Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-19
senator Wilson, Of Massachusetts.

We have just received the answer of Senator
Wilson to letter addressed to him by us two
days since, and submit the correspondence to
our friends and the public If Senator Will
sons emphatic response to our inquiries does
not check the progress of the enemies Of the
" American party" in their mischievious at
tempts to identify our party with abolitionism,
we underrate the intelligence Of the people of
the South.
Opposed as Senator Wilson and all the North
have been and moo are to slavery, We may at
least reiterate our former opinions on the sub
ect, that the Southern States have less to fear
from him than from those Forney and Pierce
Democrats who resolved, at Columbus, Ohio,
finally to eradicate slavery. We shall COM
ment fully on this subject hereafter.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1866.
DEAR SIR: Referring you to my editorials for
the last two weeks, have to ask you how far
have correctly represented your views>in my COM
ments upon your letter of doth January, and the
articles in the Boston Bee, which have copied?
In other words Do you not recognise the doc
trine of State rights so far to permit the several
States to regulate the question Of slavery in their
own mode within their State limits Do you or not
entertain the opinion that Congress has power
to interfere with slavery in the States? Do you
not recognise that "higher-law" doctfnc, which
permits you as Senator to disregard the binding
obligations ofthe constitution? Does the Gamer
lean organization" in Massachusetts,, embrace the
question of slavery amongst those for the regula-
ton of which that organization was forrnedg
Your answer at your earliest convenience win
oblige your obedient servant,
VESPASIAN ELLIS
Editor American Organ.
Hon. HENRY WILSON,
United States Senate.
SESATS CHAMBER, Feb. 10, 1855.
DEAR Sin: My answer TO your inquiries win be
brief and explicit.
LIST. fully recognise the doctrine of State rights
in its application to slavery well sto any other
matter Of public concern.
The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1898,
in the main, Ithink, correctly set forth that doc
trine.
The whole subject Of slavery within State limits
should be left absolutely to State Legislation.
I'd. My response TO your second question is in
cluded in my answer to your first. do not enter
tain the opinion that Congress has any power to
interfere with slavery as il exists under State laws
Sd. Every man who believes in God must ne
cessarily believe that there is law paramount TO
all human law, and that this law ia TO be obeyed by
men in public and private life rather than any hu-
man law in conflict nth e. But see nothing in
the Consultation Of the United States, as under
stand the Constitution Of the United States, which
| requires me, as Senator from Massachusetts,, 70
do anythingin conflict with the law Of God. III
| thought otherwise, would not take an oath to
| support the Constitution Of the United States.
4th. The American Organization in Massachu-
sets does not embrace the question of slavery
among those for the regulation Of which IL was
| formed.
The peopleof Massachusetts, have fixed opinions,
in which most of the members of that organization
fully concur against the support or allowance Of
slavery by national legislation.
| They entertain the most profound conviction that
the harmony and repose of the country. and the
highest interests Of the master and the slave de-
mand that the national government should've re-
lieved from all connection with responsibility for
slavery, and that this disturbing question should
be left TO the people Of the States where II exists.
| While they do not seek to impose these convic-
tons and opinions upon their fellow-ctizens Of
other States to prescribe them for not fully con-
curing in those convictions and opinions, they
win submit TO no dictaton or prescription from any
body of men, or section Of the country.
I, as Senator from Massachusetts,, shall claim
for the opinions Of her people, all the freedom Of
utterance and all the influence upon the action Of
Congress, and the administration Of the govern
ment, which Senator from Virginia can claim for
| the opinions of the people Of the ancient Domin-
| ion. Yours truly,
HENRY WILSON.
vEsrAsIAs ELLIS, ESQ,