The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-24
Fss~ re N. o. Commercial Bl!lsLn.
TO GEORGE MoDuFFiE, ESQ.,.
Senator from Soulh Cnolina.

ad Tor the hrst Tune, the iollo"ng extract OF
cent letter from Mr. WEBSTER, 10 some Of his friends
| in Massachusetts
| al frankly avow my entire unwillngness 10 do
any thing which shall extend the slavery Of the AM
can race on this continent add Other siareholFng
| States 10 The Union We have slavery nj.
re ady amongst The Constitution found It amongst
US II recognised it, and gave a solemn guara0t1e
TO the full extent Of these guarantees we are ali
bound in honor, in justice, and by the Constitution
| Z. But when come 10 speak of admitting
new States the sud jet assume, snlirslg different
aspect. Our rights and our duties then differ
| ent- In my opinion, the people of the
United States piA not consent to bring new vastly
extensive and slave holding country large enough for
| half dozen or dozen States, into the Union IN
| nay opinion they ought not 10 consent 10 un
| We cannot misunderstood this remarkable mani
feso Whilst il asserts broadly that no sayehodiDg
State is again TO be admitted within the pale Of the
Union, II leaves by necessary Implication the door
open without limit to the admission OF those in which
domestic slavery does not exist In other words he
tells US, when adopted the federal Constitution we
permitted you to come into the coniederacy with this
faint of moral leprosy. We must stand by our bar.
! gain. We will however, coBtaminate household
| no further with such associates !!
| The meanest phite slave who craws in his cowaf.
dice and seTviity among US can give other inter
probation TO tins anathema 1t must come to this
| complexion at last.
When this doctrine is avowed when this brand of
Cain is put upon ioreheads, what is and what be-
| comes OF our stuationf Remember, too, this Ian.
Kuage comes from man OF mark. From a voice
| potentiai"from who is at regarded as The
| Nestor and Demosthenes of that part Of the Union
which lays claim TO the Target share Of the virtue
and intelligence of the country.
| For one, however much may be satisfied of What
the United States must lose by rejecting the PROPOSE
ton for the annexation Of Texas, yet il she should
be repulsed from deraons of political lower on
which parties may fairly take antagonist ground |
should be that this question: like other public
| uue he IpcIte INV he's
| public will with due regard to that spirit Of conpro-
mise which formed the Constitution. But the pm
| cipe of exclusion, as avowed 10y Mr.. Webster (und
| doubtless he speaks for, party which has taken
its SANDY involves insult and defiance 10 US at tho
South. In one word, that we belong morally ds-
graded caste
ask my friend, as men can we stand this Z Even
if We have craven willingness to remain in tho
house of fathers insulted and reved as long as
permitted to ABIDE, what s,cuTiiy have we that
shall not at last be kicked ignomniousIy out OF
DOORS and sink to the level of our slaves With
| all possible moderation allow to ASK II this is the
ground which Texas is TO be excluded from the
Confederacy, have we any other alternative but A n.
| NEXATlON OR DlSUNlONl There are times
and occasions which the best discretion is TO be
found in the highest courage, and if Shareholders ara
fit to be admitted into the Union ICE are not III 10
be Tiers. The argument have no other "a tent
| bul this.
! Humble individual as am l desire my position
in relation to this subject not TO he misunderstood !
have hitherto taken no part in the batery OF this
| question. 10 the best OF my recollection | have
| neither written 10 MIR. Calhoun Yourself nor a
| single member Of the South Carolina Delegation on
The topic do not even know your opinion Intimate
as our relations have been. have been res rained
by considerations Of peculiar delicacy have large
pccunary claims on the Government Of Texas and
desired distrust of my motives. Besides pro-
cured the recognition cf Texas from the first and
most powerful nation the face Of the earth and
| ffom two of The second rate powers Of Europe and
ed in obta IUiD O he in of M
| French. AheT assuring these Powers that Texas
desired to be sovereign and Independent S ate i,
was not for me 10 take prominent part in measures
which were 10 place her in subordinate sphere by
contributing to reversal of my own assurances
But if the ground on which Texas is to lie excud.
ed from the Union, is the ground assumed by Mir
Webster, the question of annexation ITSELF sinks abb
solutely into comparative insigniicance. I he Union
is, in fact, dissolved, If the principle assumed al
lowed 10 bear the bitter fruit of IFS insult and IN
justice. That Is to say, IL the sordid cultivation of
cotton rice sugar and tobacco has left one impulse
of manly pride and courage in our bosoms.
indulge an no feelings OF resentment towards Mr.
Webster, As Northern msn he is quite at liberty
to entertain and express the opinions he does. We
have an equal right to entertain our own / have
much personal Kindness and consideration 10 ac-
knowledge his hands, and a large tribute TO paw 10
his incompatible genius, and to an intellect whose
vigor gives both simplicity and grace its extraor-
binary elegance and accomplishment His opinions,
Tor aught ! knew, may SUIT New England, but they
will not suit us.
On this question Of State pride and national honor,
dsdain to enter into any sordid calculations Of pro-
6t.
will not tell you what a star Texas will be in
the galaxy OF this Union. will not tell you OF Tie
marvellous fertility Of her rich river aIluyiums and
boundless plans-of her ability TO sustain the finest
population eorth-of how much vastly more IN
the sum Of the security of this fine city, and the VAL
ley oil the Mississippi, II would be, to have her peo
pied by the hardy rihcDen Of the West, under our
own glorious banner bone Of our bone and flesh of
our hesh than to have the lazar houses, slews and
pen,entiaries Of the Old World vomiting forth their
inmates on her fertile shores. ] will 10, tell you
that our trade with this young and gowing county
10 fast wsnlng-tbat amidst twelve fouf teen SQUARE,
rgged vessels IN the port OF Galveston, three days
since saw the flag Of our country hoisiod at the
mast head Of but one ! will not ielI YOU tina, the
manufactures Of New England are nearly driven out
OF the country, and those Of Europe substituted in
their place. will not recount these things, because
will not dshonor question Of pride with The ba,.
traffic Of profit.
IL the South, however, after listening for one hour
yea stated hour per diem FOR the last four year.
10 reProaches and insult in an assembly which ought
to be blessed by the spirit OF fralerna concord should
put up with this ndigDity, not gently inilmaed but
Hung slap in her face why do not See my dear
Mac that you and have any ottAr fate but Ike the
rest 10 be contented and infaa Jus, and make cot
ton and rice as long as masters will perm, Us to
do
But IT, the other hand the soutber m delegation,
should rise to level Of the spirit which once dis
,nguishsd our Ge,hers, and they sound the oo.in az
ter Congress shall have DECLARED its authentic sense
THAT NO MORE SLAVE STATES ARE TO BE
ADMITTED INTO THIS UNTON-why, then,
humble and stricken rs am, ] promise TO re-echo
The blast IN at least three States IN thi. Union which
touch in social sympathy and contact ] think re
may count on all OF them. A. to tbai noble old
state TO which VIC both owe, with our loyalty and