Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-07-10
GENERAL. FOOTE'S LETTER.

than any other in The onion
LUTHER LIBBY
GENERAL FOOTE'S LETTER.
WasHIsGros. June %. lSi9
Hoa Henry Il. Wise, .9cc.mac county, .ginia:
My DEAR SIR: l wish could say that | feel
none of that socilude expressed in your letter TO
our mutual friend Dr. G'.., (Which has been
just shown 10 me, IN regard 10 The existing con.
dition of our public concerns, aud the conse
quences likely TO arise from certain movements
Of one or two Of our leading politicians, 10
which you have invited my attention Never ii
my life assure yon, have | ,clt more sorely
oppressed with doubt and dependency, or con.
sdcrcd the Union itself in more danger than |
do at this moment. Last yesr il seemed to b.
admitted by all discerning men, that our polit
cal sky was not 8 lille GLOOMY and menacinsi
but now the very 5lackne,s Of darkness appears
TO have spread Ike fcneral pail over the
whole armament. Had We been able 10 effect
last Winter some fair and fraiernal compromise
Of the question hlayery 10 tie territories, as at
one time was confidently expected, thero would
have been but little in the via. f tho future 10
satden the heart or alarm h fears Of tho pa
lriot; but the Vaccinations of wicked AMI per-
verse men have triumphed over the stra sht for
ward honesty and manly energy oil o:lers; and
To- hope has been transformed into di-I1ay and
confusion has taken the place Of order; just,
too, as the season OF danger and difficulty
seemed drawing 10 close! For one, ! shall
ever look upon the defeat Of the Walker
amendment Of our last session y The most IN
fortunate event Of our history; and shall be
indeed greatly disappointed it those who have
been heard 6ercsly TO cXu!t over the success o.!
their wicked dexcrity, arc no! faled hereafter
10 lamen! The success OF their efforts in sack
cloth aid ashes.
| confess myself wholly unable 10 divine how
any man, wishing well TO line administration Of
General Ia Tor, and really DESTROYS that the ship
of State while uader his guidance should be
favored with calm weather and tranquil seas,
could wish, Notwithstanding, 10 keep this alarm
ing territorial question opsa for future agitation
and excitement nor do | 6nd II a whit less diff
cult to understand how leading Democratic
Senator from one Of the slave States 4 the con
tcderacy could reconcile I 10 his sense Of duty
TO his constituents deliberately % unite at mo
ment so critical with the worst and bttere,t
foes of our domestic Southern Institutions. IN
preventing : settlement of question - fuI! o:
perplcxi,y and peril, not 10 The nth only, but
to the Union also And yet here is the vote in
the Senate, on the lst day of Mach last, upon
the proposed amendment OF MIR. Walker, after
il had been agreed 10 in Commit ee Of the
Whole, and reported for final action:
AFFIRMATIVE poTE : Messrs. Alchison, Bell,
Berien, Butler, Calhoun, Davis Of Mississippi,
Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa, Downs, Fltzpat
rick, Foole, Hunter, Johnson Of Maryland,
Johnson Of Georgia. King, Slansum, Mason,
Pearce, RusS, Sturgeon, Turney, Under WOOL !,
Walker, Westcott md Yuse.
