The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-01
From the Fairfield Herald.
Letter OF the Hon. A. Burt.

10 De held at Nashville and also that the convention by
their representative in Congress, "the most authentic in
formation to the present state of the slavery question;
me prospect OF a compromise II any; and how many
vention"
You add the expression Of your wish. that would re-
Ply at an early day shall proceed to do so promptly,
seat one month, member Of the Twenty eighth Con-
gress, when thought saw resolue and liked purpose,
on the part OF the northern States, to diminish by all
the means and to the extent that the South would en-
dure the value and security Of domestic slavery, with the
settled and scarcely disguised determination that
should be ultimately and finally abolished. ] should
have been aithless to my constituents and my country,
IL with this sense OF impending danger had not seadi
y observed its progress, it's incidents, and its results
Indeed have Looked upon i a. 90 e all other
constitute the chief II not the sole, duty of south
ern representative. have embraced all fitting occasions
n
ward with fearful and unfaltering strides, and with
courage and constancy which scarce find parallel in
steady and onward But i has swept over The north
western States with celebrity and phrensy that was
wholly unprepared to witness had hoped that this great
and the folly Of that passion which had seized, with
such terrible power, the mind OF New England But
my conscience, believe the anti slavery sentiment OF the
West is deeply seated and infinitely more formidable
than that OF Massachusetts, Carefully ascerianed in
formation from intelligent and reliable sources author
ICES me TO declare my conviction that all the departments
OI Icucdl lndutqudc, tucy udu
will, arrest the headlong mpetuosity Of these enemies
OF our peace and OF our constitution. There are lew
members Of Congress who would make patriotic personal
msn But will never be done by Congress, and never,
fear attempted The evidences which lead to this con-
clusion are too manifold for enumeration in letter as
hastily written must be this but will not orbear to
aude to one which, to my mind. is conclusive, and
should not be unheeded by the South is the tate Of
Mr. Webster The recent speech Of this eminent and
distinguished statesman in the Senate contained eau
tious and weconsdered expression Of his views Of the
constitutional rights of the South and the corresponding
duties OF the North There was not word in vndica-
ton, and think may say in extenuation, OF slavery,
and sentiment that did NOT seem extored BY the
plain provisions Of the constitution, and the plain oblga
any man in America could quiet the raging elements and
calm the Storm the commanding talents and the high po-
si.ion. the boast and the pride Of his own native New
to his couatry and to mankind But even his mighty
powers were as impotent as chds. The response Of
New England and the North to that temperate but noble
speech a rebuks and reprmand. believe Il found
no echo in the heart Of solitary northern whig The
press At the North denounced it betrayal OF his party
and his section. The result OF all my observation and
experience is the conviction that northern hostility to
slavery is this day erocious, more UNIVERSAL more
confident OF its strength, and more assured OF its VICTIM
than it ever was.
ment Of the sectional issues which have so unhaPpiy
disturbed the repose Of the country. have long since,
utterly and forever desped OF obtaining even the Mis-
sour compromise, which was denounced by the South
when il made thirty years ago, submission
to the North. The compromise reported by MIR. Clay,
from the select committee of the Senate, regard as
captulation 10 the aboonists-as the first, but de-
cded, step towards the overthrow and disaster OF the
South. But even this mockery will fail, because falls
short OF their insolent and arrogant demands. have
been careful ascertain Its probable fate, and with this
view, have consulted some of the most intelligent and
influential members OF the House, OF the northern wing
party have not seen or heard OF one northern repre-
sentative who will support it. But think will be sup
ported by many OF the northern democrats by majority
of the southern Democrats and presume, BY the south
wings. The President adheres to his policy of ad
hitting California she is, and of Withholding terrific
rial governments from Deseret and New Mexico, and,
have reason TO believe, will give cpunienance to
REQUISITE population. thew. ike California are to be ad
mitted into the Union The northern wings have deter
mined to sustain the recommendations OF the President
sd on y the II Ss
Wilmot Proviso; hence all but the mere sbolitonists
are content to forego the "Wilmot'' Mr.. Webster
northern representative, Of either political party express
the opinion that the South had right his readiness 10
concede that right in any compromise TO carry its prop.
e nSss my
Whg democrat, free soiler and many southern dem
ocrais and wings, will vote for the admission OF Calfor
MIA, and that all schemes OF compromise will fail.
But Il should be mistaken In this opinion. and
compromise shall be made by Congress- | cannot too
strongly express my belief that shall not be mistaken in
supposing il will be hollow and decetul truce. II
will remove but one Of dscord and irritation.
Others will remain TO fret and phrensy the public mind,
until the South is driven 10 resistance, SUBMITS in hui
initiation and despair TO the bidding OF an imperious
ter The North will never give any peace but that
which the solitude oil desolaon will spread over the
South. have always supposed that the determined re-
sstance Of the southern States 10 the Wmot Proviso
arose from sense OF the wrong and degradation that
would be inflicted upon them by exclusion from the
ioyment, on equal terms with the North, OF the common
property OF both This all that this famous Proviso
sought TO accomplish II uttered words OF insult, OF
reproach, Of taunt These implied from its
sumption that the South is the inferior, and unworthy
a kAx III, on...,. ,4n xloIa nnla
cause for resistance cat all hazards and TO the last
tremity" II gave rise TO the convention TO which you
are the delegates OF common constituency The
policy OF the President-'the Executive Proviso," as
our greatest American senator and statesman branded
1.-THE compromise Of Mr. Clay, and every other com.
promise that has been offered suggested intend and
would effect all that the "Wilmor intends would cf.
the South Of admission to equal rights and privileges with
the North The means are different but the end s the
same
Is il not then, wholly immaieral TO US what means
employed TO accomplish that end Are not they all
equally offensive equally unconstitutional, equally sub
versve Of our rights and liberties, and equally 10 be
sisted can see no distinction between them. They
are alike nsuting and, for myself would meet and
bat them all with the same stern courage and defiance
Believing as do and have long DONE that the south
ern States will soon be required to surrender their equal
iy in the confederacy, and submit TO political subluga
ton by the North or assert and uphold at all their
rights under the compact of Union, [ am for main
tanning them now, at whatever cost hazard. know
not how to calculate the cost the chances OF strug
gle that involves the honor and Liberties OF fifteen States
and four millions OF freemen. In my calm judgment,
that struggle must speedily come. May we have the
am informed BY their Representatives that Delegates 10