Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-02-25

TUTTDWTTIg
VAN BuREN and Ex-senator CLEMENS having been
made public by the parties we do not hesitate to
transfer them to our cOlumnsi
LETTER FROM PRINCE JonS.
"MY DEAR CLEMENs The position |
took on the Baltimore Platform lost the respect
and esteem of some Of my trucst and best friends,
but so long rs knew 1t TO be wise and just sub
mttod to tits loss without a murmur, or even an
explanations which would have saved me but in.
jiured our cause. Tho covenant of peace on the
Slavery question entered into at Baltimore thought
wise ioI the country and indispensable for the
Democratic party. Northern and Southern Demo-
cras differ, utterly differ on the whole subject of
Slavery. What then, can be done? Why, drop
the subject; it is the only way to avoid quarrel.
This was agreed to be done at Baltimore; and
now, in open and palpablc violation Of this agree
mcnt, it is proposed to repeal or superscdc 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already repealed or never existed, that it was SUI
perseded by the Compromise of 1850 or is uncon-
stitutiona If either Of the reasons be true, the
act is fragrant breach of party faith. for the
assured reason that the act itself Is entirely
necessary Could anything but n desire to buy
the South ut the Presidential shambles dictate such
an outrage2 Now there are but two men who can
do any good in this crisis--onc is General Cass,
the other Yourself If you will ugree TO the Nc
braska bill Of last year it will be promptly and
trumphantly passed. ] know General Cass is
committed to the theory OF non intervention.
am sorry for it, think the theory unsound. II is
an idea of enlightenment, and in expressing the
idea you overthrow the whole theory by imposing
n government on the Territory. States have u
right of sclfgovornmcnt Territories have not; but
| don't want to argue this General Cass can
surely take this ground, /. e.; that the Baltimore
Platform forbids the enactment repeal Of ary
| 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 50 to hold. These views
and the fact that the people Of Nebraska want the
old bill, and that the House by two to passed
it last year, and that Atchison of the Senate wen
for it, would give General Cass fair standing
ground in doing what am sure ho sees to be right
You as q Southern man, could advocate II to in
sure peace and good will for the South II is vita
to them to live up to their agreement; they woul,
be worse off TO beat than TO be beat the stinj
left behind would be fatal hereafter. Do you no
think so2
Yours truly, j. VAN BUREN,"
: "There is one idea in my head which ought I
have put in my etter-the theory Of non-interyer
tion, MS applied to the Nebraska Territory, dc
mands the repeal of the law prohibiting SLAYER
/ in Nebraska. The same theory Of course, re
quires the repeal of all laws of Congress estal
fishing Slavery. Now, Slavery in the District {
a Columbia exists by the laws OF Congress alone.-
e The Maryland and Virginia laws uphoding it ar
}, repealed The non-intcrventon theory as no,
h. construed, abolishes Slavery in the District q
Columbia. Upon strict State rights doctrine, toe
it would repeal the Fugitive Slave law.
"Feb. 8, 1854. ID. V. B."