The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-26
LETTER FROM COL. BENTON.
HIS VIEW ON TIE KANSAS QUBSTION--HK is IN THE
FRIRNnS.

HANDS OF HIS FRIENDS.
WASHINGTON CrY May, 1856.
GES1KsH-I have received your letter the subject
OF the nominations made by the Democratic Convention
a. Jefferson City, and greatly pleased with the whole
takes BY surprise aud must remain under considers
ton until return, which will be soon, as sm nearly
through the occupation which has de ainsd me here In
the meantime, any other person tsougk for the
Governors nomination in the event e ny inability to
accept II, would wish him TO be br,ugb Onward Ut
once Without awaiting soy further answer from me-
I. my intention to speak on the sia:e ospubc affairs
when get TO Missouri, but not in the way o CANVASS,
nor as rdidste or any ofc. but to d, ny part as
citizen in trying to the peace an harmony Of
the Union. AID 70 keep agitation q s-ion.lsu out Of
States, and o.n State above ell.
CONSIDER slavery agitation, (anc its nst1ral Of
socially and politically, which c,a. oeai tur Union
Snd that curse II now upon Us, ana Drought upon as
desienedy ard for the worst Of purpcsea The Miss ur
above thirty years, and there no. among those
contrivDg It's repeal who was not up1r he record lin
sSresssion and Nr. Calhoun p Smss - Is 1876
only two before his death, and IS brosehsd
the doctrine OF no power in Congress e reg .ts upon
slavery in Terr1teries-repudiae the IDEA Of repeal
and declared that the attempt to do would dis
turb the and harmen Of the Uni.n" 1t has been
of the Union has been destroyed
Ont Of the repeal Of this compromis. has s2rang
forth new test OF democracy, which consists in eI
acting party allegiance to the principles Of the snsas
Nebrssis bill The first inquiry upon. the virtue Of
this test 10, to find out what those principles
:
cones from sce, the other, Of the Pot,nas
river. From the North the ans is, squsster
ereenty being the inherent right Of the people of the
Territory to decide the question Of slavery for themselves
and to have not just they please. In the South
that definition held be rank dsmsgogu.ry that
the people Of the Territory more than Congress- have
not Of power the subject that the constitu
ton carries slavery nth into every territory,
IS acquired, overriding and controlling oil laws sgains.
it. and keeping It in defiance Of the people Of
Congress until the Territory becomes Safe and ex-
cudes it, Thus the Of the test opposite
light and darkness in telling what 1t is, And surely
they ought agree upon it bsh re they require oilers 10
believe 1t. is impossible TO believe both; and
believe In neither believe in the old do:trine, that
the Territories are the property OF the United ssatss
and under the guardianship Congress, and subect
such laws Congress chooses to provide for then Cor
70 permit them make for themselvs) un Ill they
come States and after that 1.-THE arrived a ven
y ore years q sge they are out OF suardsnshp and
have all the rights their athers That my belief and
has been the belief whole United States III lately
especially the belief OF those VIII .eny it. and who
are upon the record and thst often and re.en against
their denial Winners Ito 60 further bscs) the
bill for the admission OF Texas, in 1s45 which all
voted for that admission voted for the
Of the Missouri compromise ae in all that part OF il
south Of Arkansas river where II had been abrogaei
by the and contribution Of Texas Witness aso the
debates and speeches ca the oregon bill, In l8is also
the attempts he onse line 20 me PAcihc
In 1850 also the votes of Of these a5vocstes in
favor o. the Wimot proviso and above ali the protest
Of the Senator'S sgAnst the admission Of ,he state OF
California 1850 because Cong ese voli not eRfslats
upon the subec. slavery in the Territory wnisn
TO H. With all these authorities sad evidsncs'
In syor Of the old doc Ji,e aud sgans. the ten
snd It's authors fhink the old cemoc.acr be al
loved dispue ite bDtig force s event., Il
THOMAS H. BENTON
But derry h.t the Of Mexico have the efsc.
ritutec 10 hsm ffs OF Keeping slavery New Melso
Seunties isea he .e2eresptS snS suSsry Of Se1
y BE Territory seag cd 5seonae extinct and .is q
contttston vi IL oyerd.se control over All lhe laws
insnni'cns htxico inconsssn With t6T Cdlons Ore
goR tItsch, 1Sss.