The Arkansas banner., 1844-06-26
LITTLE ROCK, WEDNESDAY, MORNING, JUNE 26 i8M

of the South. Following then the course ol
 general opinion, as well as the declared policy
 ol Pennsylvania, as evinced in the reneated
 votes ot her Legislatures, he presented, in a
 manner not often surpassed in force and clear
 ness, by those who have treated the matter
 Ill the same light, the views then entertained
 on the best mode of adjusting the delicate
 question, so as to save the South from any
 real injury, and yet preserve from destruc-
 tlon the labor and pursuits of the Northern
 and Middle States. When the heightened
 excitement of the following year produced
 that gloomy epoch in our fraternal annals.
 which was marked by serious discussions on
 the extent of force that the General Govern
 ment might exert upon the opposing laws ol
 the States, and the consequent actions of her
 lesand people, hesustained that power
 III the Union which he believed to be essen
 tal 10 lis preservation, and warranted by the
 spirit and terms of the contract, but depre-
 eated, in so doing, every measure not clearly
 necessary fer those objects. Onall questions
 appearing to involve any differences of policy
 or interest among the States, Mr. Dallas ap- pears uniformly to have leaned 10 that course
 which he deemed most calculated, even al some sacrifice, to preserve the harmony ol
 the whole
 On the 3d of March, 1853, the term ex- pired for which he had been elected to the Senate. Al his own request, his name was
 withheld from the Legislature as candidate for reelection. He was desirous to return
 to the bar, from which such an occupation
 necessarily withdrew him; and his doing so
 was speedily followed by hls appointment to an office, whose duties, while notHhconnec-
 ted with politics, were far more in accordance
 with his professional pursuits. He was se- lected by Gov Wolf as the Attorney Gene- ral oi his native State, and he continued to hold 1t with increasing reputation, and with degree of appreciation and confidence on the part of the whole community, never zex- ceeded, nor often eqnalled, uatiI the change in the executive administration of the Slale, by the election of Gov Riner, of course in- dueed him to withdraw
 4ir. Dallas had scarcely retired to private life, when he was made the object of one of the most remarkable proceedings that have ever characterized the political course of the party opposedto Democratic principles during any of the intervals of their temporary as- tendency. Under the pretext Of iaquifing
 into the character and acts of secret associa- lions, several of the leading members of the Republican party were summoned to Harris burg in the middle of the winter, and, in de- fianee of the positive provisions of the con- stitution of the State, a right was assumed by Il committee of the Legislature to investigate their private and social conduct as members of Masonic societies CT the persons sub jected to this strange inquisiIion, Mir Dallas was one He obeyed the summons issued under the apparent sanction of the House of Representatives. and appeared before the com mttee; but when asked to take the oath by which he was required virtually to acllnow- ledge the right of institutng an inquistion so unheard of, into the private and harmless con- duet of himself,and his associates, herefused, in Q short but most impressive address, and displayed, in terms that led to the abortiye termination of the disreputable affair, it's n- justice, illegality, and folly. He perceived, on this occasion, the secret operations that soon ripened to so fatal result, by which the Bank of the United States was imposed, by corrupt and dishonest means, on the peo- pie of the United States, and especially of Pennsylvania, as State institution. Helent the ail of his influence and talents to resist 1t while he remained at Harrisburg, and on his return to Philadelphia, awakened his Demo- cratic brethren, in public discussion, 10 full sense of the danger whose near approach had been carefully concealed. The history of that disastrous measure, and the means by which it's success was achieved, if not yet developed in all their details, and yet gene rally known. In consequence oft, the State was plunged into the long train of disasters from which its citizens have not yet been able to extricate themselves, and of which the el- lects, extending far beyond their immediate objects, have produced the most deplorable results on the business, prosperity, and even character of the American people. Even after the shackles had been fixed, Mr. Dallas was among those who sought to relieve the coui- munity from so fatal athraIdom. Taking advantage of the approaching convention, when thepeople the State were to meet with every attribute of original sovereignty not restrained by the Constitution of the United States, and of which the assemblage was pro- mulgated by the vote of the people before the act in question was passed, he called to the consideration of the State, in an able and elo quent letter, the propriety of examining into the frauds that had been pefpeluated, and re- lieving the commonwealth, by an edict of that body, from all fraudulent inVasions of its rights, due care being taken to protect and individuals concerned in the insti- tuaon from any pecuniary loss.
 The political history of the following win ter was marked by the election of Mir. Van Buren to the Presidency; and one of the ear Hest of his acts was to offer to Mir. Dallas the post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minis ter Plenipolentiary to Russia In that coun- try he remained till October, 1889. The only portion of his official correspondence, while there, that has been made public, is his dis eusson with Count Nesselrode. relative to the territories and commercial intercourse of the two nations on the coast of the Pacific ocean. It developes several points connec- ted with the rights of the respective govern ments on those shores, presented with great