NEGATIVE VoTE -Messrs Allen, Atherton,
Baldwin, BENTON, Corwin, Davis of Nlassa-
chuselts, Dix, Felch, Greene, Hamlin, Miller,
Niles, Phelps, Spruance, Upaam and Wales
That, after making up his mind to JOIN IN de-
feating tho only plan OF compromise which
seemed practicable, MIR. Benton should follow
up his treachery to the South and the Union
with further movements in the same direction,
was 10 be expected from the man and his posi-
ton; but tina, even hs should have presumed TO
turn, without provucat:on, upon those who had
been struggling ardeutly for TWO sessions 10 save
The Union from destruction, and The South roia
degradation and ruin, and accuse them oil being
traitors aud disua!oHl5s, was surely mol 10 DO an
lcipaled. And yet this IS precisely what has
occurred; AM, though the Intelligent recmen OF
Mississippi appear 10 lake correct view Of hl-
conduct, still the fact cannot DC concealed that
mis- detection has already impaired much con
fdencc 10 our enemies IN the North, whilst orr
friends in thai quarter or the Union have
been propor.onaey discouraged ani para
lyzed. II now appears manifest that the
Wilmot Proviso will pass both houses OF
Congress; and il lie who saved - { untry :
honor upon The field Of But1a fis shall
be found unNilling 10 rescue II again n The
dread hour which ia fas, approaching CD
only knows what hUriid scenes we are 10
witness. or enc consolation. though, The gene
rous SONS Of tho South can hover DE deirauhch;
no instance has tcen yet recorded Oh tie page OF
authentic history in which The iailhless soldlef
who abandoned his colors and stole over 10 The
enemy, amidst the heat and confusion oil battle,
ever afterward found himself rewarded accord,
ing 10 his hopes by those TO whose triumph be
had thus become auxiliary.
On reading The speech winch WI Benton o.
liyeIeJ al Jefferson city lev wteHs since, cory
al which was scbt 10 yun daJ or TWO ago ifaGi
this p ace, you will mol tail 10 be struck "isn ~
tact thar, Wills. hs has ;tken Il upon hmseil. -
The safe distance 81 a thousand miles or 50 rom
the objects OF his ssaimeni, 70 accuse all whose
signatures were affixed 10 The Address oil !hc
Southern Delegates in Congress 10 tEeir Cocsili
ueols." OF having been found aiiing and abetn.
in rank dsunion plot, he has d7nc you ans
your patriotic county OF Accomac he honor !"
arrayins you in The very 'front.' ranks Of treason
and rebellion.
cannot duuL that you vii! agree wlth mr. IL
consi!erin. MS iasl hafaGsus q Nj. Ben'on a
one Of the musl remarkable productions u Ms
remarkable age /! would appear 70 have me-
with universal Il gof in certain vicinasss, and 10
have called TORN lus:Y comGlsada Ions ffom one
or two editors who have mol been heretofore class
I'd as his admirers. Inleed, he i said 10 nave
b,en actually nominated Tor Tie Presidency itself
II several rather obscure Abolition nei2hhorhonds
And vel, for the lite of me can see nothing
either in The speech or speaker which should pro-
woke such exoIbitant acm'faao2. ~ Is eVi-
IDENTIFY long mcdlaed, 'ahoIiotsly prepared
and diligently memorized diScoAE'e upon Gel
tain national topics OF most SURPRISING lhieies'
and yet Go lcel hat can observe Of y Justly
and without the smallest e1aeseralon, that IL
feeble and confused reasorirss, is iaWdry
nrandiluauencc IN some p'acrs-iis Gears
scufriIity in olbets-its awkwatd and cGMn'sf
attempts al a sort o. CicerOEe iaceliunsness-iI u:
| unmanperly doomalisln--s nausea!iEg eao,lsin
| and that internal spirit VI msNShnY wAich !
| breathes throughout, and which would have beer
far better suited 10 animate The cu.Crcs OF sooi'
ssobin CANNED or devil broke loose rom hell
than 10 give grace and dignity l. ausbl OF numaI
| mould and lelapeIameni--W would De sufficient u
c1inguish the glory and blast the fame Of h'
most distinguished orator that e,thel ancient
modern lines have afforded. ! will mol wear,
Won BY dils,ing turtle upon theme which coul'
no, bu, prove unsavory You have heard ihi
/" man Of head and intellect" auemp! 10 srapp!
with great questions Of STATE when he EVIDENT
seemed 10 suppose ,ha, fl! OF genuine Thelofica
inspiration hi coae upon him, ana you WI
which have been 50 avishly bestowed upon tn
| august deliverer of Calhouniscs.
It is amusing enough to observe With wha
! pertinacity Mr.. Benton keeps up oi' pursuit