Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-24

But Independently Of all these particular
arguments which might be multiplied further,
but would not have been 80 FAR, except ior the
profound conviction feel, that upon this pivot
the Nebraska bill is to turn, how loose and ex-
trayagant is it on general principles to infer
from the power Of Congress within the estab.
lished jurisdiction Of each State, the power OF
the same Congress- e., of us, the People OF the
United States--over our Territories where no
such jurisdiction, and OF course no reservation
Of jurisdiction, oan exist And yet Mr. Cass
clutches this straw--scarcely straw, either
with a frantic and convulsive grasp, as II he
was conscious that it is his only means to es-
cape drowning in waters far beyond hls
depth
= What says he, recurring again and again
to this sorry theme rs if in terror Of losing his
straw, what would be thought if Congress
should undertake to prescribe the terms OF
marriage in New York, or to regulate the au-
thority Of parents over children in Pennsyl-
vania ~ o.
Is this respectable for a Senator Of the Uni
ted States Ii it not more becoming q noun
tebank, who exhibits his tricks to rabble; at
penny apiece? | look for sympathy in the
pain and disgust | feel in following and ex
posing him. II has not been an easy any more
than an agreeable task; for, with tho instinct
Of the cuttle-fsh, be diffuses his ink 30 widely
and copiously around him, that it is difficult to
make out exactly qohers he IS: and nothing but
an imperous sense of duty to the deceived
and abused could have induced me to under
| take it,
But it was for tho Presidency This is his
excuse and tho excuse, in an inferior degree,
of the vile presses which extol this sad stuff as
the perfection of profound augmentation, and
Of high and enlightened constitutional doctrine.
And many there be-honest men, too--who
believe every word Of it. Alas, where is the
good Of our free schools, and of our infinite
pains and expense about them, if q great, an
awful, and q damning curse, can be imposed
upon our country for reasons like these
But shall Mr. Cass be excused Shall we
permit men in this age Of Christianity, in this
land Of equality and free schools, to proceed in
a public career upon the horrid and heathen-
ish sentiment of Cesar and Machiavel, that
right and justice mag be violated for the sake OF
reignlng!
This letter was written in l847, great good
season for the ensuing Presidential campaign.
Mr. Cass, being on aspirant, and having fash
toned himself to the honor by life of pre-
eminent selfshness and subserviency, marked
nv more than ordinary ability, was called
rather to put it in black and phiie Of course,
letter was to he written, out Of which CAPT
tai could be made in the South, and capital
not lost in the North His situation was per-
picking. He thought, and no doubt very just
~, that the highest rise or fall upon earth de-
| pended on the drops of ink he was about to
shed All was yet quiet. No "noise and con-
fusion were heard, or were heard affair of,
and his relentless interrogators would not wait
for them to arrive with their friendly aid He
was dreadful quandary The only alterna-
tive was to run for luck, or NOT run at all! or
course he chose the former, and indited the
celebrated letter which have in part shown
up. 1t contained something for both sections
His conclusions, stripping the whole People
Of the United States Of their sovereignty over
their Territories except to peddle them out,
and giving to the slave oligarchy lat most, one
seventieth Of the freemen,) permission to do
whatever they list in them, were the fat offer-
ing to the genius Of Slavery His reasons,
which would make q cat laugh, and starve the
soul Of an orang-outang, were to satisfy tho
North, and keep all quiet here.
STRIEE, BUT HEAR.