The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-07-11
politieal.
Gen. Foote'S letter.
WASHINGTON, JUNE 90, 1

Hon. Henry A. WISE, Accomac coun-
ty, ia:
MY DEAR SIR. I wish I could say
that [ feel none of that solicitudc ex
pressed in yourlctter to our mutual
friend DR.. G"' (Which has been just
shown to me) in regard to the existing
condition of our public concerns, and
the consequences likely to arise from
certain movements of one or two of our
leading politicians, to which you have
fns ted my attention. Never in my
life, I assure you, have I felt moro sore
~ oppressed with doubt and dcspondcn.
cy, or considered the Union itself in
more danger, than l do at this moment.
Last year, it seemed to be admitted by
all lsdisccrning mcn that our political
sky was not little gloomy and mcnan-
cling, but, row, tho very blackness of
darkness appears to have spread like
fnncral pail over the whole armament.
Had we been able to effect last winter
some fair and fraternal compromise of
the question of slavery iii the terrific.
aics, as at onc t!a,c was confidently ex-
pcctc'l, there would have been but little
in the vista Of the future to saddcn the
heart or alarm the fears of the patriot;
but the Vaccinations of wicked and
~rversc men have triumphed over the
straightforward honesty and manly en-
crgy Of otkcrs; and 10 hopo has been
transformed into dismay, and confusion
has taken the place ofordcr; just, too,
as the season of danger and difficulty
seemed drawing to a close! For one,
l shall ever look upon the defeat of
the Walker amendment of our last scs-
sion as the most unfortunate event of
our history; and [ shall be indeed
greatly disappointed if those who have
been heard fcrccly to exult over the
success of thci. wicked dextcrity, arc
not fated hereafter to lament the sue
cess of their efforts in sackctoh and
ashes.
1 confess myself wholly unable to li,
vine how any man, wishing wcll to the
administration of Gen. Taylor, and real,
ly desirous that the ship Of State, while
under his guidance, should be favored
with calm weather and tranquil seas,
could wish, Notwithstanding, to keep
this alarming territorial question open
for future agitation and excitement; nor
do [ find it whit less difficult to un.
dcrstand how leading Democratic
Senator from one of the slave States OF
the confcdcvacy, could reconcile it to
his sense Of duty to so critical, with the
worst and bitterest foes Of our domestic
southern institutions, i'll preventing the
settlement of question so full of per-
plcxity and peril, not to the South on
iy, but 60 the Union also. And yet
here is the vote in the Senate, on the
1st day of March last, upon the propos
cd amendment of Mr.. Walker, after it
had been agreed to in committee of the
whole, and reported for final action:
AFFIRMATIVE voTE.-Mcssrs. At
Gibson, Bell, Bcrrien, Butler Calhoun,
of Mississippi, Davis, Dickinson, Dodge
of Iowa. Downs, Fitzpatrick, Foote,
Hunter, ohnson, ofMaryland, johnson,
of Georgia, King, Mangum, Mason,
Pearcc, Rusk; Sturgeon, Turney, I'm
dcrwood, Walker, Westcott, and Yulee.
NEGATIVE VOTE. .-Messrs. Allen,
Athcrton, Baldwin, Benton, Corwin,
Davis of Massachusetts,, Dixance, Up
liam, and Wales.
That, after making up his mind to
Join i'll defeating the only plan of COM
promise Which seemed practicable, Mr..
Benton should follow up his treachcry
TO the South and the Union with fur
thcr movements in the same direction,
was to be expected from the man and