The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-11-16
From the ~. 7. Express.

From the ~. r. Express.
Hon. EpHRAIM III. FOSTER OF TENNESSEE.
We find in the Nashville papers of the. 2lst
ult. a letter from the thirteen opposition men,
bers of the senate. (being a majority of that
BODY to Hon. E. Ii. Foster, asking his opin-
ion on the measures passed at the late Extra
Session of congress, and giving him to under
stand that unless his answer was satisfactory,
they should oppose any election to fill the two
vacant seats in the q. S. Senate. The Nash
vile Wing of the 22d contains Mr.. Fosters
reply, and he treats their insulting and crafty
epistle in the way it deserves. 1t Is well
known that the wings have but a bare ma ori-
ty on joint ballot in the Legislature of Tennes-
see, and the game of the opposition senate is
to prevent an election of U. S. Senators as
long as possible, in the hope that by som
management, they may get in at least one Of
their own party. Hence, in order to put some
sort of face upon the matter, they have hit.up-
on the notable plan of questioning the Wing
candidates as TO their opinion of the leading
policy and measures of the wing party; coolly
telling them unless their answers are fully
satisfactorily. e., unless they denounce that
policy.-they, 1.-THE thirteen democratic"
ton at present! Mr.. Foster lashes this spe-
cimen of unblushing impudence without mer-
cy- IN his first paragraph,,h he says:
81 may lament, Gentlemen, but I;fearI can
not relieve the anxieties which seem to en-
barrass your movements, and threaten 10 dis
appoint the public expectation, by retarding
the execution of a great and important duty.
To promise otherwise, would be to speak a.
gainst ''the lights before me-" and to labor a.
gainst hope itself. For years past, it has been
my lot 10 struggle in a warfare where, as the
country will bear me witness, l scorned alike
TO stoop for concealment or beg for quarters.
During that e%ventful conflict, IA tie length &
f%ervency of the repeated interviews | had the
honor of holding with some Of you, and in the
frequent opportunities you all had of reading
and hearing my statements, l endeavored to
proclaim my opinions and declare my political
associations. II, after all this, we do not yet
sufficiently understand each other, it must GER
tainly be the result of incorrigibk dgHsess
somewhere; and as | make it a point never 10
be outdone in manners, l must, l suppose, rs
a matter Of politeness, take the fault to myself,
and secure you against an imputation which
would wound the pride of your constituents
and derogate from the dignity of the Senate
rial gown. But excuse me now, gentlemen,
if YOU please. Fruitless labor is apt to dis
courage further tolls, no matter where the diff
ficulty lies, and | feel myself compelled, in all
due humility, to decline the explanation /
have hitherto failed to impress upon your intel
lects. Nevertheless, by your leave, gentlemen,
| may tender my profound Acknowledgements
for the diSintcrested candor which dictated
your communication, and in behalf of my own
imbecility implore that charity l would be the
last 10 impeach or assail.
We have not space for his whole letter, but
we cannot forbear one or two further extracts.
"The august inquest of thirteen" will hardly |
be in a hurry to call out another outpouring of
the biting sarcasm which their barefaced hum
buggery has elected.
"Considering that we are Incorporating
adversaries-for such to me you will
admit, are the whole thirteen of the self
and august inquest | am now ad-
dressing-you have d%ecently viewed but hard
ly excused an extraordinary liberty by the ele-
waited position you have been pleased toassign
me. 1t remains TO be seen if stand alone
before a patriotic inquisition, or who it is
or foe. that shares with me The hon.
ors of your scrutiny: You doubtless know
some who have placed themselves steal.
thily ifnot publicly in the category you
have imposed upon me, and as ! am bound
10 believe that you are "all-all honorable
men,, l trust you will not have failed 10
visit them with similar searchings. Al
some ofthem may be al the bottom
the very bottom ofyour counsels--the sa.
cred Office you have honorablv and volun'
tarily assumed, will not excuse the least
Partially, They should be held on nigh as
| am,so that a just and equal exposure may
warn the public of their men, and enable
ambition to scan by. times, the steel
may have TO encounter.