Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-10-22

We clip The above from The Wing OF yes'er
dsy. Without intending TO allow that The un;oi
has essa,led Mr.. Webster and his views wiihou
lust cause-ior, il we remember, The wing lisei
awaiicd MIR. WIS views: in the same sPeeci
which the Union crilicizas-we WORLD remark
that The sossailamts' oil Mr.. W., tie Editor o
the Union included, have furnished quite as man.
"sops.n not only as officers, but as %privales, as an
Of those who, in one line condemn, and in the mex
applaud the "God-like."
The following letter from Senator Lewis, o
Alabama, We find published in the Wetumpk;
Gala. } State Guard"
AUTAuoA Co., Oct. 9th, 1s47.
To tie Editor NJ The STATE Guard:
Since reaching this neighborhood on yesler
day, | have seen your editorial in The Guard o.
The 2Sih ult., expressing the opinion that II was
due 10 myself that ! should reply, specifically
and publicly, 10 certain enquiries proposed 10
me by a correspondent Of The Mobile Register oil
The 25fh nit over the signature OF " 80"
On my way to this place, | had seen The com
municalion OF "'95," and although il abounded
in many expressions Of respect for me, the since
rity of which | am far from questioning, after The
EXDlICH UeHtIl IlN 4 N " -
made in the Montgomery Flag and Advertiser
that | was in any way committed To The support
OF General Taylor-I did not feel thai, upon an
ANONYMOUS call, | was under any obligation
whatever 10 repeat such denial.
As 10 the olher enquiry o! "'9S,' in relation
10 The Three Million Bill, | was willing 10
trust To The Journals OF The Senate during The two
las, sessions Of lha, body, for my ampie vindi-
cation. The inlimalicn from yonr paper, 'ha, |
should "ss, The public and my friends right on
these matters" has, however, determined me 10
reply fully gu both points of enquiry proposed by
a'9S."
In reply 10 his first enquiry, | say, then, hat
so Tar from Committing" myself 10 any "preier-
ence OF Gen. Taylor over any northern candi-
dale, OF the Democratic ~party-howcver sound
that candidate may be on the su5lec; OF the Will
mot Proviso"-or having in any shape or man.
ner, 'pledsed" myself 10 Gen. Taylor, or any of
his friends, / am 10 no extent rhatersr "commit-
ted or pledged" 10 his support This explicit
answer 10 The enquiry OF "'95," mishtbe deemed
sufficient, but for his ~allusion TO a letter which
has already appeared in the poblic prints, and
the history of which | will now give.
Months in advance OF Mr.. Buchanan's late
patriotic letter, 10 which ''95 refers, as a reason
why no Democrat should nov snp:un Gen. lay
lor-in fact, when The name OF the later was hrsI
presented 10 The public, with so many evidences
of popular favor ironi men oil all partics-l par
ticipaied in The genera! Anxiety, every where eX-
pressed, 10 know on what grounds, ulher than MS
high military reputation, nc was 10 DC presented
as a candidate 10 The public; an il elected, what
opinions would control him in The administration
OF the Government. With Inc then Stale OF pub
lie sentiment growing oul oi The Mexican war,
and the still more momentuus issue, threatening
D. - 80, r,,a n nnCntssfInn nj fpTTItDTV COm-
mensura,e with The Just claims for indemnify,
growing out OF the war; could not feel other
wise than erea, anxiety 10 learn the exact posi-
lion OF one so distinguished, among those named
for the Presidency. He had, however, from his
youth, been devoted TO a soldiers lite, and in The
Absence OF ali authentic Information whatever,
as to what his political principles really were,
addressed my enquiries on This point 10 two Of
nv personal friends, having The best means, as |
supposed, Of knowing-lhe one a leading Wing
and The other an equally distinguished Democrat.
The answers to these enquiries were received al
periods of time widely variant, but both concur
rel in The fact, that General Taylor would not
consent 10 be presented as the candidate CT any
party; while both protested an entire Ignorance
Of his political opinions. Failing, therefore, in
obtaining any information whatever as TO what
| regarded as the main poin, OF my enquiry, so
Id IIOlu I'll llllus III il.llDdiliu ~ oIIEo.i
Gen. Taylor, and 50 pledging myself by writing
10 one OF these gentlemen, in reply, as has been
Gay7 nswcTcd either Of Their letters. nor have
exchanged with either Of them a single idea on
The suhJec; since.
One OF these letters, however, having since been
published, and having obtained a nolorieiy, The
greater, perhaps, from being connected with my
name, as The individual 10 whom il was address
ed, and, therefore, in The estimation OF some, as
possibly 10 some extent, rejecting my
| deem il a proper occasion 10 say, that my name
became connected with the publication OF tba
letter, without M consent, and against my ex.
press wishes.
This Letter was The frs; reliable authority upon
which | had learned that General Taylor woulc
in no event be a party candidate, and on that &C
count | vas urged by friends TO furnish itior pub
LEGATION. This | refused 10 do, expressly on The
ground Thai, in the absence OF any knowledge o
his opinions, | did not choose by 50 doing 10 con
meet myself with any demonstration in his lavor
through the medium Of a letter addressed 10 mt
BY name. An ardent T. lend, however, Of Gene
raj T'aylor's, asked me 10 give him The letter, will
a view 10 publish i, or such extracts from II a!
he might select, without in any manner connect
ing my name with il. To This | consented, ant
saw no more OF the letter until several weeks
after, when il made its appearance in the public
prints, with no other suppression Than my name
! and The name Of The writer. My name, however
soon became connected with this letter in III
newspapers, very much against The wishes,
have no doubt, OF the respectable gentleman wh'
had furnished the letter for publication, as vel
as myself.
Having now defined my position towards &c
neral Taylor, 10 the satisfaction as hope OF '9s
| further say, | am ne her looking 10, nor am
committed 10, any othsr individual Tor The Presi
dency. Holding myself, however, in perfect Iea
diness to aid in the elevation OF that candidate
who is most faithful 10 The Constitution, and I,
the sterna! can apron. on which il is based-par
~ticuiarly in reference 10 The threatened lns'ilu
lions of the Southland not caring in what quar-
ter OF the. Union such a candidate may be inunt
| expect in good faith to act with my R2llica
friends, without claiming Tor myself any NOR
prominent agency or control in The Selection c
such a candidate than The humblest member c
my party.
In reference 10 lie Three Million Bill, | con
fcss nv surprise ,ha; a wgi;cr so we'll inlorme
as 'A9S' should not rcmenite e. that, III 1886, | re
ported that measure t. he Senate from The Com
mi,tee OF Finance; tn Il | made repeated attempt
TO bring il up in that body and 10 pass il; and tina
my last effort was rendered The more signal from
The fact that MIR. Davis OF Mass, against IN
earnest enirealies, consumed The last hour OF tha
session, even To the moment that The clock iol
The adjournment, in opposing my motion to TAX
that bill from the table, with a view 10 lis imme
diaic passage.
AS 10 nv course during The last session, by re
ferring to the Congressional Globe, page $50, '9s
will find my vote recorded IN favor OF this bill
yeas 90. nays "a. On the preceding page he wi
find | voted against MIR. Upham's amendment
Qhe Wilmol PIoviso in subsiancc)-yeas q
nays 81. In fact, | voted against every amend
meni offered by The enemies Of the bill.
Having, l hope, satisfied ''9S' on this point al
so, inasmuch as have been most cruelty and un