The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-24
From the Catiaraugus lN. " Republican.
Hon. WuG ner.

AAOhs "
The following letter q Been received by the
committee, from the Hon.. WILLIAM DuER, since
the Union meeting, and which we take pleasure in
laying before our readers. Isl
WAsnrNoToN Dec. 8, 1850.
GENrLEMrN: have had the honor to receive
your communication inviting me to attend Union
meeting, to be held at Ellicotvle on the tn inst
regret that public duties necessarily detain me
here, otherwise it would give me PLEASURE to take
counsel with you how we may best preserve the
Union and the Constitution, now threatened by
fanatics and traitors.
We have passed through an interesting and event.
full period of our history When long and angry
controversy had reached an alarming height, when
violence and folly reigned, and good men were be-
ginning to despond, some of the most eminent
statesmen of the nation, embracing among others
Clay and Cass. and Fillmore and Webster, and
Cobb and Dickinson, forgetting past differences,
united together in common effort to save their
country. II seemed at first as if they destined
to be swept away by the tempest they resisted; but
they succeeded at last in gathering around them
body OF patriotic men from both political parties
and from both sections of the Union and by these
men settlement was at length effected
That settlement is not in all its parts in accord "
ance with my wishes and opinions There are
particular provisions in the Fugitive Slave bill
which cannot approve. But if we seek to open
the adjustment in those parts in which it is not
agreeable to U.S. we cannot expect that our friends
at the South will refrain from doing likewise We
should then be mt large, agtators would resume
their power, and the whole controversy would be
renewed in a form more dangerous than ever.
In several Of the southern States the enemies of
the Union are open, active and powerful; in at
least secession is contemplated. At the North dis
union has assumed different but not less danger
Gus form, one that strikes at all law and at every
organization OF society. sect has grown up
with its preachers lay and canonical) that denies
Divine authority to human government, and claims
to live under sort of theocracy. One of its doc
trnes appears to be that each individual is to Judge
for himself (whether by internal conscience or
special revelatiOn) what laws are pleasing to Hea-
ven, and to resist with violence those that seem to
him to be otherwise. 1t ia announced by these
acles that the Constitution Of the United States is
contrary to the law of God, and the compact by
which the Union is formed was stigmatized as an
''atrocious bargain" have had some opportunity
to know with what fury this madness RACES in por-
tions of the North and with what art and assiduity
it is stimulated. Under such influences large
number Of members of Congress have been elected,
who are pledged to renew agitation in every form
OF which 1t is susceptible, and in utter disregard of
the settlement-to apply the Wilmot proviso to the
Territorics-to vote for the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave bill and the abolition of slavery in the District
OF Columbia-and even to assume an extra consti-
tutional supervision (tnpugh in violation of solemn
and irrepeaable compacts) over the right of the
people Of the several States to regulate their
domestic Institutions.
Such is the state of things at the South and
at the North. And the question for us to con-
slider is, whether it is prudent, under such cir
cumstances, to open the door 10 renewed agitation.
If admitted in one shape, it will spring up in
hundred others animosites now dying away will
be revived; Abotionists and Dsunionists will re-
yive their dropping spirits, and every thing that
las been done will have been done in vain / can
see no safety but in strict and religious adher-
ence to the compact, long least as the South
shall observe it, and abstain from efforts to extend
slavcry beyond its constitutional guarantees.
Those who effected the settlement did not think
that when the bills passed the work was DONE
They were not 40 ignorant OF human nature as to
suppose that those who their consequence to
sectional agaitation would voluntarily abandon it.
IL Will continue 30 long as office may be gainedby il,
and II will cease when that motive is removed. 1t
ia in our power TO apply the proper corrective and
it is our duty TO do The time has arrived when
the friends OF the Union both at the North and at
the South, ought to make the question of adherence
TO the compromise bills paramount TO all Others
For myseif 80 long as the present state of things
exists, 1T is not my intention TO vote for any man
Tor the office OF President Vice President, for
any Legislative office in the State in the Nation,
who is in favor of disturbing the compromise that
has been made, and rcopcning agitation upon the
subject OF slavery. What intended when voted
Tor the compromise bills, and what mean to have
now, is PEAcE--a lasting, cordial PEACE; and
will co operate now in any measures, however rad.
cal, that may be necessary to secure that end
Go on, then, gentlemen, with Union meetings
and Union associations. The violence with which
they assaied is the beet proof of their efficacy
and utility. Let it be your object to renew and
strengthen patriotic devotion to the Union to cu-
tivate friendly relations with sister States and
to support the Constitution of the United States and
the laws made in pursuance thereof Make mani
feet the power which you possess, and your deter
mnaton TO exercise it, and before long the dan
gers which threaten will pass away And il
will be something to be proud Of as long as you live
that you have contributed your share towards the
maintenance and preservation of a Government
that rs rapidly advancing to power and grandeur
of which the world has no example but whose chief
glory is not in its strength, but in its beneiccnce
in its being the bulwark of civil liberty and the
guardian OF human happiness.
am, respectfully, your obcdent servant,
WILLIAM DUER.
To s. N. Clark, T.. Harmon, r. H. ShankIsnd.
j. b. Staunton, W. III. Wood, and c. p. Wash.