The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-23
From the Norfolk Argus, Dec. 10.
Letter OF Hon A. III nayly

Letter OF Hon a. H. hAyiy,
40 the Editor of he Southern drgus:
SIR In an editorial OF yours in The Argus of the 9th
instant you attempt 10 sketch the doings of the
OF democratic members OF Congress on the Saturday
preceding The election of Speaker. By innuendo you
supl 10 cast suspicion upon me. and by accuse
OF having entered into +" scheme" aimed south
emrights democrats than free sellers of the North
should have noticed your article promptly; but was
eohhhed al the lime OF lis receipt and for several days
afterwards TO my house. aud part of the time my bed
WIN severe influenza, and | still far from being
was that had some enemies in the democratic
party OF Virginia, who, long before gave my vote for
NE Texan boundary bill, ayaied themselves of every
surprised me; but from YOU whom | never reckoned
among Their number, | confess il does.
You say
We propose to present the doings of caucus in its
nue ight and we speak from information derived from
gentleman who was in Washington at the time and who
working OF the wires"
Now, was not only in Washington al the time but
IN HE caucus ALSO and am not only somewhat acquainted
WIN what TRANSFERRED, but precisely and sracHy. And
being acquainted assure you III YOU have been mis-
led by your Informant, both respect the action of the
caucus and the character of Col. Folks resolution.
You say
The southemrigh,s democrats did attend the eau
Gus, because they had reason TO believe that it the
purpose OF the Compromise Union present a
o. resolutions expressing cordial Appreciation Of cheer
Im acquiescence IN the adjustment
ura that they should feel Indignant what
selves,
tatto pliment 10 the odious Compromise against which
gess, For the sake peace il was enough for them that
they had dcqntescd the and could
compromise themselves by bending the knee praise
The resolution seemed designed IA blow aimed
OF the North was intended adIoit preliminary
step, in political management, towards the formation of
haop, Dhon party from which, Of course they were to
The most decided southern voted give the go-hy
and ttau mara paI--
by the leter'wrers iroai Washngon-ony by the
Unon men, such as General BayIy, George W. Jones'
ana FOLK, VINO Withdrew from the caucus their
scheme was lost"
Now. sir. Colonel Folks resolution had not one word
IN II about cordial appreciation Of or cheerful aeqi
future, not the past If it had been otherwise would
not have supported it. was designed place the stamp
OF dsappobaon upon all attempts reopen the slavery
agitation. II was in these words:
Resoiped By the dsocratic Numbers of The House of
Representatives. Of The thirty second Cong That the
series OF passed during The first session OF the 3st
gress, known as the Compromise regarded final
adjustment, and permanent settlement Of The questions
as such"
Should any southern have objected to such reso-
lulon' All those parts of the Compromise which were
regarded as injurious TO the South except the bill in
sIect 10 this District, final in themselves Congress
can legislae no further in respect TO them: The only
portions OF them which you touch are the bill pro-
hibing non residents from making Washington a slave
market the fugitive slave bill that part of the terri
tora bills which declares that the Territories are to come
into the Union with or without slavery, the people
thereof may decide when they meet to form constitution
preparatory 10 coming into the Union State Win
the South gain anything by agitang in favor of the
peal oil the first, when only restores the law the
dlon in which al the time of the cession of Mary
land when IT was voted for by southern men who OPP
pose It's repeal when is perfectly certain the effort
repeal it would not succeed and when if it could it
would bring no benefit with il, and only give pretext
10 repeal The second and third? Does the South wish
the repeal OF the fugitive slave bill Does wish the
Wilmot provso substituted in the territorial bills for
the provision alluded 10, which is anagonisc of and
econcilabIe with in How, then, could such resou.
on designed b low aimed al souiher rights
democrats rather than al the free sollers at the North p
Ii occupied the precise ground upon which those south
rights democrats you term them, had been elected
and could not therefore, have been designed blow
aimed al such OF them sincere At SUCH any,
not II was aimed. Those gentlemen will scarcely
adopt the you assign for their absence from the
caucus; for. even if the resolution such as you
describe IT, as was not, II was open 10 amendment II
they could not have obtained such amendments would
have made satisfactory they could have opposed it;
and if, al last, it carried in form dstaseful TO
them, they could have absened themselves from the
caucus. which what they did at any rate. II mis-
chief designed they ought TO have aided prevent it,
The opposition 10 the resolution in the caucus, growing
out OF the character oil It, was made by the soers.
Preston King spoke against it, Most of the southern
bsrs present favor Of and those who opposed
it did it upon the ground not that wrong itself,
but that out OF place in Congressional
and properly belonged 10 national convention The
friends OF the resolution thought otherwise national
convention exercise leg lslaiye powers II the
fugitive bill rs 10 be repealed, must be done by
Congress. And thought 1t peculiarly proper that
those alone who could act upon the matter should de
clare their purposes in respect to it. In caucus there
would be reporters, and in consequence oil that and
the press of time there would be but little debate, and
what there was would be harmless. We knew that the
passage of the resolution in would prevent the
introduction OF the subject into Congress- where we anci
paied much debate and knew lis failure IN caucus
would cause it be introduced into the two Houses Be
sides, il was known that considerable number OF mem.
bers OF Congress- claiming 10 be democrats had been elect
ed under pledges 10 vote for the repeal OF the fugitive slave
BILL &c &c, &cin other words TO reopen the slavery
agitation One object OF the resolution 10 ascertain
whether they still persisted IN this purpose, audi II they
did TO exclude them from fellowship with the democratic
party and free it OF the odium OF their connexon with IT,
We could not expel them by name. We could only do
il by adopting principle which would exclude them.
And in addition am free 10 say, that II they vii.
ling TO mend their ways and abandon all future agitation
of the slavery question-beng good democrats in other
respects-T had no wish 10 exclude them.
TO Col Folks resolution Col Johnson, OF Arkansas,
offered the following amendment:
"Rssoipd That the democratic party regard the series
of measures passed the ast Congress, commonly called
The prouis measures settlement OF the questions
herein and will abide by them permanent nd
the sectional controversy and do hereby declare
that good faith, and piioc regard Tor the interests Of the
country, demand that the provisions contained in said
measures should be strictly maintained and honestly ex
ecuted.
Resofusd Thu, any OF Congress aboli,hing slavery
In the District Columbia without the petition and con-
sent of the thereof any act aboishing slavery
places within the aveholdng States, purchased by the
United States Cor thu erection OF ors magazines, arsena
dock yards navyysrds and oet Ike pupo'es or any act
.uppressnR the slave trade between the slaveholdng
States any refusal TO admit State Territory here
alter ppyng OF the existence OF slavery theein
NY prohibiting the Introduction OF slaves into New
Mexico Or Utah any repeating materially modify
In t,Trp