, 1862-11-06
4 CURIOUS RBvKEATION OF THE
WAK.

Tie Doetrlne ef 8eoessfon IN 1790-An Asto-
oraph Letter Of Rohert b Lee-Teory;1 and |
he 'Carolnas the Fsrst 6'asny Agitators-A |
Paea. for Dissaring The Unian.
The following letter, written by r. B: Lee,
grandfather ot the present communicable
chief OF the rebel srDy, WIS found In the
dwelling house Of Gen. Stuart, IN Virginia,
ard has been placed in onr Possession for pab-
tosnfy rroduc ions brought to light by the
var, and surlistes clear Insight into the
origin ct the rebellion
New YoRK, April s, 1s7o.
MY DEAR S1R: 1 am Just favored with
your YER. accep'a ,le letter Of the 29th ult.
As to Mr.. Madlson's plap, you do not seen
fully to have understood it. It would not
therefore would not have rendered the bar:h-
ene less. The public would not have g4iaed
q {a1tbipg by the operation, but he intended
that justice stou1d be done to every class OF
the citizens, to the full extent Of the abilities
Of the country. He conceived the original
boloS1s. % well q the present posaessors Of
the debt Of the United States, entitled to
come consideration; and - it was evidently
impossible to discharge the obligations which
the public Were under to both, the dictates Of
= eompos1tion of their claims, and
every possible justice done. conceive ths
equity ot his doctrine iucontrovertible; audi
saw 70 objection to bis plan but the difficulty
OF The execution, and the danger of the prece-
dent. sach = precedent might be used as
lis leading points, at future day. felt my
rel, Us you have done, very mucn i7itated at
he indelicate treatment which he received.
Some seemed to express, By their conduct, 3
| joy, th2: they bad it in their power to depress
bis Importance {as they tho1ght), which ren:
6kfRl IT. Ef13j tUflF fha fY5hnHa nf
| virtue, and OF the Southern interests, to main
| n n and support him. The debates on this
! question will better explain to you his con-
| duct.
others, relative to the sllre trade, their intro
ducticn, from the manner in which the SUBJ
jet was Treated, became importuuate. The
| gentlemen from Sou h CAolana and Georgia,
| by anticipating Whist was never intended, have
b en- lis ,umentsl In sounding disasreeable
OF Representatives, without doubt, would
Lave declared with one Toiee that Congress
| had ro power to interfere In any manner so as
10 affect Or alter the interrs1 regulations ol
the Sates relative to them.
The authors Of the petitions we're influenced
by an hopest, though irdi=creet, zeal on the
occasion. They expressly declared taat thei.
object was net to injure the property Of the
Southern S:stts, but to discontinue the slaye
trade, which they deemed cruel and dis
honorable.
By the unfounded apprehensions Of ths
| gem lemen trer. Carolina and. Georgia, all the
alarms which have been spread were caused
| consi5ter the declaration Ahich We made in
i co1H1hi:1ee Of the Whole, however, az sooE
! as we we're permitted to come to a decision,
will not OILY quiet our fears, but put uui
s;ave property on 4 surer foundation than il
before stood and an Interpretation Of tat
powt15 Of Congress given at this tine, whs1
the meaning Of the parties to the Constitution
lnnst be tu]l5 understood, may prevent Ut +;
future day any improper coe1ciye authority Of
tits subject. / caGuut, therefore, but Il ste
myself that the conclu5ion..of this suhjs.t ~ii
be generally satisfactory to the State of Viz
| ginia, III d that the petitions you mention +
: b. in contemplation to our next Asseubl
nil be tcurd wholly unnecessary Oh tt
| tuh5ect.
: AS 10 the assumption Of the State debt, thi
? question is still in suspense, aud the final d.
t termination very nnceriain. the Easier
: States would carry their Point at all hzArd=-
: ratht I than fail they would be contented Wit
= n ajorisy OF one vote. Three members fro
:. tie Siute OF North Carolina are n0E on II
floor, which renders the success Of their pl.u
: still more uncertain. From the present aE
!, pearauce, cannot Lelp thinking that tt
q assumption will not proceed; if it should,
/ must wear q different counsenance thla it b.
J. ts MADE for speedy and fair settlement Of j
accounts.
e i have 10 doubt negotiations have been col
:. merged, anu are yet exi7!in:, between t
l. E..re:L SEntts and P=cn.yiv ina reiativzto Il
;, pcrman.I. st al of government; tue Pennsj
], van,ars ende&voriug to make the estaot s
l. III. Ut u tile seat ii government the price
The ASSUMPTION. But In this business NJ
): Iolk is IS nec2fsasy to carry iAe point
| Pennsylvania, a1 1 1t il no. probable that $
. | will te ircuced to Yi-ld up the ady :tl+a
T. Which sf,s; Eow has over her comulerci1 r.y
u. I taS:, tte1efor-, nH f:1rs thu. this ncg1:
Il t;eu will be productive Of All establishment
= p.nnsytyasia. Al to the Potomack cons
=, I'll tu1 1rn:Fccts as very remo*e. Il th9 Z;
ne ernneit last 80 lnrg, II msy erect lis cspi
5 or the banks, at the expiration Of tTsz
IL Na:s.
r. 1 confess that I fcr1 myself often chayr1r
Il; by the +au'ts against the ancient ton1ini
OF but disuL ion at tuis time would be the 20
1g Of calsu,itlts The southern 5tltes are
I'D wea1S at present to staAd by themselves, 4
IN 6 general government will certainly be a1v
''T tar.oua t0 us, q it prot.uies no other CT
~ han prott c'ion from hrsti'ies aud uuifo
:As c, numerical re- u;ations. And wh.n Te sh
attain our uatui4l degree OF posul>sou Ii
he ter myself that We ehal. have the power tn
ew ourselves iu tice, with dissulSiug the b.
nd which binds us togetheg, It Is better 10
81 Up nisl these little iceonyen1enees taaH
OF ,un tie hazard CT grealer calamitles: ad
bel r. B. Lei