The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-02-17
LrrrEn PROM PRICE JOHN

.
do no, hesitate to transfer them to our
cOlun. MS :-Nep York Tribune.
LETTER FROM PRICE JOHN.
! "Mr DEAR CLEMENS The
posi,ion I took on the Baltimore Platform
/ los, me the respect and esteem of some of
of NV trucst and best friends, but so
long rs knew il to be wise and just
submitted TO this loss without murmur. or
even an explanation, which would have
saved me but injured our cause. The cove
nant of peace on the Slavery question entered
into at Baltimore thought wise for the
country and indispensable for the Democrat
ic marty. Northern and Southern Demo-
Gratis differ, utterly differ. on The whole sub
iect of Slavery. What, then. can be done
WHY, drop the subject it is the only way
to avoid a quarrel. This was agreed to be
done ut Baltimore /; and now, in open and
public violation Of this agreement, it is Tro-
y sed to repeal or supersede the prohibition
of Slavery in the Missouri Territory,
ON the ground that it is either already
repealed or never existed, that it was
superseded by the compromise of 1850, or
/ is Unconstitutional. II either of the reas-
ons be true, the act is fragrant breach of
marty faith. for the assured reason tina, the
act itself is untirely unnecessary. Could
anything but desire to buy the south at
the Presidential shambles dictate such an
Outrage! Now there are but two men
who can do any good in this crisis-one is
General Cass, the other yourself. IL you
will agree TO the Nebraska bill of last year
it will be promptly and triumphantly pass
cd. know General Cdss is committed to
the theory of non intervention. | am sorry
for it; think the theory unsound. Ii isan
idea of selEgovcrnment, and in expressing
the idea you overthrow the whole theory by
| imposing government on the Territory
States have right OF self.goyernment,
/ Territories have not but don't want to
argue this, General Cass can surely take
this ground i. e.: that the Bal more Plat
fora lOrbids the enactment or repeal Of any
law upon the subject Of Slavery and the
repeal of the Missouri prohibition is unncccs-
sary, because General Cass thinks it uncon-
stiiutional, and will leave it to the Courts
30 to hold. These views, and the fact that
the people of Nebraska went for the old bill.
and that the House by two to one passed it
last year, and that Atchison of the Senate
went for it, would give General Cass fair
standing ground in doing what am sure he
sees to be right. You, rs Southern man,
could advocate it to insure peace and good
will for the South Ii is vital to them to
live up to their agreement; they would DO
worse off to beat us than to DO beat; the
sing left behind would be fatal hereafter
Do you not think sol
Yours truly, j. VAN BuREy."
"There is one idea in my head which |
ought to have put in my le,tcr-the theory
of non Intervention, as applied to the Ne
braska Territory, demands the repeal Of the
law prohibiting Slavery in Nebraska. The
same theory, Of course, requires the repeal
Of all laws Of Congress establishing Slavery.
Now, Slavery in the District Of Columbia
exists by the laws of Congress alone. The
Maryland and Virginia laws upholding it
are repealed. The Intervention theory, rs
now construed abolshes Slavery in the Di.
strict of Columbia. Upon strict State rights
doctrine, too, it would repeal the Fugitive
Slave law.
Feb, 3, 1854. al. V. b."
JERRE CLEMENS REILLY.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4, 1854.
"My DEAR SIN: Your letter of yesterday
has just been received, and az ee with you
in most of the suggestions. The less which
is said upon the subject of Slavery the bet
ter it will be for all parties, and such am
sure is the general sentiment OF the South.
We want nothing but to be let alone; We
do not expect or desire that the people Of
the North should fall in love with Slavery.
We believe the institution to be n good one,
you think differently; let each enjoy his
own opinion, and refrain from any inter
ference with the rights or prejudices OF the
other. The sentiments which you have
heard me express on the stump are not mine
only, but those OF the Southern people al
most without exception. Agitation in any
form is what we object to, and the politi-
clan who teammates subject which we fond.
Ily hoped was buried forever, miscalcuates
Sadlyif he expects to be received with favor
by us.
=" All that considered necessary in the
Nebraska bill was that it should be an ex-
act copy of the New Mexico bill, except, Of
course, the name and description Of boun-
daries. You are aware that am fully CON-
mittcd against the doctrines Of Gen. Cass's
Nicholson letter, yet we both voted cheer
fully for the New Mexico Bill. II seems to be
common ground, upon which all reasonable
men might stand. 1t left the subject of
Slavery where the Constitution lett it, and
did not invade the province of the courts to
decide in advance what the Constitution
meant.
al am loo much engaged with profession.
al duties to pay much attention to politics,
but have been enough to be certain that
the Nebraska bill, as reported by Mr.. Doug.
las, will pass, and think | can foresee the
consequences, That they will be anything
but agreeable seems too clear to admit OF a
doubt. A hoodgate will be opened, and a
torrent turned loose upon the country, which
will sweep away in its devastating course
every vestise of the Compromise Of 1850.
! do not speak Of its immediate effects; II
look beyond. For the present it may be
looked upon at the South as boon. and by
portion Of the North as triumph over
ianaticism. The word peace will be upon
the lips of its advocates everywhere. Like
the angel Of the Lord, who stood among
the myrtle trees and said-'W have pass
ed to and fro through the earth. and be.
hold all the earth stteth still and is at
rest, even so we shall have it proclaimed
that The country is at rest-that all is peace;
but | greatly fear they will soon find they
have raised spirit which will wing its way
through storm and tempest to the funeral
pyre Of the republic.
4" 10 abide in good faith by the Compro-
mise Of 1850 and the platform OF Baltimore
is both the post of safety and the pos. of
honor. / repeat, we Of the South ask moth
;,., h,t 10 Ia lot olnn, Wa hoya mt mnval
in this after but it is we who must SUI.
fer unless northern men, who see and APP
prcciate our position, will do US justice be-
Tore your own people. You even do this
perhaps more eiectaally than any man at