The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-14

Letter Of Gen. Sam Houstea, Of Texas JolA
Lsscher. ,nsa,hsr OF the v,rgsnsa osavssuea.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ~, 1851.
My DEAR RELATIVE: I thank you for your favor re .
Gently received and in reply must assure You that
realize all the soicude that you could expect TO do
in relation TO the present attitude Of national well
In connexon with these have recently seen in the
public papers letter from General James Hamilton. OF
South Carolina dated Retrieve. TexasJ December IS.
1850. and addressed 10 Langdon Cheves, containing
suggestions and sentiments in which csunot
incde These times OF wide spread agitation. aud OF
deep and earnest feeling on the part OF many Of oar
fellow citizens, and such ideas those expressed in
the following extracts from the letter OF General Ham
ton likely to be productive OF evil consequences.
however well meant by him h,s name has bean long
tive of the champions of South Carolina in the times of
null eafon, and his late conciatory admonitions have
invested his opinions with increased influence among the
moderate and rational friends OF the country These
suggestions therefore, il erroneous hasty should not
be allowed to pass by unnotced. The object have In
view is not TO engage in newspaper contest with the
General but merely to intimate 10 you and other
friends Al Richmond that, he places Virginia ia the
vanguard in his contemplated movement, appears
proper that steps should be taken there TO manifest her
dissent from the high honor proposed These are the
extracts which desire especially to invite your At
teahon In many other portions OF his letter opinions
are thrown which also deem justly obnoxious 10
criticism; but these the essential, will
fine my observations to them alone: nh ts1 y
In the letter which addressed to the people Of South
Carolina likewise asserted broadly that II
for South the moral responsibility Of dssoving
the Union that the fanatics abotionts and pFofgsM
them Tue troSbls hat events we're travelling Quit. i.s
enough towards this consnmmaion Have bean fslss
Ioci,y Since my letter written, ha, Vermont,
within her limits repealed the fugitive slave bill and has
S9 :. % S s.~s S
now novel VIII she not call convention OF ~ the
ali respond the invocation Of this great and
nowned Commonwealth. mother OF so many States
Virginia moves, she will dissolve the Union.t
believe I, will lead to convention Of all the states and
4 possible, fresh understanding o. The barealn and
that may obias fresh gmara~tss for tAs yrstsrttss
10. IL cors,, and slso aews am,sa.ss to * eo~sss
tnio~ ror,efirs the arirg awd aYop'atsg poss wiihf~
Bat may the trial those and these truths
be put the test May Virginia, In her wisdom,
oommoawei,h, summon al the .lsvssoaior STATE: to
at Richmond. for tho purpose Of saving, VI possible
question convention Of all The States. II they decide
that they can give US security Tor our domestic in'tiu
who have the bgh, and plague spot Of slavery on Their
hands et par In pesce and endeayor 70 iv. n nc
tsrventon Of human passion, may be the effort"
The first point 10 be noticed is the alleged fact that the
deagegues and abolition fanatics OF the North are 49,
ing the with fearful velociythat vermont
has nu6ed the fugitivesavc law, and that msssacea
seis has de facto annulled itthat the eh Ic41 ~
arisen and he appeals TO Virginia 20 move G.n.u,
Hamiitons intelligence are not very wnstwonny; iof
nothing ia clearer those who are on tne spot ana can
udye tor hemscves that the antisavery agitation
n tbe free States Is in great measure subs1dng
thai the d,,nasngurs who were participating in II
srs deserving its ranks and that it u ian falling
INTO the exclusive hands OF the thseadbafs white
fanatics like Garrison and Gerriu Smith, and thoss oF
the negroes who belong 10 the Frsd Douglas order ct
runaway patriots The uawafanted agitation that PEE
vailed has been productive OF one most salusary rssut
and tina ia the popular attention OF the sot~rs
qv~ patriotic ot the res States 10 the chasef
and danger oil these abolition machinaoos. The mo
mcnt they arrested public notice. that moment they were
destined 10 he crushed We the daily gong
on the Union movement - hesvng up society IRON us