Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-03
RICHMOND, Va.
Monday Morning, April 2, is49.
GENERAL TAYLOR AND CALIFORNIA

prefers the military title 10 that OF president.
He prefers 10 be "mere soldicr,n as Mr. Bolts
the now rampant Taylor man, once dubbed him
With this preface, we proceed to notice briefly
TIE Times article Of Saturday on the late eau
thorized'' version Of General Taylor's views OF
the new territories, as revealed in the Na,iona
Intelligencer. The Times says that we construed
its language too strongly, and That il did no
| mean to contend that there was not the slight
est difference between the propositions of Mr.
Walker Of Wisconsin and Mr.. Webster. AL
that it designed to do, was Ito call attention te
Mr. Douglass emphatic declaration, that there
was no difference between the propositions,
and, Mr.. Douglas being good authority with The
/ Southern Democracy, We were bound to put
implicit faith in his construction. Now we
| confess we feel grateful kindness TO Mr..
| Douglas for his sturdy resistance to the viii.
mot Proviso, and for his past efforts to plant this
| yexed question on It's true constitutional basis
While ]. S. Pendeton, and seven other Southern
Wings, deserted the South on The Clayton Com
promise, Mr.. D. manfully stood up 70: it. En-
Pertaining these views, we still could moi over
look the fact that nearly the whole South
looked with favor upon Mr.. Walkers amend
ment, and with aversion and alarm upon Web
s,er's. When we saw the deep Webster refuse,
upon a mere pretext, as we believe, TO accept
Mr.. Hunters modification in the words follow
ing, $50 far as the same [the Mexican lawsl
may not be inconsistent with the Constitution
of the United States;' when we saw able and
sound lawyers of the South. of all parties,
Mason and Berrien, and others, insisting upon
such modification, as essential TO defeat injus
tice 10 the South, we could not but feel that there
was something wrong in the affair, and that in
emphatically recognizing "the existing laws"
the measure in effect cut off the rights Of the
last proceedings of the session, stated that
Websters amendment was Unsatisfactory TO
Southern MEMBERS and The New York Tribune
and the Free Soil press rejoced over the de-
feat of Walkers proposition, and the passage Of
Webser's in the House, as great triumph over
the South. President Polk, il is known, would
have vetoed the BILL had Webslers amendment
been adopted, and We could not bul express our
surprize that Gen. Taylor "Sou,hern Presi
dent" par excellence, should now be lauded as
having been ready 10 sign away he rights OF The
Souh as the measure was SO construed by North.
ern Wings and Democrats alike, al The time
Ii was "al right" when, az reported, Gen. Tay-
lor eSerted his influence 10 secure the passage OF
Walkers amendment; il is still "all right" after
this story is con,radicied, for the same General
Taylor 10 declare that he did not avow a prefer
ence Tor Walkers proposition, but would have
consented TO Websler's or any other establishing
"some sort Of Government" in the new territories
which would be acceptable TO Congress" Upon
this new posture Of Tie President, there is Ger
tainly strange change OF front on The part OF his
supporters"
The Times publishes The following letter from
Senator Seward:
WASHINGTON, March 20, lS49.
1t has been stated, in some quarters, that
Notwithstanding the Allison letter, and the
pretended pledges Of General Taylor to leave
HE WAS FOUND PERSONALLY URGING MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS to pass Mr. Walkers amendment
through, attached as it was TO the Appropria.
ton Bill The frs, movement Of the fast friend
Of tho Wilmot Proviso, after he had arrived a,
our nations capital, was TO GIVE HIS PERSONAL
INFLUENCE TO A MEASURE, The EFFECT OF WHICH
WAS TO EXTEND SLAVERY"
do not pretend 10 know the grounds or the
nfbp y,hic OH fp ia m
think il due TO General Taylor to give 10 the
public the facts which are within my know
Ledge relating to the subject.
la The morning Of the 81 OF March, (lke last
day Of he late session Of Congress- General
Taylor, Mr.. Clayton, The present Secretary OF
Stale, and Mr.. Ewing nov Secretary OF he In
terror, srverally called my attention 10 the ne
cessilv oil having some form II civil government
Tor California established before Congress should
adjourn. Neither OF those een,l~meb indicated any
plan whatever, or EXPRESSED any cpi'.ien on The
question Of the extension Of slavery within the Ter
ri'ory Whal Gen. Taylor did say en- The subj CT
was, that he desired 70 substitute the ruiz oi law
and order FIR he Bowie knife and reyoivcrs ! re-
rartd 10 The Capitol, in company win Mr. Ew-
ing and there | procured copy oi Mr.. Walker
amendment which had not before read. i'm
cdiately prepared what contemplated AS al
:
substitute .or il. Afterwards found Mr.. Web
>ter's proposed amendment, and discovered lhal
il contained all The provisions | had con'emp'a-
Ted, very terseiy expressed. took Mr.. Web
s'ers amendment, and, having shown il TO MIR.
Ewing, who lcfl the whole sutjec 70 my own
judgment, visited many members Of he House
OF Representa- ives and urged The adplion Of il.
Mr.. vnton, Chairman Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, soon informed Inc that the
committee would report the amendment with
some slight notifications, 10 which did not Oh
jec,. | spent The residue Of the day in urging
the adoption oil the amendment Of the Commit
lee Of WAYS and Means upon members Of the
House. When it had been adopted there, re-
turned 10 the Senate Chamber and exertcd my
self to procure the Assem-, Of the Senate 10 the
amendment, and insisted that no different pre-
vision ought to pass. continued my efforts un.
til the Senate decided 10 disagree 10 the amend
ment Of the Committee of Ways aud Means of
the House. 1t is we'll known that the whole de-
sign OF the government for California failed by
reason of that disagreement.
! am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
WIN. II. SEWARD.
W. 40 moi Ihink ihp Times SrenSihpns It's Do