The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-24


ferent sections Of the Union--in order that those
great concerns. which nppertain to our haPp
ness and our honor rs a nation may be calmly
supervised and wisely administered that the
Uncomfortable i,sstitntons Of our fathers may be
70 estshi ished upon foundations as imperishable
AZ the fame OF those illustrious men to whose
wisdom, under Heaven, they owe their origin
and that our onward career as prosperous and
powerful people remain unchecked and unre-
tarded by the insidlous movements of men who,
in all the capacities for public mischief which
have yet attracted the attention Of mankind,
have never been either equalled or surpassed In
any age or nation whatever.
Such, sir, understand to be the real scope
aud bearing of that document which has been
just read to us, with such an appearance Of earn
est gravity, by the honorable senator from New
Hampshire This manifesto (for 80 it may be
calIed) does certainly most clearly intimate the
opinion that there is body of men, or class of
politicians, in this country--some few Of whom
are, perchance, to be found in the halls of Con-
grcss-who aim to obtain advancement, and to
seat themselves in high places OF civic trust, by
making themselves particularly conspicuous in
keeping alive the feelings of discomfort and dis
cord heretofore unhappily prevalent, by tanning
into flame the dying embers of sectional strife,
and by reyving those scenes of sectional war
fare which had at one time almost brought this
great republic itself to wofu md bloody ter
mination. confess that it is even hinte- in the
paper which has been so severely criticised, that
certain personages have been known to figure
largely upon the political arena among us of this
dangerous stamp--some Of whom have even
had the presumption to aspire to presidential
honors, and who hoped to reach the highest Off
cial station in Chrislendom by such arts as can
not be mentioned even in their own hearing With
out discomposipg their feelings of selfcompla-
cency, and tinging their cheeks with the blush
of shame. Nobody knows better than the hon
orable senator from New Hampshire, imagine,
that there have beensuch men, and that there
may be one or two such yet surviving Here
Mr.. Il. pointed in the direction of Mr.. HALE
The PRESIDENT. The Chair will be under
the necessity oflnterrpting the senator
Mr.. FOOTE. ] am making no such direct
personal ausion, think, as could be justly
complained Of / assert fact, which none will
deny, that there are some men to be found,
either North or South, East or West, who have
shown themselves willing to secure the gratifi-
cation of selfish ambition, by disturbing the
quiet of the country, ard by diffasing the fell
spirit of discord among those who should de-
light to dwell together in unity and good fell
lowship. The existence of this public fact, rs
part of the history Of the republic, is neither to
be doubted nor denied and therefore has it be-
come necessary that some such combination of
moral energies MS that delineated in the mani
festo which has been so sneeringly reviewed by
the honorable senator from New Hampshire,
should be provided, apart from all eristing
party organiSation) in order to rescue the ma
ton itself from the dangers which are so obyi-
ously menaced. We whose names are to be
found attached to this paper, have agreed, as far
as in us lies, to commingle our exertions for the
suppression of agitation and the overthrow of
faction. Believing that the people of this
country aeentitled to repose, after so protracted
a season of turmoil and controversy, we have
agreed to do what we can to still agitation and
terminate sectional strife. Believing that we
could, by united efforts, do some good ia the
counteraction of existing evils, we have moi
hestated, however differing, and expecting here
after to differ, upon other questions which have
formerly divided parties, to enter into a special
and formal compact with each other to CO. oper-
ate, actively and zealousy, for the overthrow OF
those whom we recognise as our common en-
emy
Knowing that the desire Of political advance
ment was the chief motive which iDs,igated the
conduct of certain Individuals who have been
heretofore sought and who are yet seeking to
embroil the country, we have resolved to LET
these personages understand at once, and most
clearly, that new and serious obstacles were
about to be thrown in the way Of their Iawless
and INSCRIPTIONS auGRil ion which even higher
moral ard intellectual Mcuties than they possess
would find it little difficult to surmount We
determined TO adopt the remedy to the disease.
nd 70 give assurance, rs far as we might b. able
TO do so, to all desirious Of attaining the high
place of power, that the shortest road to station
would be hereafter found to be the faithful per-
Torrance Of sil the duties of good citizenship
Accordingly, sir, We did draw up and subscribe
the paper in question. Many have signed it, and
many more, with the same pure and upright in
tentions, will sign il hereafter. No one is urged
to take part in the proposed movement; no one
is censured or complained of for Withholding
his name. We know that uany concur in every
sentiment stated in this paper who prefer some
other mode of declaring their views. We are
aware that the peculiar position of some may
be such as to make ii, In their judgments, polite
to take no active part in this proceeding at all,
however much they may sanction it and desire
its success We aim at no personal aggrandize-
ment; we attempt no coercon we practise not
the arts Of intimidation--at least in any sense
to be rightfully complained of Wea not will
ing ourselves to vote for any man for office, high
or low, who may attempt to agitate hereafter
upon the subject Of slavery, or who may strive
to break UP The happy settlement recently eff
fected and we 1--WE deemed it judicous so to
declare IN q public and solemn manner, and in
languoge not 30 be misunderstood This isno eos
tracisUl,' rs it has been called by the honorable
senator from New Hampshire, but the simple
and unobirusiye exercise Of our rights as citi-
zens of this free republic. We feel ourselves
bound to WELD all the Influence which " pos
sess and in the mode best calculated to prove
efficient, for the suppression of the greatest do
nestle evil which has arisen in our times
Tho PRESIDENT. The senator is certainly
not in order. 4It
Mr.. FOOTE, have appealed TO the Senate
to allow ne the privilege of explanation upon a
subject more or less mpicating my public char
acter, and shall probably only speak few
minutes longer.
The PRESIDENT The Chair will be un.
der the necessity of enforcing the rules.
Mr.. FOOTE. ] wish the Chair had enforced