Washington sentinel., 1854-03-28

citadel which has resisted every open assault is
about to be destroyed by the foolish confidence
| Of its defenders in delusive gift, which only
serves to convey the enemy within the walls.
/ In 1850 the doctrine of the south was, "let
us alone" We asked nothing from Congress,
we wanted nothing; the emphatic language Of
Judge Butler was heartily responded to every
where. " All we ask is, that you will keep your
hands of. We want no extension. Let US
alone. This is all we ask"
hold to that doctrine yet; and that is the
substance of my late letter to Mr.. Van Buren,
about which 80 much has been said, but which
no one has yet attempted to analyze and refute.
! have other objections to Mr. Douglass bill,
which are insuperable of themselves 1t pro-
vldes that foreigner, who has merely declared
his intention to become actizen, shall be vested
with the right of voting, and thus places it in
the power OF foreign paupers and criminals to
deprive an American citizen of his property, or
drive him from the Territory with his slaves.
! do not speak for any mans constituents.
There may be communities who will sustain
their representatives in this great outrage upon
their rights; but if there be, pity the delusion
under which they are laboring.
The bill states, in substance, that the com.
promise of 1920 was repealed by the compro-
mise of 1850. Now this is either true, or It is
not. If true, where is the necessity of repeal
ing it over again? 1t is an anomaly in legsisla-
ton to repeal statute which is already repeal
ed. What end can be attained, except that of
placing a dangerous weapon in the hands Of
northern agitators? 1t gives them an oppor-
tunity to deceive the ignorant and unthinking,
by representing the south as faithless-by as
serting that we seized the first moment Of pow
er to repeal solemn compact, and that no re-
lance can be placed upon any compromise that
we may make. They will assert that one
compromise is no more sacred than another
that, as we have repealed the Missouri restric-
ton, they may and ought to repeal the fugi-
tive slave law; and thus will be revived that
dangerous agitation which all good men hoped
answer to this view of the subject; but it is a
false one, and if it should impose upon our
people it will not upon the north. We are told
that northern men violated the compromise of
1920, and we are no longer bound by it. This
is misconception. The Missouri compromise
applied to the Territory of Louisiana, and to
that alone. There was no provision that it
should be extended to any other territory. The
contract was complete, and bound neither
party in relation to territory thereafter to be
acquired So far as that compromise was con
cerned, we might, without any violation of its
provisions, have carried slavery into new terri
tory as high as the 49th parallel of latitude, if
we had the power; or they might have excluded
it as low as the equator, if we would submit
In 1850 we proposed new compromise-that
is, to run the line to the Pacific This was
merely an extension of the old contract, to
which they could agree or disagree without any
breach Of faith. They rejected it; but this re-
fusal to enter into new arrangement cannot
Justify us in violating the first / mention this,
however, merely to show the view which will
be taken of the subject north, and do not care
to elaborate it.
have said that, if the legislation Of 1850 did
in point of fact supersede the legislation of
1920, then the insertion of such provision in
the bill was not only unnecessary, but mis-
chievous. fit is not true, then the bill ought
not to pass, because it bears falsehood upon
its face.
The value of any compromise depends upon
its finality. If when one party has the power,
i may repeal the pprt which Niss distastefnl to
them, when the other party has the strength,
why may they not also repeal that part which
is disagreeable to themselves; and thus the
whole compact will be abrogated, and all hope
of a new one destroyed by the knowledge that
neither can rely upon the good faith Of the
other. hold it to be good rule that we
ought to be very careful how we make com.
pacts, bat once made, to abide by them firmly,
fairly, and honestly.
This letter has been written in haste and
amid constant Interruptions but hope have
furnished you with sufficient reasons to Justify
my course. Of one thing / need not assure
you, and that is, whether right or wrong, am
influenced by none but honest motives, seeking
nothing, asking nothing. Confning myself
exclusively to professional duties, am at least
free from the temptations which SO often beset
the politician, and less liable to error except
such as may arise from defect ofjudgment.
Your friend, JERE. CLEMENS.
MICH. DAVIS, Jr., Huntsville, Ala.