Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-02-11
Jsrre cl.u.a, and p,lu.. John.

The newspapers have for several days past ounced
that very interesting correspondence on the N,braka
BILL between Jerrc Clemens aud Prince John Van Buren
would loon be brought to light We find the letter from
Mr. Clemens to tho Prince In the New Yok Harold of
the s,h II takes ground against the Bill out and out, -
Mr. Jsrre Clemens IL understood to 10 a great hvotits
with tho Administration, well as Mr. John Van Buren,
Both are prominent members Of the Kitchen Cabinet and
their views taken very significant Of tho secret
opinions Of the Brgader. and portion at least of his
Cabinet. The following is tho letter from Mr. Cemen,
to his dear friend johns
wAsniSoros, February 9th, 1854
To Hon. Jons VAN BuhKs.
Ny Dear Si:Your letter Of yesterday has jns, been
received, and agree with you In most Of its Suggestions
inc les. that Is said upon the subject Of slavery The bet
Yer VIII DO for oil parties. and such Is tho gene
raj sentiment Of the South We want nothing but to DO
s. Wo DO not expect desire that the people Of
inc North should fall In ovo with slavery. We believe
tue institution TO be good one-you think differently
Let each enjoy Ills own opinion and refrain from ay In
reference with the rights prjudices of the other Tho
sn'eh you have heard moeIprcss the stump
arc not NINE only, but those of the Southern nc, PIE
Almost without exception. Agitation In any form il what
We object to- and the politician who re animates n sub.
ject which NO fondly hoped was buried forever mis-.
calculates sadly u he expects to be received with favor
by '"'''
All that considered necessary In tao Nebraska biz.
Was, that should DO copy OF the New M,,ic,
BILL except OF course tho name and dcscrip,ion o hor
uaries You are aware that fully committed avnins.
the doctrines OF General Casss Nicholson letter vol ~
both voted chceruly for the New Mexico bill IL seemed
To me TO he common ground upon which all roa,onab,
men might stand II lett the subject OF slavery where tho
Constitution left H. and did invade the province Of he
Courts TO decide in advance what that Constitution
am too much engaged with professional duties to paw
much attention to politics. but think have seen enough
70 DO certain that the Nebraska bill reported by Mr.
lac will pass and think iorcsee the
mat they will DO anything but agreeable seems too clear
10 admit Of doubt. A doodgate will be opened and u
torrent turned loose upon the country which will sw,rp
away In its devastating course every vesge Of the
promise OF 1850 DO not speak OF its immediate effects
LOOK beyond For the present may looked upon
d tho South as a boon and by portion Of the NORTH
As triumph over fanaticsm. The word peace
wan DO upon the lips OF its advocates ev,rywle c.
Lake the Angel OF the Lord who stood among the myrtle
uecs ana sails We have passed and fro through tho
eah and behold all tho earth stitch still and is at rest,
80 we shall have IL proclaimed that the country is
rest-that all peace-butI greatly fear that they will
soon find they have raised a spirit which will wing Il. wny
through storm and tempest tho funeral pyre of the no.
public. ~ " " "
To abide in good faith by tho compromise Of lsbo ard
the platform oil Baltimore, is both the post of safety and
the post Of honor repeat Of the South AK nothing
but to be left alone. We have moved in this matter
out u Is We who must suffer- unless Northern men who
see and appreciate our position will do us Justice before
your own people. You do this perhaps more cctu
ally than man at the North aud u Il did not muy nm nm
ply an unknd suspicion, would ask you to do H. A il
Is do not doubt you aud consider the requct
~.
Hoping to have the pleasure of meeting YOU verv 500,
l iemain very truly, yours, &c.
JER CLEMENS