Washington telegraph., 1854-03-08
WASHINGTON, d. { |
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WASHINGTON, d. {,
Feb. 4, lSdl
Hoy Jeuy VAN BuRrN-My DIAN SIN
Your letter of yesterday has Just been fe'
eciyed and agree with you in most ot l's
SUGGESTIONS. The less that is said upon the
subject of slavery the better it will be iof
all nartes and such am sure is the gehe,r'
al sentiment of the South. We want no'h,
inc but 10 be let alone, We do not exnee,.
or desire that the people Of the North should
fall in love with slavery. We believe the
institution To be good one-you think dli.
ierontly, Let each enjoy his own opinion
and refrain from any interference with Tue
rights or preiudiccs Of the other The son
timcnls which you have heard me express
on the stump are not mine only, but those
Of the Southern people, almost without eS'
ception Agitation in any form is what We
Object TO and the politician who teammates
subject which we fondly hoped was buried
forever misealenlates sadly If he expects to
he received with favor By US.
An that | considered necessary in the
Nebraska bill was, that It should be IN eS,
ael copy Of the New Mexico bll except, Of
course the name aud description Of the
/. boundaries. You are aware that | am iul'
" committed against the doctrines Of Gen.
/ eass Nicholson letter, yet we both voted
chcefhlly for the New Mexico bill. II
snrmed TO me to be common ground upon
which all reasonable men might stand. II
/ len the subject Of slavery where the eonsii'
tuition leli it. and did not invade the province
Of ihe court. 10 decide in advance what that
constitution meant.
am too much engaged with professional
J duties Ia pay much attention to politics. but
+ | thbk | have seen enough to be certain
/ that the Nebraska bill. rs reported hy Mr.
/ Douglas will pass aud think | can foresoc
the consequences. That they will be any
! thing hut agreeable seems too clear to adj
nit Of ddalt. \ iloodgate will be opened
md torrent turned loosn upon the country
which will sweep away in It's devastating
course every ycsiige Of the compromise ol
. ls5n. do NJ, speak Of its immediate ef.
leri-l lrak beyond For the present il
may be looked uTon at the South as a boon
and by portion of the North as a triumph
over hnaileism. The word pence will he
nron tbn lips of its advocates everywhere
/ like the Angel Of the Lord who stood
among the myrtle trees and said, We have
passed Ia and fro through the earth and be-
hold MI the earth sitiilh sill aud Is nj rest;
even 20 shall sc have il proclaimed TINT the
eauntry is at fest-that Oh is pcaec-bat
greatly fear that they will son find they
lave raisol a spirit which will wing ils va,
through a storm and tempest to the funeral
ryre Of the republic.
To abide in good faith by the eompro
misc Of lsj0 and the platform Of Baltimore
is both the post Of safety and the post q
honor. rCpcat. We of the South ask roth
ing but To be left alone. We have not moy
cd in ihi. matter, bu, il is We who must suf
Ter, unless Northern men, who see and ap
preciaic our position, will do us justice be-
fore your own pcop!e. You can do this
pcrhaus. more ciIcctually than any man al
The North. aud il il did not imply an unkind
suspcian would ask You to do H. As i
is, do no, doubt you, aud consider the re
quest unnecessary.
Hoping to have the pleasure Of meeting
you very soon, remain truly yours Sc.
JER. CLEMENS.