Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-04-24
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1852.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 1852.
Dear Sir--l have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter of the 9Th inst, and
thank you for what you are pleased to say OF
my fidelity to great national Wing principles. |
trust there is not q man in the country who
doubts my appreciation Of those measures,
which are usually called "Compromise Mea-
surcs," or my fixed determination 10 uphold
them steadily and firmly. Nothing but a deep
sense OF duty led me to take the part which
did take, in bringing about their adoption by
Congress, and that same sense Of duty remains
with undated force. | am of opinion that
those measures, one and all, were necessary
and expedient, and ought to be adhered to bv
all friends of the constitution and all lovers Of
their country. That one amopg them which
appears to have given the greatest dissa'isfac-
ton, | mean the tugive slave law, ] hold to be 4
law entirely constitutional, highly proper, and
absolutely essential to the peace of the country.
Such a law is demanded by the plain written
words of the constitution; and how any man
can wish to abrogate or destroy it, and at the
same time say he is a supporter OF the .consti-
tuition, and willing to adhere to those provisions
in it which are clear and positive injunctions
and restraints, passes my power of comprehen-
sion.
My belief is, that when the passions of men
subside and reason and true patriotism are al
lowed to have their proper sway, the public
mind, North and South, will come to a proper
state upon these questions. | do not believe
that further agitation can make any conside-
rable progress at the North. The great mass
OF the people, | am sure, are sound, and have
no wish to interfere with such things as are, by
the constitution, placed under the exclusive
control of the separate States. have noticed
indeed, not without regret, certain proceedings
to which you have alluded, and in regard to |
these, have to say, that gentlemen may not
think it necessary or proper that they should
be called upon to affirm by resolution that
which is already the existing law of the land.
That any positive movement to repeal or alter
any or all the compromise measures, would
meet with any general encouragement or sup
port, | do not at all believe. But, however that
may be, my own sentiments remain, and are
likely to remain quite unchanged. | am in IA
vor Of uphoIding the constitution in the general,
and all its particulars. | am in favor of res
pacting its authority and obeying its injunc-
tons; and to the end of life shall do all in my
power to fulfill honestly and faithfully all its
provisions. | look upon the compromise mea-
sures as a proper, a fair and final adjustment of
the questions to which they relate, and to no re-
"a tuCSIiottS, III I OpCUlI0 VI
them, no effort to create dissatisfaction with
them will ever receive from me the least coun-
Or support, concurrence or approval at
any time or under any circumstances
am, with high regard, your obedient servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
A. TAvESSER, ESQ.
The Bee thus justly and forcibly comments +
upon the above letter: 6
That's the way to speak ont. There is no I
want of explicitness, no hanging back, no re- ;
serve OF language. no letting friends vouch for !
MIN, about Daniel Webster. What he thinks e
ne is willing to place on record. He shrinks S
not from duty, and places principles leagues a
'bove petty and housing intrigues for the Pre- t
'idential nomination. The people, North and b
South, know where to find Mr.. Webster. He t
$ for the Compromise in general and in detail. a
He upholds the entire series of measures :,
inoWn as such, and takes special care to men ;,
ion the Fugitive Slave Law as an act entirely ,
highly proper, and absolutely !
to the peace of the country: He is :
rank and persplcuous in the expression of his
entlments, and what is more, he maintains =
nd advocates doctrines which the Wings of I
he South recognize as fundamental articles in !
he creed of every patriot and lover of the Uni |
N. Such a man we can support for the Presi-
.ency. A statesman of unriyalled eminence. fo
n orator OF gigantic powers, ardent and un- (
in his patriotism, a National WING of <
he best and truest stamp-illustrious at home. .
onored and revered abroad. The South will
OF complain, if MI. Webster should be a can. :
ldate for their suffrage, in the event of Mr.. ?
failing to obtain the nomination. (
II Zen. Scott entertains the slightest res T
for the section of country which gave him t
nth; If he be minated by the wish to become .
he President of the United States, and not the :.
istTument and puppet of Northern Free Soil .
m-lthe have not irrevocably and hopelesslv =
himself to those who are seeking to {
ngraft upon Wing principles the odious for =
OF aboIition-let him emulate the glori- :.
US example of one, who at the bar and the p
has achieved victories as mighty as any
yer won by him upon the tented field. Let 1
,lnheld Scott write five lines, endorsing Mr.. q
'ebster's letter, without exception or e~xtenua. Pl
let him say in plain language, that he is in
favor OF the maintenance of the COMPROMISE. da
Igitiye slave law and all; and the Wings of he
e South will stand by him heartily and will
tie for him enthusiastically, should he prove n
e nominee of the Convention. But should he 1
'rsIst in the present attitude of %silence, we tell ac
m frankly that the South will not support tn,
There is a feeling pervading the southern III
,hlg masses which the press could not, if it ca
ould, subdue. They distrust Gen. Scott, on plt
count OF his associations, his upholders, and n
muteness. lHe must come out, or take his
anee for the Presidency from the North alone. IT
It lin not imagine that Stanley and Mangum i
n carry the South for him. Such an idea is Gl
lusiVe and preposterous. Under present aus to
'es, General. Scott would scarcely muster I'M
'engtl enough in any Southern State, to se- op
re a respectable electoral ticket-much less a
llOrltY of the nnnular rotas- u Mo snaal. a. -