Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08

giving his views upon the Nebraska BILL enclose here
with copy, which hope you will ind it conyen;eut Il
insert in your paper Mr. BRADY was the candidate o
the Hards Of New York last fall for Attorney General
and is gentleman Of marked ability and independent
as be is able.
i With great respect am, &c.
i b.. W. PECKHAM.
4 New YoRk JUNE 90 1854.
i MI DEAR siR You judged correctly to my opinion
about the Nebraska bill recently forced through Congress
by means which, however credtable TO the ingenuity
rebound to the honor Of those who EMPLOYED
them. consider that measure wrong in pyinciple and
mischievous in policy; wanton and wicked population
Of compromises which the South bound by every OBJ
legation Of honor to maintain. 1t must result IN repro
ducing angry and dangerous agtaons Of the slavery
question under aspects calculated deprive our breth-
at the South of many friends who have heretofore
stood by them and desired to do always have nei
her the wish the right to mpugn the motives of May
who voted for the measure but cannot regret the am
pie and conclusive evidence that is the joint production
profgate Administration and ambitious
that it conceived with unworthy motives and viii be
used for unhalowed objects Nor feel any satsfacto
ry justification for such intelligent Northern members as
aided in thrusting this bill upon the country though it
had not been solicited by the South Whether the peo
pie viii prove in this respect be more discriminating
+.
As one Of the people, feel great pleasure in COM
mending those who exered themselves to defeat the Ne
braska BILL and for the part that you and Messrs Maui
rice Wheeler, Peck, and Oliver took in opposing it
return my thanks as a Democrat and man.
was in Europe when this scheme was set on foot
did not return until its success inevitable There
occasion when could exert any effective inHu-
to prevent that deplorable result deeply regret
that did not receive the expressed opposition those
Democrats with whom you and have been identi
fed since the Syracuse Convention of 1847 wish they
had resolved not again be instrumental in affecting
the country all Of unconscously did when we aided
elect Franklin Pierce That is enough Of injury to
country and principles for century at least
supposed that portion Of the party had maintained
the cause Of the South and strongly abored to
its citizens the fullest enjoyment of all their constitn
tiona rights Such were my desire and aim. adhere to
them STILL My principles remain as they were in 1847,
and cannot and viii not be led driven from the De-
mocratic party though refuse adopt the new dogmas
Of tricksers mansuvrng for the Presidency. Westood
by the South and had every right expect the South
stand by Its representatives in Congress have not
done so and besides mourning the malignant enmity Of
the Administrations event which no honorable man
should regrewe have been visited with the GOODNESS
the opposition of Southern men, in support Of whose in
terests gave up all hope of the rewards of political
triumphs and encountered the worst results and perse
cutons of political warare The of the Southern
members shall not however, make from the path
chose. We viii adhere to the duty assumed But
hope that Of will give the slightest sanction
device for extending slavery or permit the least d.
intuition Of any right which belongs to the North
1t must have surprised you, as it did me- to find the
whom had to battle against in this State, from
1S47 1853 suddenly changed by the magic alchymy Of
Presidential patronage into violent advocates of greater
concessions to the South than it could did claim,
and observe that by the most unexpected advent Of
delusve ransitory political millennium these pretend
ed converts, and some Democrats whom you and had
always acted WITH have become rivals in ignobe eager
applaud the individual whom the paternity Of
the Nebraska scheme is generally attributed Some Of
these gentlemen insist that to be received into full
munon with them we must adopt their new article Of
faith they be sincere in this, and persist in this
action, for one will take the earliest opportunity to
all political connexior with them feel that they
msrepresent the sentiments and purposes of the true
Democracy But even if the contrary were the case,
could not change my deliberate conviction that it is
wise and utterly wrong the part Of the Northern De-
mocrats to permit any disturbance Of compromises which
National Conversations have often distinctly approx
ed and which not only Mr. Pierce, but Mr. Douglas the
competitors for the profit of abrogating them so
Gently and strongly promised to maintain.
will not consider whether the Missouri compro-
mise not unconstitutional, rs attempt by
Congress to prohibit prevent Legislation by sue
Men Of great intelligence hold opposite opinions
on this point The admission Of State into Con-
federacy, though effected by legislative means, is not
purely legislative act but has the characteristic Of
contract which should be sacredly observed My views
on that and other questions arising out Of the Nebraska
bill will be given at large when have opportunity
which much covet, address fellow Democrats in
public is enough that the Missouri compromise had
Ito use the language of Mr. Douglass uttered in 1849)
origin akin that Of the Constitution of the United
States conceived in the spirit Of fraterna afec
on and calculated to forever the danger which
seemed to threaten distant day the social
bond Of union. ALI the evidences Of public opinion Of
that day served to indicate that this compromise had be-
canonized in the hearts Of the American people
which ruthless hand would be reckless enough to dis
turb. For this Of repose to which the public
faith pledged, the South received consideration
which it yet enjoys The duty Of keeping that pledge
has been admitted and observed by abest statesmen
from all parts Of the Union who have adorned our annals
since it given, and those who thought that the
constitutional power existed believed and acted on the
belief that it should be exercised except under the
pressure of imperous necessity compelling the strict
exacton of extreme right. No man can pretend that
any such necessity has arsen pretext can be assign
ed for organizing these Territories which almost
cusvey occupied by the red men, except obtaining po-
itcal capital or bestowng Executive patronage How
deplorable that such motives should seduce the North
from its honor tempt the acquisyeness Of the South
Would that all the members Of the House had been nfu
enced by impulses equal in dignity which marked the
noble conduct Of Mr.. HUM, Of Louisiana! am very
sorry that contrary feeling controlled the Senate 1t
would not have been thus if Of the lustrous
who swayed that body remained to guide its actions
there had been spared of its former great minds even
one to whose stature the designation Of giant might be
applied without intending or exciting derision.
1t would be tedious to set forth in letter why, IL
had been member Of Congress- would have deemed
1t my duty labor and vote against the Nebraska bill
would have done with the fullest assurance that
representing the real sentiments Of our feow-ct
in this city and State, and almost envy you and
those with whom you associated In opposition to
the measure the grateful appreciation which your course
will surely for amongst the masses Of the true
noff hn Nah