The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-05

slavery, among oihers--sver acquisitions Either
would have satisfied General Taylor In order to &C
oonpish this object he had conversation with ex-
Governor Seward of New York, notc, but not then, a
member of the Senate of the United States This gem
,sman has published letter in the National Intelligent
Ger. which we have noticed before. for the avowed pur
nose Of defending General Taylor from the charge that
he had used his personal influence $50 pass DR. Walkers
amendment through" Mr. Seward be il remembered,
!. not only in favor of the Wmot Proviso, but he is
known and avowed abolonist In his letter in defence
Of General Taylor, he says:
In the morning of the Sd OF March, (the last day of the
late session OF Congress- Gen. Taylor, Mr.. Clayton, the
.sent Secretary OF State, and Mr. Ewing, Secretary
fhs Interior seyeay called my attention to the necessity
ofhaying some form of civil government for California
,,bshed before Congress should adjourn Neither Of those
gentlemen indicated any plan Whatever, or expressed any
opinion on question Of the extension of slavery within
the territory"
Here, in the morning of the Sd of March, we have
Gen Taylor and two gentlemen whom he had selected
a. members of his cabinet, severaly calling the at
,enton OF VIM. II. Seward, the abolitionis, TO this
important subject They expressed no opinion what
ever as TO the extension of slavery. Even Mr.. Web
sters amendment which would abolish black slave
nv and establish white slavery in New Mexico and
California would have been, according to the National
Ineigencer acceptable to General Taylor Accordingly
Mr. Seward not trammeled in his action He was
left free and unfeered After these several conferences
Mr. Seward says, 1--WE quote from his letter)
repaired the Capitol, in company with Mr.. Ewing,
and there procured copy of Mr.. Walkers amendment,
which had not before read. | Immediately prepared
what contemplated amendment of Mr.. Walkers
amendment or Il substitute for IT, Afterwards found
Mr. Webser's proposed amendment and discovered that
it contained all the provisions had contem plated, very
tersey expressed. took Mr. Websters amendment, and
having shown Mr. Ewing, who left the whole subject
TO my own Judgment visited many members of the House
OF Represen tatves, and urged the adoption of it,"
Here, then, we have the New York abolitonist 1oho
,oas not at that time member Of either branch of Con-
gress repairing the Capitol company With DR. Ew-
iap who was to be member of Gen. Tayor's cabinet
He procures a copy OF Mr. Walkers amendment, and
being opposed it, he contemplated amendment to or
substitute iorit Afterwards he finds Mr.. Websters
proposed amendment which gives him entire satisfaction.
He shows Mr.. Ewing sho left the wholc subject to
his Mr. Ss,cardO ovn judgment. This gives abso-
lutte assurance that Messrs Ewing and Seward went to
the Capitol for the purpose of influencing and interfering
with the action of Congress. Mr. Seward was nothing
but private citizea AMI although his vanity might have
induced hun to take upon himself any task yet Mr.. Ew
ing also private citizen, but being about take seat
IN te caoNe, would scarcely nave tnouSt LOT moment
Of taking this without General Taylors supposed
sanction Mr. Ewing left the matter to Mr.. Seward.
Then Mr. Seward says of Mr. Webster's proposed
amendment
"Mr vintou, chairman Of the Committee of Ways and
Means, informed that the committee would report
the amendment with slight notifications, which
did object spent the residue of the day in urging the
adoption Of the amendment of the Committee Of Ways and
Means upon member, of the House. When it had been
ADJ hRra retu rned he oh ,hera
erted myself procure the of the the
amendment, and insisted that different provision
ought TO pass"
This is the account which Mr.. Seward gives of his own
action 1t contains gross insult to the national legislature
in every line of it. He the aboltonist did not object to
the slight notifications proposed by the Committee of
Ways and Means 10 his favorite scheme He not
member OF Congress- spends the residue of the day in
urging It's adoption in the House 1t was adopted there
Then he being admitted to the floor of the Senate as
courtesy, and having right to be heard in that
body exeed himself to procure the assent of the Senate
to the amendment of Mr.. Webster as slightly modified
and INSISTED THAT NO DIFFERENT PROVISION OUGHT TO
PASS" These are his words and when taken along
with the residue of the letter, they indicate degree
OF presumption without parallel He probably af-
feced to speak IN the of General Taylor in the
House OF representatives and in the chamber of the
Senate. Had been otherwise, his mediling would
have been scone and his VIII ole conduct spurned the
extreme OF unauthorized inerpositon. Mr. Ewing had
lett the matter to him. He insisted upon such measures
as rendered all action impossible. and made absolutely
necessary that Congress should adjourn leaving Caor
MA naked and deenceess to the tender merces of
chy and lawlcssness Such is the responsibility of Mr.
Seward To parody the words Of Nathan unto David
"Oi all men who did this thing, thou art most the
NAH"
Appointments.
WASHINGTON. A pril 81 n. m