The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-01
politieal.
Letter From Gen. Cnss.

my attention to the remarks Of some Of the
wing papers upon letter from the editor of
the New York Courier and Enquirer, publsh-
cd IN that Journal short time since, and in
winch an effort is made by those papers to-
convict me OF lnsncerity. ! am sure you
VIII bear witness that have been heretofore
pretty phticnt under similar attacks, some of
them as remarkable for their vruence as for
their Notwithstanding even in this
country, where political Investigations are SO
prone TO degenerate into personal abuse; and
had supposed, the motive had passed
away with the occasion, that | should be al
lowed reasonable measure Of Justice by our
opponcts, even il my opinions or course should
be deemed worthy Of examination. But the
result shows that have been deceived; and
as no considcra, 'ons of propre,y connected
with my position now forbid me from defend
ing my consistency, l choose to do SO in the
it spcciously preferred, but because it is cal.
culated TO place me in a false position before
the public.
have delayed writing you for some days,
awaiting the return of Col. Webb, who has
gone on an excursion to the Upper Lakes, as
did not wish TO refer to him thus public
ly, without previous conversation with hun;
but he has not yet returned, nor do l know
when lie WILL and as l ain unwilling to be
subject to such imputations, without applying
| the proper corrective, have determined to
delay this answer no longer. I have known
Col. Webb from his boyhood, and have never
ceased to esteem him. Our personal rela-
tons have always been kind. Divided in pol
tics, we have not ceased to be friends; and he
will be as much surprised as | was at the dis
ingenious efforts to convert his letter into
the proof of my inconsitency-an idear ann
sure, that never occurred to him. Nothing (
state it. this letter will be called in question:
by Col Webb; and may add, that MIR. Gree
ley's remarks are written in no unjust spirit;
and though cannot commend his care to as
certain the TRUTH do not condemn the spir-
it of his article. Whatever his brethren of
the whig press may do, believe he is dispos-
cd TO do Inc justice.
am accused Of inconsistency, amounting
to dishonesty, in my opinions concerning %
protective tariffs internal improvements, and
the extension of slavery. The first shalt
dismiss very briefly, but very explicitly. The
Baltimore resolutions contain my sentiments
on the subject o a tariff. And neither to Col
Webb nor to any other man have / uttered a
word inconsistent with thcm voted for the
Tariff of 1916; and though there were some
things should have been glad to see other
wise, (and where there not in such conplica-
ted queslonsD yet gave it my hearty sup
port never exchanged word with Col.
webb on the subject of protective tariff
in my life. Nor does he say did. Why he
supposed favored it, know not 1t is
enough TO say he is in error, as are all who
form similar conclusion.
| In the course of conversation between Eek
Webb and myself, referred to the last pres
ldential contest, and to the palpable injustice
which he'd been done me by the whig press;
and politicians in holding up my letter to the
! Chic ( (r,p If, hoo
| tllity to all improvements, however, general
and necessary, by Congress, and to my letter
! TO MIR. Nicholson as evidence of my desire
| that slavery should be established in the err
rllortcs cedcd by by Mexico TO the United
States. l called these efforts the hunbugs
OF the day, as they were, and must now be
| confessed to have been by every candid man..
, In neither OF these letters is there to be found
one syllable favorable to the constructions
thus put upon them The letter to the Chi
cago Convention makes not the most distant
aluslon to the question Of internal improve
ncnts. a person may be the greatest latitu-
| dcnarlan, or the Slrictcst tconstructonist, and
| yet have written that letter with perfect con-
sis,ency, simply because all it does is to de-
, cline beng present Oh that OCCASION. The
! letter 10 MIR. Nicholson examines and denies
The power OF Congress to pass the wilmot
| prov.so, and endeavors 10 show that that
| measure would be incxpedcnt and unneces-
sary, even il il were constitutional. This is
its extent. There is not in it, from beginning
to end, one word going to show my opinion
was that slavery would be established there,
or my wish that it should be established there.
All tins will surprise many good men who yet
retain the impressions they received during
period OF cXciten ent, and which they gained
from the press, too often pursuing its object
without regard to the higher considerations
OF justice. Let him who doubts what say
on the subject OF these letters, turn to them
and read lor himself. 10 the law and to the
testimony
Will now ask Mr.. Greelcy--for respect
his candor-what has my letter to gentle~
man who invited me to attend the Chicago
Convention to do with my own opinions upon
the subject of internal improvements! Twas
asked to attend that convention; and that was
all was asked. | answered should not at
tend; and that was all answered. And yet
thus answer, as have stated, was circulated
from one end of the Union to the other duE-
ing The late presidential contest, as conclu-
sive evidence OF my hostility to any improves
ment by the general government, be the
characterof the object what it might. had
supposed the device had served it's purpose,
and was among the things that have been.--
Little did anticipate that man OF Mr.. Gree-
)ey's intelligence and reputation for integrity
would revive this exploded charge, and would.
refer to that letter as furnishing any index to
my SCI timents on this subject, or any ground
TO convict me OF Inconsistency in my acts or
opinions. | did no, 90 to the Chicago Con-
Q ,ion because l did not think any good
would result from its abors did not be-
l:evc, nor do now believe that such bodies
in periods of political cxc,teinent-perhaps,
"A ato -, a.. H..
tration OF pnblic opinion or by the diffusion of
informatiorA con leud to any useful plan oE