The State guard., 1848-07-04

some memlers of your delegation who doubted wlhther this latter construction was intende by the Convention, yet such being the explanation ol its author, they did not feel hat it was necessary to dis pute or coniess the fact. Under the state- ments that had been made at the time these resolutions were introduced by their author, that In had reliable authority for asserting that he spirit of his resolutions were the opinions of Judge Woodbury- and believing that distinguished individual was the favorte of the democracy of at least South Alabama, proceeded to Balti- more with the expectation of rendering to him my feeble support, notwithstanding my predilectiols were in an other quar- ter. The delegation assembled for the first time at Washington, when MT. Yan- cey informed US that he had written to all of the prominent candidates for the presi- dency, enclosing to them copies of the re- solution adopted by the Montgomery Con- vention, and soliciting their replies. An swers were received from all the parties, and to the following effect; Mir. Buchan- an reaffirmed his views in favor of the extension of the principles of the Missou- ri compromise as the happiest mode of settling the question, and enclosed copy of his letter to the Berks county meeting, which had been published in all the pa- pers of the Union, as the exposition of his views upon the subject. MT. Dallas repli- ed, by simple stating his unwillingness at that moment, on the eve of the nomina- ton, to make any further written express sion of opinion, and referring to his spech- es on former occasions for full information. Gen. Class acknowledge the receipt of the letter of inquiry, and enclosed copy of his letter to MT. A. o. P. Nicholson, of Tennessee, as containing his views on tine subject, and to which he referred.
 The reply of Mr. Woodbury was more at length, referring to his course for the past twenty five years, as the index to his orthodoxy on all the great principles of the democratic party. In reference to any new questions that had arisen latterly, he stated that he was under pledges to his friends to make no statements for publica- tion, and that in the position which he occupied upon the bench, he should con- slider it improper on his part to give any opinion on Q matter that would, perhaps, come before him for judicial consideration. In stating this to be the language of Judge Woodbury's letter. l wish it to be under- stood that l quote it from memory, and do not pretend to give the preicse words. l merely design to state that in this letter Judge Woodbury explicitly refused to an. nounce his views on the subject matter of the Alabama resolutions for the two rea- sons. that he was under pledges to his friends % make no declarations for the public eye, and that his position rendered it probable that the subject might be brought before him judicially. If I have not correctly stated the letter. Mir. Yancey, by its publication, can correct me. Such was its effect upon the delegation, that Mir. Yancey immediately afterwards had a conference with MT. Dallas, to ascertain from that gentleman his views verbally, and another member of your delegation consulted Mir. Buchanan. Both of these gentlemen, Mir. Dallas and MT. Buchan- an, authorzedthe open and public declara- ton, in any manner that we might deem proper, of their entire acquiescence with the spirit of the resolutions under which we acted, that Congress could not exclude, nor could the people of the Territory re- strict, the institution of slavery in the ter ritories of the United States. We thus were placed in the possession of tpo can didates who fully came up to the require. ments of our instructions.
 The delegation did not again assemble for consultation until we reached Balti- more. When we did meet, these facts were made known. MT. Yancey then proposed to the delegation private and confidential letter from Judge Wrodbury. written in the month of January to a gentlemen in Washington, and which MT. Y. erged as the exposition of Judge Woodbury's views on the subject upon which we had received our special instruc- tions. but with the express understanding that we were to receive the letter solely as a guide to the formation of our own opinions not to be adverted to publiclly nor were the expressions contained in it to be divulged by us in any form To a revelation of this character-a revela- ton to be used in guiding our duty in a public capacity, but which we could not use publicly, several members of the dele- gation instantly dissented and one of the delegates left the loom, stating that what ever might be the intentions of other members of the delegation, he for one would not listen to it. The delegation refused finally so to receive it, and it was then offered by MT. Yancey for the peru sal of each individual delegate under the same terms. Some availed themselves of the permission, myself amongst others, but under the terms of my contract, am not at liberty to speak of it's contents.
 is for the democracy of Alabama to de- eide whether Judge Woodbury could be voted for by any delegate, who regarded as binding this resolution adopted by the State convention:
 IA. Resolved, That these resolutions be considered as instructions to our dele