The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-10
MIR. Eoote,s Letter.
n the Editor of he Union:

MIR Foote's Letter.
TO The Editor Of he Union:
DEAR SiR:-In your paper OF to-day, you puDllsn |
a communication which suggests the proprlety OF
some explanation being given by myself and others
therein named-or by some one OF US at Least
touching certain movements supposed TO be IN pro |
grcss looking TO the early assemblage IN the city
Of Washington Of a Mass Union Convention--hav- |
ing in view the attainment of political results OF
various kinds, and especially the election in 1852
of a President and Vice President OF the United
States nominees Of a National Union Conven-
ton AS il is quite evident that serious misunder-
standing has arisen in several quarters touching
the convention proposed TO be held in this city, and
as have been specially called upon to aid as tar as
may be in my power, IN the counteracton ol such
erroneous notions on this subject as may nave be-
come prevalent, shalt state with perfect frankness
all that know about the matter-not conceahng
aus ght that suppose to be at all material to correct
understanding of the same. Before doing 80, you
will allow me to premise that for several years past,
il has been apparent every discerning man III the
Republic that the Union was involved in great
danger, from the prevalence OF influences ope,,
rating with greater less efficiency, in all
the free States of the Coniederacy. ABOLITION,
under and specious name, was assuming
public and potential connexion with the political
concerns of the country Both the old parties mad
become deeply infected with the Free coil taintj
and the most disgusting huck5terng for Abolition
and Free-soil votes was openly III progress, IN
which no truthful man Will deny that both the
Wing and Democratic parties OF the North, TO a
most grievous and discreditabc extent, have been
participating. This deplorable state of things was
marked by several circumstances OF nature Pc
culiarly shocking and censurable. Some OF the
wisest, most efficient, and most patriotic men, |
both OF the Democratic and of the Wing party, !
were assailed in the most ferociaus manner by |
those who possessed leading influence In both
those parties, because they dared to do their duty
to their country and the Constitution, in prefer
ence 10 becoming the wretched tools OF faction or
| the merciless organs of ianaticsm. Demagogues,
easy to be named, were fast obtaining an ascen-
! dancy, both in the old VIII and Democratic par
I ties Of the free States and the most extreme
of ofhotility to the constitutional rights OF
the slave States were beginning to command de.
gree of popular assent which might well alarm ali
| true patriots. This is the case TO some ex-
! tent at present; though hope that change OF
/ opinion and feeling is now in progress which may,
| if not unseasonably checked or discouraged, event
uate in a thorough reform of public sentiment
throu ghout the Northern States OF the Confederacy
Meanwhile, was perhaps TO be expected, cer-
tain over heated zealots IN the South, led on by as
uuscrupuous demagogues as the country has at
any time contained have set on foot new party
organization for disurion purposes. In my own
State, and several Others State rights associations
were formed which took upon themselves the ex-
elusive guardianship of Southern rights, and de-
nounced all as traitors TO the South who would not
abandon both the old national parties, and unite
with the ringleaders of sedtion and their savish
myrmdons in the wicked scheme Of resisting the
supremacy of the laws, and breaking up the Union
it-ef. All were earnestly invited to join these
miscalled State-r rights associations whethey they
chanced to be Wings or Democrats, who would con
sent to become traitors to their country. Under
the circumstances stated, there was evidently dan
ger Of both the old parties being broken to pieces,
or contaminated TO such extent as 10 dlsquallfy
them for all high patriotic purposes; and IT seemed
exceedingly clear TO some that unless an organiza-
ton entirely original could be matured-unles7 IN
other words, new party could be formed, com
posed of all the best of both the old ones-the
Republic itself, amidst the fierce collision OF con
tending factions, might be utterly subverted.
When there thus every thing in the prospect
of the future to discourage and to alarm the friends
of the Union two great, patriotic, and truly I'M
posing popular movements were almost simultane-
ously made in the two great cities OF New York
and Phladel phia, with view to bringing together
and to unite in bonds of fraterna association all
, who were willing to sustain the Constitution and
laws and to aid in putting down sedluon, whether
exhibiting its gorgon crest either north or south OF
Mason and Dlxon's line. The meetings in New
: York and Philadelphia alluded TO were quickly
followed up in various States, both of the North and
the South, and something like regular Union
party is already known to nave been brought into
existence in various Northern and Southern States;
which party, predict, will continue to exist, and
to operate with efficient conservative influence
, without seriously disturbing the organization OF
the two old national parties, but purifying and
improving both of them, as | trust-unt all the
dangers which have heretofore menaced our instl-
tutions shall have disappeared. Such is, nearly
can describe it, the condition Of things, so far
as the formation of Union party is concerned, at
! | the present moment
| will now offer n short explanation Of what has
recently occurred, Several gentlemen, including
myself, written to about ten days since by the
Union Safety Committee of New York, requesting
US TO express our opinion as TO the expediency Of
holding Union Mass Convention in Washington
1t was thought that such convention might have
the effect OF imparting additional zeal and eiclen
cy to the movements of the friends of the Union in
every part of the Republic. 1t was expected that
at this convention resolutions would be adopted de-
clarng the determination of it's members to sustain
the plan of adjustment in all its parts, and TO CO.
operate IN the prostraton OF action and factonlss,
wherever they might be found 10 exist. The idea
was also suggested, and generally, If not unanl-
mously approved that it should be recommended
by the convention to Union-l loving citizens every
where to celebrate the approaching anniversary of
Washington's birthday by the holding OF Union
meetings in every village, town, and city on the
continent. confess that the proposition met with
much favor with me in the beginning; and did
not hesitate 10 declare at once that if the movement
proposed could be kept entirely Disconnected with
the Presidential question, should be more than
willing to participate in II. But this separation
deemed indispensable; and had the convention as
aembed, designed offering resolution to that eff
feet, which do not doubt would have been unani-
mousl y sanctioned.
Only n few DAYS had elapsed after the reception
Of this letter from New York, before various ru.
mors obtained circulation touching proposed
conventional meeting and grave suspicious found
expression, also, which seemed TO admonish those
who had at first favored its assembling, that, for
several reasons, Washington would not be the mos
suitable place in all respects for theatre Of
tom and believe that all who have written the
subject TO the New York committee have perfectly
harmonzcd in their views upon this subject, in re-
gard to all important points, from the beginning
to the end. So far from any dissension or llieel-
ing having arisen among US in respect 70 the nom.
iuauon of Union candidates for the Presidency ana
Vice Presidency, do not believe that the subject
OF the Presidential election was ever thought OIL
Certainly no person ever suggested the proprle
ty II such action as that referred TO- to me, or
in my hearing. Indeed, | had thought that 1t
! was decidedly too early for any particular body
1 of politicians 20 be making defnitive arrange
ments in regard to the next Presidential election.
For ono, at east cannot hesitate TO declare that,
until shall ascertain the Union TO be safe shall
strive to think little possible either upon old
party issues or upon the election Of a Chief Magis
tratc iu 1852 Until The Republic shall be reso ued
3 from threatened rum, should scorn myself ii |
could participate in any scheme whatever, whether
looking to mere personal Advancement or to the
triumph of party; and can assure those who do
not stern TO appreciate tie high attributes that be-