The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-17


aot think any good would result from its labos:. I
did mot believe. do now believe, that such bodies,
IN periods o. political indeed, at
any period either By the concentration Of public opn
ion or BY the diffusion OF information, lead to any
useful plan Of action, Invited the members Of that
were, from every portion OF the Union the
sphere OF operation was far too extensive for wise and
interests involved general propositions only to be
laid down in such convention, the object is not worth
the effort; for in the divided state OF the public mind
upon the question whatever platform might be adopted
Il general plan Of operations is to be proposed and
pressed upon Congress. the objections are papabe and
grave The members are under little responsibility; and
each section OF the country will have its own objects
TO attain, these must be attained BY concessions 70 the
objects Of others, and the result will FURNISH evidence
of q mutual spirit OF accommodation rather than a
cautious regard Tor the general interest Such
semblage is very different thing from the attempt
to concentrate opinion and action in favor Of any
Sss 81 q si
and where there s no weighing OF one project against
another any sacrifices to the desired result.
And am ay in my
man is yet TO be found who will venture to say that any
advantage has resulted from its labors.
But had yet another reason for declining to attend
that convention did not like its origin The earliest
nohce Of it which saw was connected with the names
city Of New York; and believed, and have yet no
democratic party by taking advantage Of the excitement
which prevailed in certain portions OF the country in
consequence OF the failure Of two successive internal i'm
provement bills And have since understood, though
cannot vouch for the fact that such the actual in
enon and that the proceedings OF the convention would
have assumed party chaacer and been directed to this
object had not the design been frustrated BY the rmness
Now Mr. Greeley will understand why did not at
tend this convention But cannot understand why he
seeks my opinions this question in my letter, which
a w al nd mt in nv
and votes in the Senate OF the United States.
Eminent wing politicians whom could name, but that
Chicago Convention but neither answered nor attended
thought 1t due to the gentleman who invited me TO
knowledge his attention, and did And this act Of
courtesy. which constitutes the only difference between
myself and Others has been made the text book whence
my opinions are TO be deduced and by which my incon
sstency is to be proved On the question of the power
OF the United States over the subject OF internal improve
great democratic party, and fully expressed in the
olutions OF the Baltimore Convention In the words OF
one OF these resolutions, believe that the constitution
commence and carry general system Of internal i'm
provement" and no man living has the right to gansay
this assertion But at the same time have never dis
puted the right OF Congress to improve OF the great
harbors and rivers and lakes OF the Union, national in
their character and important to the and
OF them to the defence OF our country While the demo-
cratic party deny the power to devise and carry vast
system Of operations recuniary extent man
foresee, and what is still worse, whose corruptng
influence, well in the legislature as out OF it, cannot
be viewed but with the most serious aPprehension-the
great majority of that party indeed nearly all of it, has
advocated particular appropriations ussed BY the cir
cumstances OF position and importance. Almost at the
Ame time that declared my adhesion to the resolutions
OF the Baltimore Convention, voted with equal good
faith for bills in the Senate providing for the improve
men OF rivers and harbors and lakes and advocated their
passage in my seat and this is precisely the why
righteousness, something worse in asserting that my
Chicago letter, which contained not word the sub
ec was proof of my hostility to all the action Of Con.
publicly decared) opinions. And my position was thai
Of most Of the prominent men of our party, who, while
they held to the doctrines OF the resolutions. held like
bills do not know, indeed, that there is single
senator who denies TO Congress all power to legsate
over this matter Certainly Nh. Calhoun does not, who
aware il is difficult to draw practical line at all times
between objects that ought and that ought not engage
the attention OF Congress- and think therefore, looking
effort should be to and not to enlarge, the circle
OF powers and such understand to be the views OF the
democratic party a F
is drawn from the TACT that in my letter to Mr. Nicholson
took ground against the Wilmot Proviso, excluding
slavery by law from the territories and now believe that
slavery with without that restriction, will not be
tabshed there And the wonder j. gravely expressed
how could write that letter and the letter OF three lines
to the Chicago Convention and yet claim the character OF
an honest man. u much sraver wonder to me, how
public opinion is great. should venture thus to dea
even with political opponent utter disregard OF his
true position will not surprise you, but twill many
who have viewed my course only In party aspect to DC
told that in that very letter to Mr. Nicholson expess
stated my opinion TO be, that slavery would extend
TO California New Mexico and that the inhabitants
of those regions whether they depend on their ploughs
or their herds, cannot be Shareholders. quoted with
full appreciation the opinions OF Mr. Buchanan and oil
Mr.. Walker, the former OF whom says; "t il morally
impossible, therefore, that majority Of the emigrants 70
that portion OF the territory south OF 800 30 will ever
establish slavery within its limits" Mr. Walker main.
ains that beyond the Rio del Norte slavery will moi
pass not only because il is forbidden by law but because
one over the whites and holding. they do, the govern
ment and most OF the Offices in their possession they will
not permit the ensavement OF any portion OF the coored
race which makes and executes the laws OF the
will therefore be on examination does not regard
the exclusion OF slavery from region where now ex
lists, but prohibition against its Introduction where il
does not exist, and where. from the feelings Of the in
habitants and the laws of nature, II is morally imposs
ble Mr. Buchanan says "that il can ever eestab.
sh ITSELF" have never uttered TO human being a
sentiment in opposition 10 these views And subsequent
events the events indeed OF every day. confirm theI
justice and render il impossible that slavery should be
re- established in the region ceded TO Us BY Mexico.
Such is the general opinion in the slaveholding
States, among those who are most attached the com.
promises OF the constitution, and most determined 10
maintain them. And do not doubt but there are many
persons IN the southern States who resist the Wilmot
Provso with all their power as offensive to the iesi-
still believe il is question rather OF principle than
OF action, and that circumstances preparing an exclu
sion which Congress has no right to pronounce.
In the view here aken the effort 10 engrait the VIII
mot Provso upon act OF Congress- even II Congress
had the requisite power useless attempt 10 direct
the legislation Of the country 70 an object which would
be just certainly attained without IT, II Congress have