Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-04-06
LETTER FROM MR.. CLEMENS.
President Pierce Against the Nebraska
Bill-Suuatter Sovereignty.

Blll-Squ2tter sovereignty.
The writer of the following letter is a
thorough-going Right Democrat, and
Southern man. lie was former L. s. Sem
ator from Alabama, and aside from the start
ling announcement the Presidents views,
his remarks are wor by of perusal:
WAsHtyGroN, Feb. "a, 1854.
MY DEAR SIR: l have received your let
ter, in which you say that some OF my friends
are surprised at the position have assumed
upon the Nebraska question, and desire to
be made acquainted with the grounds upon
which my opposition was based.
l had determined not TO be forced into the
political arena by anything an enemy might
say, but that rule has no application 10 the
misappreheusion of friends. / am opposed
to the bill Of Mr.. Douglas, because it is sup
ported upon The avowed ground that the peo-
pie of a territory, whie ii remains terrific
ry, may regulate the subject of slavery for
themselves. This, you will remember is
the doctrine Of Gen. Cass' Nicholson letter,
which was repudiatcd by the entire South
in 1913; the Wings charging it upon him as
grievous political offence, and The Demo-
Gratis evading the issue by placing differ
ent construction upon the letter. Suisse
quently ut The session of lS49-'5O, when
Gen. Cass ovowed that the Northern con-
struciion of his letter was the correct one
it was at once disclaimcd by the whole body
Of Southern Senators, including the present
Secretary of War. Judge Douglas, in allu-
ding 10 the letter, stated that the doubts en-
tertained by the then Senator from BIissis-
sippi (Col Davis) had caused him TO be
Mkewarm in his support of Gen. Glass;
Col. Davis instantly replied: Il had doubts,
fears and apprehensions, which reached TO a
conviction that the Senator (Gen. Cass)
was wrong upon The question Of the ter
ritorial inhabitants; yet, sir, l took him as a
choice of evils. say it in no terms of dis
respect. The Senator from Michigan knows
thought it was wrong doctrine,'' &c.
Col. Davis was warmly sustained by Judge
Butler, and Col. King emphatcaly declared
that he never did, and never could, subscribe
to the doctrine held by Gen. Cass.
There was no disagreement, that l am
aware of, among us-all held that il was
dangerous doctrine, and one which as eff
fectually excluded us from The territories as
the Wilmot proyiso itself. Let me add that
such is the opinion now entertained by the
President OF the United States himself. But
q few days since, in conversation with a
northern Senator and myself, he gave it as
his decided opinion, that Douglas's bill was
ga proposition in favor OF freedom
added that il it should pass, although we
might absorb the whole Of Mexico, not an
other slave State would ever come into the
Union. He expressed great surprise at the
opposition il met with at the Moth, and
equally surprised that the South should be
willing TO take il. agreed with lin fully
and could no. help recurring TO the strata
gem by which the Greeks effected the de-
struction of Troy.
The only quotation Mir. Calhoun was ev-
er known TO make, was. ''iialco DanaoS, ei
dona tcrelteS,' and if ever there was a time
when it should be repeated rs q warning TO
the South, il is The present. A northernman
unmosked and unsolicited, brings forward a
proposition proiessedIy for our benefit, but
in reality in insidious attempt to steal away
from us The fruits Of our former trials and
struggles. The 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 emphat-
ic language Of Judge Butler was heartily
responded to everywhere--'all we ask is,
that you will keep your hands off. We
want no extension. Let US alone. That is
all we ask"
hold 10 that doctrine yet; and that is the
substance Of my late letter TO Mr.. Van Blu
rem, about which so much has been said but
which no one has yet attempted to analyze
and rerute.
have other objections to MIR. Douglas
bill which are nscpcrable to themselves
Ii provides that foreigner who has merely
declared his intention to become a citizen
shall be vested with the right ofvoting, and
thus places It in The power of foreign pau
pers and criminals 10 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 rep
resentatiyes in this great outrage upon the
rights, but If there be I pity the delusion