Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-04-01
WASHINGTON.
" Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and
inseparable.0
THURSDAY, MARCH 80, 1854.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE NEBRASKA QUESTION


Although we did not think it to copy into our
paper the letter OF Mr.. CLEMENS to his friend in
Alabama, the publication of which has drawn from
him the suboined explanatory one, it is due to the
PRESIDENT that we should insert the latter The
letter from Mr. G. to his friend in Alabama, which
found its way into the public papers, contained the
following passage:
g But few Gays since, in conversation with North
ern Senator and myself he president PIERCE gave it
as has decided opinion that Douglass bill proposition
in favor Of Freedom and added that if it should pass
although might absorb the whole of Mexico not another
sdUs Stale EouR tie Union lie expressed great
surprise at The opposition met c from tie North and equa!
surprise that he South should 5s wag 10 take agreed
with him fully, and could not help recurring to the sra
tagem by which the Greeks effected the destruction of
Troy"
In consequence Of the publication Of this letter
Mr., CLEMENS addressed the following letter to the
President, which we copy from the Union of Sun
day last: ..... ..- H.. ....
WASHINGTON, MARCH "a, 1854.
DEAR Sir You have called my attention to late let
ter Of mine to n Davis r. Esq, and particularly to the
following sentence ...s.
He expressed great surprise the opposition it met
from the North and equal surprise that the South should
be willing to take it," Tt% ~ q. "t w.. f..
At the time the conversation to which that sentence
alludes took place was walking backwards and for
wards across the ROOM and should not have noticed it il
you had not remarked that you had ooncealments
upon the subject: ard that you were glad was present to
hear it. . 1....I ,...+. \ ,s.....".
In my letter to Mr.. Davis did not pretend to give
your language except where quotation marks were used
aud from the subsequent conversation with you, think
very probable that misunderstood the prport of your
remarks upon this particular point Your surprise may
have been expressed that the of the North should
hesitate to vote for Douglass bill when the South were
willing to take ii and, if had paid attention to the
whole conversation doubt not such would have been
| the impression left on my mind. ...... "
have never sought conversation with you upon the
subject of the Nebraska bill but every time have heard
YOU mention the subject you have uniformly expressed
yourself warmly in favor of the principle Of the BILL viz
the principle Of tie right of the people of the Territories
to regulate the question of slavery for themselves-a
doctrine from which dssered; and, as knew we were
not all likely 10 agree sought no discussion OF the
question. .t: g..
You have assured always that you thought it best
for the whole country and insisted that patriotic men in
both sections ought take it. thought the South must
be the loser think so now. understood you to place
it upon the ground that the principle s right in ITSELF
aud if it works for against particular section, one
has right to complains that you were for the rights OF
both sections and willing take any consequences that
might follow the practical carrying out of those rights as
you understood them. Very truly yours,
...r 1JERE CLEMENS.
| Gen. FRANK PIERCE,
President Of the United States