The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-27
Short Grace.


Senator FooTE, in the course of his re-
marks, last Monday, Epon his motion 20
aise committee of thirteen to take into
consideration the present condition Of the
avery question, intimated, in terms not
p be misunderstood, that upless some
ling was done by Saturday next to &C
ommodate the matters in difference be-
teen the North and the South, there
puld be a dissolution Of the Union.
Est we misrepresent the Senator from
Mississippi, we quote from the Union ver-
him what he said
81 do not cxpect-and | am sure my
'-iend from South Carolina, (Mr. Bur
SER, will hardly expect-that this sub
ect will be acted upon by the committee
soon as the next four days; but they
could make report by Saturday,
crust; for, so help me Heaven, if moth
ng is done this week, there will occur
circumstances which, in my opinion,
must inevitably take place, the nature
'of which will not more than allude
"to, which will render all compromise
'impracticsble."
With allproper respect for the Senator
from Mississippi, we would remark, that
il seems 10 us that he should have given
some specific indication Of what was to
happen, To ''render all compromise inn
practicable" to enable other Senator'S to
act as knowingly as he does. He gives
us only FIVE days in which the Union
is capable of preservation, without in
forming the Senate or the world what
the contingency is which will admit Of nc
longer delay. is this fair' is this can
did, Should there be any mystery re-
speeding transactions which threaten &c
sudden termination OF all hope of com.
promisel Should there be any hesitation
in pointing out the precise obstruction,
quicksand, or sawyer, which must be sc
soon avoided, or wreck the ship of State
The honorable Senator's colleagues cannot
act as advisedly as he does unless they
are equally informed with himself. He
alludes to something he cannot explain
He invokes an agency all potent with him
self, but unseen Of other men. II he secs
something, should he not say what it is
that the pilot and the crew may know wha
perils environ theml He should not CRY
wolf, hut show the beast, that all nigh
seek refuge in season.
To such as regard the Union as "fxeC
fact" something more is needed thar
dark illusions and mysterious gi,ings out
TO convince them that the Confederacy il
in the throes Of dissolution II would b,
out Of place to jest upon this theme anc
il is, therefore, in no iocose spirit W,
quote an anecdote in this connexion, which
/ might be a sufficient answer TO the Sena
tor, in the absence of all other symptom
of a dying condition Of the Confederacy
than his obscure, not to say unsatisfat tory
diagnosis Of the case. There happened
an accident Of serious nature to vesse
descending the Mississippi river, filec
with freight and passengers. The Office
in command came rushing into the cabiI
exclaimihg, Gentlemen, save your
selves--tb, boat will sink in FIVE minutes.
t" Captain" exclaimed plethoric travel
Ter in all sincerity and earnestness, "can'
you give US ten p So Of General FoorE',
intimation that there are but FIVE days lef
in which the Union may be saved. Sucl
as have no notion Of the precise nature o