Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22

been expected have not failed to- represent me
guinq or affording ground OF argument against hui
man laws to enforce the moral laws of the Deity.
Such persons knew my meaning very well. They
chose to pervert and misrepresent it. That is all
In classical times, there set of small but rapa-
cous critics, denominated captdtores rerboru, who
snatched and caught particular expressions expend
ed their strength the disecta menbra Of language;
birds of rapine which preyed words and syllabes
and eorged themselves with feeding on the garbage
of phrases chopped dislocated and torn asunder by
themselves as flesh and limbs are, by the claws OF
| unclean birds Such critics are rarely more dis
tingushed for ability in discussion than for that
w. moral feeling which dsdains to adverse
ry's argument otherwise than fairly and truly and
he meant to be understood.
II has been thought remarkable that an intelligent
field officer in the American Army, in writing pri-
vate letter friend here. dated at Santa Fe, the
capital of New Mexico two days before my speech
delivered that is the 9Th of March, should have
used this language
1--WE have no papers later than the Presidents message.
fancy Congress debating about slavery in New Mexico,
where SLAVERY is prohibited by stronger than all human
ia,csthe dlo of climate and production and senteresf.
Not more than hundredh part of New Mexico could
be cultivated if water plenty, such is the soil,
topography, and rock of this land But the of
vast area without large bodies Of water the rocky surface
sending what little water falls upon it rapidly down to the
ocean, under atmosphere thirsty which evapo
ration marvellously rapid not than part in
hundred and fifty can ever be improved"
And now, gentlemen, have one other considera-
ton bring your minds; and that is that the sla-
very of the African does not exist in New Mex
leo; that it is altogether abolished that there is not
single African slave TO be found among any of its
mountains or in any part Of its vast plains. And the
people Of Mexico, to man. are opposed to slavery
their state of society rejects it; their of cheaper
labor rejects it; the opinions the sentiments and feel
ings Of the people, all reject it, as warmly and deci-
dedly, as it is rejected by the people Of Maine.
And it appears to me just about probable that
African slavery will be introduced into New Mexico,
and there established, as it is that the same slavery
will be established Mars Hill or the side Of the
White Mountains.
Among the maxims left US by Lord Bacon, one is,
that when sedtons or discontents arise the part of
wisdom is to remove, by all means possible the
The surest way to prevent discontents if the times
will bear it, is to take away the matter of them for
if there be fuel prepared it is hard to tell whence the
spark shall that shall set it fire. So counsels
Lord Bacon; but with US, there are other advisers
Although the dispute be obviously altogether unim-
portant, and although the times will well bear the
taking away of the matter of it, their patriotic ardor
still admonshes us 10 continue the contest-to fghtit
out if the oyster be gone, still to make fierce battle
for the shells nor give up the warfare till we obtain
joyful victory, or shall nobly fall
Gentlemen, | will conclude this letter by short
reference to one other topic. good deal OF COM
plant has been manifested, as you know on account
of the opinions expressed in my speech respecting
Texas, and the legal construction and effect of the
resolutions by which she became annexed to the Uni
ted States. Surprise and astonishment, and all the
eloquence of capital letters and notes of admiration,
have been summoned to mark the uterance of such
new and startling sentiments. The truth is however,
that there is nothing new in the whole matter. The
same view, substantially, of the resolutions of an
nexation had been taken again and again, by myself
and Others
Gentlemen, voted against the treaty by which
these Territories ceded by Mexico to the United
Statesg and in open Senate, in speech made on the
23d of March, 1S4S referred to Texas and to the
resolutions of annexation The speech was published
in the newspapers and circulated in pamphlet form
and read by everybody who chose to read it, In that
speech you will find these words:
''Now, sir, do not depend theory. I ask you and
ask the Senate and the country to look at facts, to
where when made the departure three years
ago, and where are, and shall leave to magma
ton to conjecture where we shall be.
ave admitted Texas as one State for the present But
you will refer to the resolutions providing for the
ton Of Texas, you will find provision that it shall be in
the power of Congress hereafter to make four other
States out OF Texan territory Present and prospectvey
therefore, fire States sending ten Senators may come
into the Union of Texas Three years ago did that
Now propose to make two States for undoubtedly if
take what the President recommends New Mexico and
California each will make State that there will be
four Senators. We shall have then, in this Terri
tory States sending fourteen Senators to this Cham
ber Now what will be the relation between the Senate
and the people, the States from which they come I"
You will seee that here is the same opinion of the
meaning of the Resolution of Annexation expressed
nearly in the same words, contained in my
speech of the It'll of March last. And this only two
years ago. But nobody then expressed either surprise
or establishment. There no call to arms, no in
vocation of the Genius of Liberty, to resist false
construction OF an act of Congress- no stirring and
rousng paragraphs in the newspapers, patriotic APP
peals to the people, and insane declarations such
now hear that the Texan Resolutions utter
ly void.
some little interest to myself but of great mpor
lance to you or the country leave it, with the single
remark that what was true in respect to the consruc
ton of act of Congress in 1S4S must be true in
the same case in 1850; and if an individual his
own authority, may declare act of Congress void
he may, with equal propriety, absolve himself from
the obligations imposed him by all other acts; his
as he approves! How far such sentiment is fit to
be acted upon by men, to be nsuled into the minds
Of youth, the country must Judge.
But you and the whole country, gentlemen, are in
erested most deeply in knowing what is the prospect
Of settlement Of existing difficulties.
On this point, am happy to say, that can speak
with hope, if not with confidence. / think see in
brought to bear upon these troublesome and exciting
questions and that the voice of majority of the peo
pie will hush other discordant voices How soon this
will happen, cannot say but fully believe that the
floods will yet subside, that the troubled waters will
return within their banks, and the current Of public
affairs resume its accustomed and benefcent
] am, gentlemen, your obliged feow-citizen, and
obedient servant.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
ROBERT Fl. GARDINER, Esq, and Others.
r n ~ uyr,r,