Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-01
From the Washington Union.

From the Washington Union.
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
In the conversation between President Pierce and the
Senator James, which referred by Col Clemens IN
his letter TO Mr. Davis Of Alabama the Presdcnt declared
that he "dasired conceament to his opinions
tho Nebraska question This has been his policy from
tho beginning Of tho discussion which followed the intro
duction OF tho Nebraska bill But In the face Of this open
and spoken course his position has tho subec,
ofconstant Misrepresentation aud caumny Tho publ
cation of Col Ccucns letters viii render Il inpos
bic hereafter for any honestly to misunderstood the
moval Of all for future misconslruction or msrcp.
resentaon republish much Of these letters is
necessary to correct understanding Of the actual posi-
ton Of the President, as follows:
Extract from Col ciemsns's Letter to Mr. pavis
"But few days since, in conversation with northern
senator aud myself he president Piercel gave his
favor of freedom aud added that f Il should pass nj.
though might absorb the whole Of Mexico not anol
slave State would into the Union. lie express
cd great surprise at the opposition IL met with from the
North, and equal surprise that the South should DO will
ling to take it. agreed with him fully, aud could
help recurring to the sratagcm by which tho Greeks Of
| fccted the destruction OF Troy"
Estrae, nom Col oiemenss Letter Prcsdeu, Pierce
"ln my letter to Mr. Davis did not pretend TO give
your language, except where quotation marks were use
and from the subsequent ersation with Won think n,
probable that misunderstood the purport of your
remarks upon this particular point Your surpris, NAV
have been expressed that the true of tho North
should hesitate TO vote for Douglass bill when the South
were willing TO take it; and If had paid attention TO
the whole conversation doubt such would have been
81 have sought conversation with Won uno, tb,
subject of the Nebraska bill but every time have hoard
you mention the subject you have uniformly cxpr,ss,
yourself warmly in favor OF the principle of the bl viz
the principle OF the right of the people of the Territories
to regulate the question Of slavery for hemscvcsa doc
'rine Iom which dssentcd; and as knew we were not
At all likely to agree, sought discussion of the ques-
ton.
You have assured me always that you thought Il best
Tor the whole country aud insisted that patriotic men in
both sections ought take it, thought the South must be
L / undara fnol ~, Z,
upon the ground that the principle right in ITSELF and If
works Tor or against particular section one has
right to complain that for rights of both sec.
TOES and willing take that might fol-
low the practical carrying out of those tights you un-
derstood them"
These extracts taken together as wc understand Tie
matter, contain the position occupied by the President on
the Nebraska question: from the introduction of IN, hin
10 The present time lie planted himself from the first
upon the principle OF nntervcntion viz "TuE PRs.
cirLE or INK RIGHT PEorLx OF TIE TERRiroRIys
TO REGULATE THE QUESTION Oh SLAVERY THEMSELVES
SUBJECT TO rHE PROVISIONS or THE CONSTITUTION. In
otner words he willing 70 commit the people Of tho
Territories now and hereafter all the control which Con-
greSs may constituonally exercise over the subject
Regarding the bill as based upon this principle. he cal
ways thought best the shoe countrv and insisted
that patriotic IN both sections ought to take it. he
STOOD upon the conviction that "e principle is right in
s, anu, II It works for or against particular section
no one has right to complain lie for the rights OF
oo'n sections aud willing to take any consequences that
might follow the practical carrying of these rights as
ne una rsood them lie was surprised that the men
Vi 'e North should hesitate to support the bill when tho
south was willing take it, This surprise was expressed
TO northern SENATOR who known to be opposed TO
ne measure and in presence Of southern man. who was
also known TO be opposed TO Il. To two gentlemen
thus agreeing in their opposition to the BILL but dis
agreeing as to the practical consequences its
ana as to the soundnes OF the principle which rested
the President wish undsguised ankness and character
stic candor, affirmed his devotion TO the doctrine of non
'dr soreHgnty and avowed readiness to take any con-
sequences that might follow from that principle lie ex-
pressed his conviction to the practical consequent
ces oil the adoption OF the principle Of the BILL and de-
clared that in his opinion the assertion Of the princjp
Oh PoPrar sovereignty was In ITSELF proposition in Ia
vor OF freedom Whether this opinion to practical re.
suits well founded will doubtless continue To he
the theme Of earnest discussion. We have ALWAYS beiey
ed that there certain xed laws climate and produc
eon which, IN connection with the laws Of se-inerest
VIII settle the question of slavery every locality Tho
ADOPTION OF the non intervention principle removes all OBJ.
10 he operation OF these natural laws and it
account that the President has given his sup
port II hs opinion had been that the practical
would have been that additional slave Ses would be adj
United into the Union, his support OF the principle would
haue been Jealous and Determined is with his
present opinion the subject He not support the
bill because WILL his opinion result in excluding more
slave states but because he believes the great principle
popular rights which II correct lie would have
et himself constrained to support the b in view of the
acuoh oil the democratic party Baltimore il he had
not been an original friend OF the nonntervcntion pru
cpe lie regards the Compromise of as based upon
that principle and the recognition by our party of that
compromise rs permanent adjustment of the slavery
question would have furnished to him conclusive reason
Ii Is well known that there much division of sent-
ment in the South to the rights of the inhabitants of
territory, but of the features of the Compromise of
1900 was the settlement of those differences of opinion by
cordial acquiescence in the noninterventon principle
with this conviction To the Interpretation OF the
Compromise of 1850, have regretted any disposition
revive the discussion in the South rights and
powers OF the inhabitants Of Territory and have alb
stained from any participation in such discussions We
nave regarded this question adjudication and have
not deemed it either necessary prudent to disturb it
We have not deemed il incumbent us to investigate
he probable practical consequences Of adopting the
intervention principle in regard future territorial nc.
questions We have satisfied ouself that the principle
was recognised by the Compromise of 1880; that our
party pledged IFS faith to adhere to it in 1852 that Pres-
dent Fierce was elected this principle aud being
vEced that he principle is right ia ielE we have Civ
Ell to the bill Of Judge Douglas earnest and jealous
support without nqurng whether may hereafter result
IN adding more slave free States the Union
Such We understand to be the position Of the President on
the question aud upon this position he will stand or fall
| as the popular Judgment shall decide the result