New-York daily tribune., 1844-05-31
To Messrs. GALES x SrATos.
WAsuIxoroy. Mny 6. ls4l.

WAsHINGToS, May g. lS4i
NJ DeGr Sir: | have received your note,
brn gng to my notice certificate subscribed by
five gentlemen, members ui the present House OF
Representatives, all Of them my political oppo.
ncn,s. which you inform me IS gong the rounds
of the Loco.Foco papers The object Of that
certificate seems to be to verify the correctness Of
an extract taken from the National Intelligencer
of the lst of July, 1920. In that extract am
stated by a former member Of the House OF Re
arcscntativeS Il believe not now living 10 have
remarked in a debate which occurred year be-
fore, to the following effect =" If gentlemen Will
not allow us 10 have black slaves they must Lei
us have ,chiie ones, for we cannot cut our fire
wood, and black our shoes, and have our wives
sand daughters work in the kitchen"
j think YOU attach an Importance to this mis-
erable attempt to prejudice me which 1t does not
merit Here is an extract from the files of the
Iutelligenccr, under date near tweniy-iour years
ago, not from any speech of mine, but from
speech of another member of Congress. He does
not undertake 10 give my p0rds, bat merely
states his impression o the effect of certain words
used by me year before.
During the long and arduous discussions of
what was called the Missouri question. | was so
englossed with the Importance OF the subject, and
so deeply apprehcnsive OF the awful consequences
which 1t involved, that | never wrote out or cor
-ec,cd any Spcccho ofmine made during the progress
Of the debate On the last and most important oc
casion OF the agitation OF that question, made an
elaborate speech of several hours duration, no
part of winch. believe, was ever reported by any
Of the s,enosrapherS, as ii certainly never was by
me-
certsiniy will not undertake to recc what
were the precise words used BY me on the occa-
sion of the numerous speeches, short or long,
which | made in Congress On the Missouri
question: but this | viii undertake to assert
with the most perfect confidence, that | never
used the words, or any words which would bear
the import, Of the extract to which have al
ludcd am confident of it, because never en-.
tertained such a sentiment in my life. never
conceived Il contingency IN winch i would favor
or countenancc reducing white men to slavery.
To such an imputation may oppose the tenor of
whole HE, curing which nv humble eXertionS
have been constantly directed to the preservation
of liberty ut home and the encouragement Of It's
establishment IN foreign countries. II have not
been able To extend these eXcruOnS to the black
race held in bondage in thiS country, It has been
because oi considerations and convictions, sin.
cerely and honestly entertained, embracing the
peace and happiness OF both the white ana black
races, which have been often presented TO the
public.
1t is quite possible that, in arguing upon the
existence of The institution OF Slavery in TINS
country, | may have contended that the black
race supplied those domestic Offices. which, under
the names of help 'menal servants and DO
mestics, are 10 be found IN every state OF civil
izcd society, and consequently relieved the white
race from the performance OF those Offices Ii
have ever employed such an argument, >of which
| have no recollection 1t is apparent how Gro
neous incrcnces may have been drawn from il
which II did not authorize.
have desire TO disparage the industry OF
the wives OF any ~ the ceriifcrS TO the extract,
nor 10 boast of that in my own family: bu,
venture 10 say that no one OF them performs more
domestic industry with her own hands than nv
wife does al Ashland
aIn. with great respect; your friend and ob'i seryt
Hon JouN WHITE.
IL We took notes of Mr.. WEBSrEr's Speech
before the great Wing Convention on Wednes-
day. bat have discarded them in favor of the re.
por, OF the Courier * Enquirer, which had the
aid of Mr., Webster's own notes. This speech
'oT calm, strong sense, and powerful appeal 10
the intelligence and right feeling Of the American
'nE L.