Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-04-13
oOL.CLEMENs g. THE ADMINISTRATION
FLARE Up-CURIoUs DEVELOPMENTS.
WAsHINGroS, March %,

WASHINGTON, March %, 1854
Col. Clemens letter, giving Gen. Pierces
opinion Of the Nebraska bill, has created the
most intense excitement here, especially among
the southern members. The demi-semi organ
of the Cabinet--the Star-asserts' this eve
ming that Col. Clemens, upon seeing the COM
ments Of the press upon it, Immediately adj
dressed note to the President, stating that
he did not pretend to give Gen. Pierce's Ian
guage; that it was probable he had mistaken
him, and that what the President said was
" That he was surprised that the men of the
North who intended to give the South their
rights under the Constitution shonld hesitate
to support Judge Douglass bill, when the
South were willing to take" &c. Now, upon
the highest authority, we make the following
statement:
As soon as he saw the Star this afternoon
he addressed letter to the editor of the I'M
ion, telling him that he. could not notice any
publication made in such papeaas the Star 3
but that if the Union copied or made SINH
lar statement he would be compelled to come
out over his own signature, and denounce it
as ole" He did not promptly address the
President note making the declaimer, as
stated by the Star. On the contrary, the
President first addressed Col, Clemens note,
yesterday morning, requesting him to call
and see him. Being engaged, he did not go
up; and as he was leaving his room Sidney
Webster came from the President to request
him to go up to the White House. He said
he was engaged in court and could not CO.
Mr.. Webster, the Presidents Private Secreta-
ry then got him to promise that he would 90
as soon as the court adjourned. He called
in the afternoon and had an interview with
the President. The result was. after long
conversation, that the President said that he
had not expressed his surprise that the South
were willing to take the Nebraska bill. But
he confessed that Clemens was correct in writ
ing "that President Pierce gave it as his de-
cided opinion that Douglass bill was a propo-
sition in favor of freedom" and added, that
if it should pass, although we might absorb
the whole of Mexico, not another slave state
would ever come into the Union. COL Gle
mems, not approaching any material differ
ence, politely yielded the possibility" Of the
specific reference to the South, being u deduc-
ton rather than positive statement The
denial by the President that he ever express
ed any surpaise that the South should be will
ling to receive the bill is mere evasion
Even if he did not say so in so many words
such is an obvious deduction from the Ian
guage he acknowledges to have used as regards
the effect of the bill. Last evening, the Pres
dent was SO anxious about the matter, he
again sent Sidney Webster to Col. Clemens,
to request him to put in writing the admis-
!, sion, meagre and immensely minute as it was.
Col. Clemens accordingly did so, and also
stated thatthe President had remarked that
the patriotic men of all sections ought to 20
for the Bill.
The Union viii try and plaster the matter
over in the morning, but it will be in vain.
Public opinion is here fixed upon the matter,
and it sustains Col. Clemens.
If an investigation is demanded, let John
Van Buren,, Dean, and Cochrane, be called
on the stand and asked if the President has
not repeatedly begged them to support the
Nebraska bill, on the ground that it was
far more efectual exclusion of Slavery, than
even the Wilmot Proviso. Cochrane was
converted by the reasoning, Dean is yet on
the fence, while Prince John remains an in
corrigibe hereto. What says the South p
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