has ex-
planned IL and because would defend him
upon the view which held TO be equivalent to turning
over territory the first occupants OF itthose who 10
the of emigration should first reach tsome OF my
political friends who always construed II only meaning
that the Inhabitants when they formed State govern
ment entitled TO the sovereignty Of other States Of the
Union, considered wanting In the maintenance Of
his claims candidate for the presidency. have incur
red responsibility, because never would put that con-
suucon upon IT, thought understood the opinions oil
the honorable senator from Michigan before he wrote that
letter; and knew OF the conference which he has
alluded very alter IL occurred but which have
ne yer referred understood the opinions Of the
senator he the same then understand them 10 be
proved OF much Of his position denied that Congress
had a power the Territories beyond that derived from
the necessity OF dscharging the duties OF Of the
public lands had confidence In the character o that
with the subject would be, II elected presidency, of
which then had some hope that growing OF the
ton OF the federal government VI Congress passed bill 10
exclude slavery from the Territories that he would,
cordsnce with his opinion OF the power OF Congress over
the Territories, such bill therefore, willing to
trust him with functions growing Of the federal
iy His doctrine, which acknowledges sovereignty In any
community which by accident design be planted on
territory belonging 10 the States, always rejected
The opinion OF the the power Of the In
habitants OF the Territories would have official
ion with the office OF President, and in that connoxon
not of vital i'm porance stated then, as state now tina
believed II to be wrong and tho very position which we
are now shows that II is dangerous It's result now
seem when men, without authority and law have gathee
topehern congomcrated mass from quarter Of the
Qobeand claim snatch sovereignty from the hands of
the United States, the owner, Of the property.
"Ths was the natural growth, the necessary consc
doctrine Of the from Mchixsn-n