Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-28
WASHINGTON, Dist March. 1851.

Genemen:-On the receipt Of your letter oil the l4,
OF February, deemed it advisable to postpone an an
swer until The carriage, harness and horses should
arrive here They came on, and were received, all
sound and in good order, in the early part of this
month The pressure of affairs at the breaking up OF
Congress- and until the final adjournment OF the Sen
ate, mas Obliged me to put off until Tomorrow every
thing not absolutely necessary to be done to-day
And now, gentlemen,l have to thank you for your
costly and handsome present. The carriage itself is
thought to be as elegant as any in the coun-
rich without being gaudy. Ii is every way commodi-
GUS and its motion pleasant and agreeable.
The horses attached TO the carriage, ! think, are
quite worthy al II: They are certainly uneommonly
handsome, and their travelling and action very fine.
On the whole, gentlemen, | rather fear that this
equlpage Is TOO spended and superb for plain farmer
OF Marshheld but as has been your pleasure to make
Inc very valuable gift, accept il with all thank
uuess, and shall always regard it as the measure not
OF my meits, but oil your bounty and muniticence
but, gentlemen, am more deeply your debtor for
he estimation IN which you are pleased to hold my pub
lie services IN the councils OF the country. If have at
tempted, gentlemen, TO expound the constitution have
attempted 10 expound that which have studied with
dlleence and veneraon, from my early manhood to
the present day. II have endeavored to defend and
uphold the Union ofhe states it because my fixed
Judgment and my unalterable affections have impelled
me, and still lmpel me- to regard that Union the
y security Tor general prosperity and national glory.
res, gentlemen, the constitution and the Union!
place them together Ii they stand they stand to-
gether; ii they tall they must fall together They are
images which present to every American his surest
reliance, and his brightest hopes 1t they perish ia my
day, or afterwards, shall still! leave in The history
of the times, my Deep heartfelt and engrossing con.
vicon that they among the greatest political bless
ings ever bestowed by Providence man, and that if
IN any course OF disastrous events such as may happen
tosal human institutions, they should become severed
and broken, even their history and their memory will
constitute tract OF light upon which all lovers of human
liberty, in after times, may gaze with admiration. -
Yes, gentlemen Union and the constitution
"Fortunati ambe! 81 qud mea carmina possunt
Nulla dies unqnam memoriv Os eX met aevo
Dunn domus Alnen Capitol immobe saxum
Accolet, impeIiumqae pater Romanus habebt"
Iwasnot unaware, gentlemen on the morning of the
7lh OF March OF last year, that entering upon a
duty which, as YOU suggest, might bring into peril that
favor which had been long, shown me by that polica
party whose general principles had for long time
steadily maintained. A crisis had arrived in which il
did moi become me thought to be ind erent and
to do nothing. Still less did it become me, to act a
part which should inlame sectional auimostes tend
10 destroy all genuine American feeling and shake the
fabric Of the Government TO its foundation was will
ling 10 trust and still willing to trust for The vndi.
cation of my motives, 10 The Intelligent men OF my own
party and Of all parties. should indeed have been |