Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-16

and abolitionists, in and out of Congress, have
already taken this position.
We cannot perceive that merely unnecessary
legislation is breach of party faith, unless
Mr.. Van Buren, thinks it is grieyous wrong
that the Nebraska bill has been so shaped as
to test the sincerity and expose the hypocrisy
of the faction to which he belongs. If the
faith of the democratic party has ever been
pledged TO any such concealment, we demand
to know when and where the pledge was made,
and the names of the men who dared to enter
into any such disgracefnl and degrading stipu-
lation in the name and on behalf Of the dem
ocratic party. But we have already given as
much importance to Mr. Van Buren's letter as
it deserves and we conclude this article by APP
pending the letter itself, so-that every one can
read and interpret for himself:
any DEAR CLEMENs:* The POI
stion took on the Baltimore platform lost
me the respect and esteem of some of my truest
and best friends; but so long as knew it to be
wise and Just, / submitted to this loss without
murmur, or even an explanation, which would
have saved me but injured our cause. The
conyenant of peace on the slavery question, en-
tered into at Baltimore, / thought wise for the
country and indispensable for the democratic
party Northern and southern democrats differ,
utterly differ, on the whole subject of slavery.
What, then, can be done? Why, drop the sub
ject it is the only way to avoid quarrel.
This was agreed TO be done at Baltimore
and now, in open and palpable violation OF
this agreement, it is proposed to repeal or
supersede the prohibition of slavery in the
Missouri Territory and to repeal it on the
ground that it is either already repealed,
or never existed that it was superseded
by the compromise Of 1850, or is unconstitu-
tional. If either of the reasons be true, the act
is fragrant breach of party faith, for the as
sured reason that the act itself is entirely un-
necessary. Could anything but desire to buy
the south at the presidential shambles dictate
such an outrage? Now there are but two men
who can do any good in this crisis--one is Gen
eral Cass, the other yourself If you will agree
to the Nebraska bill of last year, it will be
promptly and triumphantly passed. I know
Gen. Cass is committed to the theory of non-in-
PREVENTION. lam sorry forit. think the theory
unsound. 1t is an idea of lfgovernment and
in expressing the idea you overthrow the whole
theory by imposing a government on the Ter
Territories have not. But don't want to ar
que this. General Cass can surely take this
ground, /. e., that the Baltimore platform for
bids the enactment or repeal of any law upon
the subject of slavery; and the repeal of the
Missouri prohibition is unnecessary, because
General Cass thinks it unconstitutional, and
will leave it to the courts so to hold. These
views, and the fact that the people Of Nebraska
want the old BILL and that the House by two
to one passed it last year, and that Atchison
ofthe Senate went for it, would give General
Cass fair standing ground in doing what am
sure he sees to be right. You, as a southern
man, could advocate it to ensure peace and
good will for the south. 1t is vital to them to
live up to their agreement Theywould be worse
off to beat us than to be beat; the sting left
behind would be fatal hereafter. Do you not
think so? ~ \
Yours, truly, j. VAN BUREN,.
There is one idea in my head which ought
TO have put in my letter. The theory Of non
intervention, as applied to the Nebraska Ter
ritory, demands the repeal of the law prohibit
ing slavery in Nebraska. The same theory,
of course, requires the repeal of all laws Of
Congress establishing slavery. Now, slavery
in the District Of Columbia exists by the laws Of
Congress alone. The Maryland and Virginia
laws upholding it are repealed. The non-inter-
vention theory, as now construed, abolishes sla-
very in the District of Columbia. Upon strict
State.rights doctrine, too, it would repeal the
fugitive slave law. J. V. B.
February 3, 1884,