Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-27
WASHINGTON, d. C.
rHs PRESIDENT AND MR.. CLEMENS.

Bill. He holds that the Compromise OF 1920
applied alone to tho Territory acquired from
France; that the proposition to extend the
Compromise in 1850 to the Territories acquired
from Mexico, was a proposition for new con-
tract, to which the North might agree or dis
agree without any breach Of faith" that, il
the legislation Of 1850 did in point of fact su-
persede the legislation Of 1920, then the inscr-
ton " Of such provisc in the BILL was not
/. only unnecessary, but mschievous;' if it did
not, "then the bill ought not to pass, because
it bears q falsehood ON it's face His opinion
evidently il, that it did not 80 supersede it.
But, the material portion of the Letter re
lates to the position assigned to the President
Of the United States on thisquestion. Mr.. Clem
ems, after remarking that the Bill Of Mr.. Doug
las is supported ON the axowed ground that
the People Of Territory while it remains a
Territory, may regulate tho subject Of Slavery
for themselves which he characterizes as "a
dangerous doctrine and one which 40 effectu-
ally excludes ns from the Territories as the
Wilmot Proviso ITSELF" makes the following i'm.
portant statement:
Let me add, that surh is The opinion noio
ENTERTAINED By the President Of the United
STATES himself But q teaO days SINCE, IN con-
persat,0n tUifh a Northern Senator and myself,
he gave At as has decided opinion, that Doug
lass bill agas a proposition ~ fauOr IF free
DOM, and aaded, that If ii should pass, although
zoe mieht absorb the aphoie Of M.ruo, NOT an
other sldve State iOolld ever come into the Union
He expressed greet surprise at the opposition
it met with from the North, and equal surprise
that the South should DO willing to take IT.
agreed with him fully, and could not help re-
curing to the stratagem by which the Greeks
effected the destruction Of Troy"
We quote the passage as we find it printed
in the Nashvills Banner. 1t win be observed,
that beside the general statement attributed
to the President one sentiment is given By Mr.,
Clemens, in the Presidents own words, viz
that the bill was !. proposition in favor of
frssdomO
It is easy to see that such statement az
this, emanating from distinguished Southern
man, known to be friendly to the President
and supporter Of his Administration, must
awaken distrust Of the bill among Southern
man, and diminish the chances Of it's passage.
And what must they think Of q President
whom they have been accustomed to regard
e. committed entirely to their peculiar inter
ests when they see him using all his influence
for the passage Of measure which he CON-
sidsrs "ns fapor Of freedom" and under which,
in his Judgment, if il become law, not an
otk<r siaw State ioouid eper come into The
Union ?n
The result is, the President Of the United
STATES is obliged to lay aside the dignity Of his
Office, and call upon Mr.. Clemens TO repair the
mischief oocasioned by that unfortunate letter.
The ex-senator is too amiable not to respond,
but too honest to take back 9 single word he
M said. We give the respon,e as we find it
in tina 2pion, which says that it. places the
viav. of sle President substantially in their
true light belize the country
W.sa,.oSsS % c., MareA "a, 1854
~. W.. nave called my attention to
-. ,...a .o1o 10 NJ Davis Jr., Esq., and
ns,s;onis'I. - "a talloxing sentence
.He srn,essE 1Reet e.Dy1r at the opposi-
ton 4 mot co. y 9goA I'D equal surprise
that the South dleua1 q = J" v .ate "a,
AT the tim6 ~ - on 70 rn'cn .na'
ssntsncs ALL tnot. was walking
bsskwaTdd - Gsu vi a g =. me l1o.n, anu
should not topo ncolos yoa nau nos to
marked ths> ysI ~. oonoea'men,s upon
the subieok "a ~ -" were gao ! was
q 80 49, =. ~ Davis did not pretend
"a ~, ~ >, .s ~ -, exsspt where quotation
49, -: $780, . from subssQusnt CONVEX
ss,;an ,.sx S pink il very probable that I
.,;.s,,dsS -2 .<s8 purport of your remarks
.,.,o., y. - -=.s. Mar point. Your surprise may
49, 49, led that the true men OF tho
No-t,' ~ b. koDitate to vote for Douglass bill
-h.,,<.s@ So1E4 we're willing TO take it; and,
e I'D paid attentioa to the whole converse
ton doubt not such would have been the i'm
precision left on my mind.
have never sought q conversation with you
upu the suhject Of the Nebraska bill; but
every time have heard you mention the sub
ject, you have uniformly expressed yourself
warmly in favor OF the principle of the bill,
w: the principls OF the right Of tho people Of
the Territories TO regulate the question OF Sla.
very for themselves doctrine from which
dissonted and, as knew we wcre not at all
likely 70 agree sought no discussion of tho
question.
Yoa have assured me- always, that you
thought 4 best for tho whole country, and in
sisted thai patriotic men in both sections Ought
80 take il ! Thought the South must be- the
loser. | think 90 now. ] understood you 10
place it upon the ground that the principle is
right in itself and, If il works for or against
particular section mo- one has right to com.
plain; that you were for the rights of both SEQ
sions snd willing 70 take any consequences
thas might follow the practical carrying out Of
those rights ~ You understood them.
Very truly, yours, JrRE CLEMENS.
Gsn Franz Pi,rs.
President United States
This Isttsr 70 the President confirms the cor-
rsclnes of ne ststsmsntsi in tho letter addressed
% M. Davis Mr.. CIemens retracts nothing
"a bio qosIiaoations ars unimpcrtant.
~ President Il sseme, dos not solicit at
eeoofon % shs moss inportaot part Of the state
.n..~< ~ NJ Clan1ann-khAf Eha rave L AZ his