The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-07-31

Political Unfairness---Abuse of Mr..
Buchanan.

Buchanan.
The anti Administration press and speakers
are too hard on the late Mr.. Buchanan. and we
insist upon it that it is not fair to thus di>nter
the dead every day. Better say. Peace to
his old bones.'
They began bv publishing his 4th of July
Federal speech-that was youthful lndl>cre-
tion, being then only 26 years old. They
then published his anti-slavery speech in Con
gress, in 1887, when he was only 37--still
too young to be held responsible; and now
they are are publishing his letter of l848,
when about 59-in his second childhood
Here is the letter:
WAsHrNGToN. Aug 81, 1848.
DEAR SIR-I have just received yours of
the l2th inst, in which you submit to me the
following paragraph. and ask whether it con-
tains an accurate version Of the conversation
between US, concerning my Berks county let
ter, on the occasion to which you refer:
"Happening to meet Mr.. Buchanan at the
Presidents levee, on Friday evening. | called
his attention to this letter, and asked him if
he intended to be understood claiming that
the population of Territory in unorganl-
zed capacity had the right to control the ques
ton of Slavery in such Territory He de-
clared that no such idea had ever been main
his language by Mr.. Yancey was a perver-
sion OF It's plain and obvious meaning; that in
his opinion the inhabitants OF Territory, as
such, had no political rights, although they
possessed all the private rights of American
citizens, that they had no power whatever
over the subject of Slavery. and they could
neither interdict establish. except when
assembled in Convention TO form State Con-
stitution. He further authorized and request
ed me to make any public of these decla-
rations that | might think proper, TO correct
any impression which Mr.. Yancey's eonstruc-
ton of his language in the Berks letter might
have made
With the addition which 1 have inserted
between brackets, this statement is substan
tally and almost literally correct. according
to my recollection.
In my letter to Berks county, of 25th Au
gust 1847 l have said. under the Missouri
Compromise Slavery was forever prohibited
north of the parallel OF 36 deg. Som, and
south of this parallel the question was left to
be decided by the people, What people?
Undoubtedly the people of the Territory, as
sembled in Convention to form a State Con
and ask admission into the Union
and not the first adventures first corners"
who might happen to arrive in the Territory.
assembled in public meeting. Ii doubt on
this subject could possibly exist, it is removed
by the next succeeding sentence of my letter.
proceeded to state-"Congress. on the ad
mission of Texas. adopted the same rule" &c
And what was this rule? 1.-The Joint Reso-
luton for annexing Texas to the United
Sates,' approved March lst. 1845. answers
the question in the following words: And
such States as may be formed out of that por-
tion Of said Territory ,imy south or 80 de-
grees 80 minutes, North latitude. commonly
known as the Missouri Compromise line, shall
be admitted into the Union, with or without
Slavery, as the people of each Safe asking ad-
mission may desire" Such was the descrip-
ton of the people to whom | referred in my
Berks County letter.
Any other construction of the letter would
render it essentially inconsistent with itself
Having urged the adoption of the Missouri
Compromise. the inference is irresistible that
Congress. in my opinion. possesses the power
TO legisate upon the subject oil Slavery in the
Territories. What absurdity would it then
be, it. whilst asserting this sovereign power in
Congress. which power from its nature must
De exclusive. should in the very same breath
also claim this identical power for the pop
ulation of Territory in an unorganized ca
pacity?"
La conclusion, l desire to reiterate and re-
affirm every sentiment contained in my Berks
cou1ty letter l cling to the Missouri Com
yet firmly believe that it will be adopted bv
Congress.
ours, very respectfully.