The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-23
M. Foote'S Finality.


M. Foote'S Finally.
The Senator from Mississippi has failed in
pressing his proposition to vote previous to HE
departure. 1t is understood that he leaves to.
day for Mississippi, to assume his gubernatoria
duties, and possibly to resume his place on the
no-party Union platform, laid down by him q
month since at Montgomery. To be thorough
paced party man at Jackson Hall, in this city, and
no-party man in Mississippi, leaning on Wing
support, would be difficult position for most
politicians to occupy-but is an easy feat for
Mr.. FoorE-who is everything by fits, and no.
thing long" The position of Mr. COBB, in
Georgia, though in some respects similar to that
of Mr. FooTE, is by no means so bad, since he
was elected through a combination of similar
influences, and never so strongly committed to
the opposition, has, since his election, prudently
held his place, and the Union organization in his
State still keeps its organization But silence
is an impossibility with some individuals. When
DR.. JOHNSON spoke of some one as "a terrific
engine of colloquial oppression" he must have
had in his eye just such spouter of wordy cat.
arscts as the Senator from Mississippi. He
must speak in place and out of place. in season
and out of season-he must keep contradctiug
everybody, himselfincludsd, all the time and on
the slightest solicitation or pretext pop up and
make personal explanations"
keenly susceptible to the impressions ofthe mo.
ment and of the passing scene, he reflects always
the color of the objects around him. Hence, the
"personal explanation" at Montgomery required
an expiation of twenty years, on the part of the
Northern Democracy, before he and his friends
could touch it-and before many more days had
expired, the same shrll voice wakes the echoes
OF Jackson Hall with renewed pledges of fidelity
and assurances Of past, present, and future allie.
glance to it alone. But before Mr. FoorE made
his finale in the Senate he had TO undergo the
torture Of cross-examination, and make another
series Of personal explanations" in relation &c
his zigzag course, which stripped off all his film
sy Pretexts Of consistency or patriotic purpose
and sends him back TO his generous Wing
friends, without rag TO cover his political ma
kedness. Provoking an encounter with the
Senators from South Carolina, he has been most
signally exposed and shown up in his true color:
TO the whole country, as one of the most perfect
political weathercocks that ever pointed due
South in the morning, and due North in the
afternoon. In fact, like the dancing girls of the
East, his revolutions have been so rapid as 10
dazzle the eye and almost bewilder the percer.
ton. In the short space Of eighteen months he
has been States Rights Democrat, Southern
Rights, particolored Compromise, Great Tn.
ion" party, seui.Webster and Wing, no party
Constitutional Union, and various other things
too numerous 10 mention and lastly, has claimed
to be an unadulterated Democrat, taking as the
cardinal article Of that faith the Proclamation
and Force Bill Of Gen. JACKSON.
The simultaneous appearance Of the Union',
leader on that subject, and Mr FoorE's pronun.
ciamento on the same, looks little singular. tc
lay the least Of IT, From such Democrat a.
dr. FooTs, and such Democracy as that preached
up by the Union, every genuine States Right
and anti-Co9 idation man may well pray to b,
delivered. Awe predicted a short time since
Mr. FoorE's ending has been like unto his be
ginning this session. failure. Ills frebrant
resolution has only burnt his osn fngers-hi,
assaults on others resulting in his own exposur,
and utter discontinue. The more Justify anc
generously his voice has been elevated, the fur
'hsr the lions skin has slipi of. and the res
character Of the sound, and the source from
which II emanated, been understood. lie ha,
come, seen, but not conquered lie goes anc
warm wishes 60 with him that he may
depart, like Ajuct, never to return"
And with reference 10 his absence, we, and al
other lovers Of peace and quiet, and common
courtesy may well breathe the aspiration,
Eao Perpetua