Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-24
From the Washington Union.


From the Washington Union.
WASHINGTON, May H. 1850
GENrLEMEN--1 have recently received and expect to
receive hereafter, various letters from distinguished
statesmen in support OF the plan OF compromise
under consideration in the Senate, which, with your
consent l propose to publish in the Union. The three
enclosed herewith hope you Will be able to insert in
the Union of to morrow.
have the honor to be, most cordially and truly. your
friend, h. 5. FOOTE.
WASHINGTON CRY, May l6, 1850.
DEAR SRI have received your letter OF Yesterday,
requesting my views the compromise bill reported
on the 8h instant by Mr.. Clay to the Senate. For
than year have withdrawn from public life, and
devoted my attention exclusively and as trust Tor the
remainder OF my days. to the practice OF my profession
in the Supreme Court OF the U States Under these CIR
cumstances, have declined presenting my views on
political questions though still retaining the same deep
conviction OF the justice and expedency OF those great
principles and measures to the support OF when my
it is upon the call of an old and esteemed friend -my
successor in the Senate of the United Statesand upon
rican Union. To this call, from such source, at this
crisis and upon such question, solemn conviction OF
duty torbds me to refuse reply.
1t is known to you that my huYnb lie efforts have
er been directed the preservation of the Union and
that have always deemed its downfall calamity to
my own country and to the whole human race, second
only, in all its disastrous consequences to another fall
of mankind In vain would we attempt 10 reconstruct
another Union, it this should be overthrown IN vain
would the discovered sections hope to establish for
each separate and successful couiederacy: They
could never agree upon any amcable terms otsepafa-
ton and division of common territory and property
and they could, short, indeed would be the period
OF repose. Rival interests, passions, principles and
legislation, without common peaceful constitutional
umpire would soon result in the most sangunary,
desolating, and disastrous ever known in history. 1t
would be war between conflicting passions and
principles, between hostile govern ments sections, and
people, in which the sword would be the only arbiter,
and could terminate only in an absolute, uncontrolled,
military despotism we may talk OF liberty, without
the Union, but it could never be realized We may
speak, indeed of free soil but there will not remain
spot of earth where will be free, when this Union
shall be dissolved and disappear.
In this period, then, OF common danger let us all now
feel that this American Union is indeed the last expert
ment of sel!-goyernmen and it shall now be over
thrown, freedom will forever disappear, amid the scos
OF exulting tyrans and the groans OF world in bon
dage The startling and momentous question to which
we must all now answer is this: Shall this Union be
preserved and perpetuated And it seems to me clear,
that this only be accomplished by adhering to the
constitution upon which it ess-by holding sacred and
maintaining all its provisions guarantees and compro
mses and especially that traterna spirit in which it
framed and all its powers should be exercised. If
both sections should say We will have no compromise,
it equivalent to declaring we will have no Union
The Union itsel is compromise. The constitution IS
the greatest and most glorious compromise achieved
by man. From the eloquent and successful appeal OF
Franklin for mutual conference and concession, when
the convention which framed the constitution about
dssolving in diScod and confusion, to the closing
graduation OF Washington when the work was accom-
pished ompromse-compromise is plainly written in
all its provisions and in every page OF the debates where
Madison records its great and eventu history In truth,
all government IS compromise between rights surren-
dered and rights retained Existence is but compro-
mise between the principles oil vitality and of decay
whilst all our hopes OF happy Immortality,
based upon the great compromise between the claims
OF Divine mercy and Divine justice, manifested in the
unspeakabe gorles OF redeeming love.
That this bill, then, is compromise, is its highest
praise. Nor is it sufficient ground for Opposition,
that some OF lis would in respects prefer different
provisions. That is not the question to which the prac
teal and patriotic statesman called upon by his vote
to respond The only true question is this: Is not this
bill better than any that can be passed. and better than
to leave this controversy open and undecided Is not
better to pass this bill than by its defeat to rekinde the
flames OF sectional excitement and agitation!better
than that the government should abandon its duties,
with the humiliatng acknowledgment, proclaimed in
the face OF all the world that the American Congress
is incompetent to settle this alarming CONTROVERSY Ia
ken whole, regard this bill emnenty wise, fra
erna just and patriotic, and lar better than any other
practicable alternative 1t is Tree from all constitutional
objections; it is not victory OF the North of the
South; It is not triumph OF any party section, but
of the Union rejoice to that you will sustain this
measure. grateful country will thank you for it,
and will enroll your name one OF that immortal band
of the Congress of 1850, of whom faithful history will
say, These are the patriots and statesmen who saved
the American Union. | cannot doubt but that your
able, gallant eloquent and patriotic colleague In the Sc
nate, will be found with you this trying OCCASION
Never did his country stand in need of his
services; no. not even when he perled his lite
:
doubtful strife in favor OF his country and covering his
name and that of his own beloved Mississippi, with
immortal honor His country is again in danger-again
she calls him to the rescue and all know he will
never decline such summons Your able, faithful and
patriotic colleagues from Mississippi, in the House,
surely will be with you also. They have noby sustain
ed their countrys cause many period OF difficulty
and danger and will taer at such crisis this
Have you also with you the able, experienced, and
patriotic Senator from Alabama, OF the Fathers OF
the Senate now presiding over its deliberations and
devoted to his native South You have also with you
the eminent patriot and statesman from the Empire
State-the early, constant and devoted friend Of the
Union, Pennsylvania, too, must now prove herself
worthy be called the keystone OF the glorious arch,
settling stronger and irmer in her great position with
the weight OF the pressure that brought bear upon
her. And Texas, too, baptized in blood, and crowned
with victory, whom toed Tor years 10 bring back with
in the folds OF the American banneshe will also rem
der her name immortal tthe Union should be saved by
her vote. You have also, too an eloquent and intrepid
leader. Opposed have been, to most of his public
measures have been always with him in his great and
Pa'riouc endeaVors to preserve the Unon--wlth him
In 1870, tor the Missouri settlemen--with him, in
1888, for the compromise tariff-and with him now in
his glorious efforts to and preserve the Unon.
And how infinitely are such achievements above all
the pride and trappings of office; and how miserable
are they all when compared with the fame of the pa
rot who has truely served and saved his country Off
ces themselves but empty pageans, and most Of
those who hold them rarely remembered. Even the
regal robes and imperial purple hundreds of for
gotten names and graves but Cicero the orator. states
man, and patriot, will live forever; and SO will
thrice shall have savedthe Union And you also, great
and patriotic statesmen of the North and Northwest
you tread no step backwards" and for the future
as for the past Of the present session, yours will be
steps ofhonor praise and gory-standng on the solid
ramparts of the constitution, firm as the granite of
your native State and elevated its loftest mountain
peak that lifts its summit to the skies
And here let me truly say that there was no more de-
voted supporter OF this Union than my departed friend
James K Polk and his messages demonstrate that he
would have warmly supported this bill He recommand0
ed the adjustment of this question by the admiss;nn f
Stately the Missouri in ne1 by the Clayton com
and last Of these combned There Is mo ner
son intimately acquainted with the views of the late
President this sabe ss no member of his cabinet who
would have received his cordial SUPPORT We all know
his repeated e tt s. Tor final settlement of ques-