The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-16
LETTER OF DANIEL s. DICKINSON,
In Reply a Lste AsticI~ II the Wasniagton
Union, cias-any Ham amo"E
TIE CONVERTED FRYE sO,LERs,
BINaHAMTos, N. Y, Sc t Is, l


BNaHAMroN, N. Y, Sc Is, 1853.
MY DEAR AIx-I bage this moment received you
favor of the lOhh calling my att nton to an artic,
In the Washington Union. charging me substauc.
with having favored and ad ,ocated the Wimot pro
vso in the Senate Of the United States in ls47 aat
presenting partial extrActs Of speech then IN ,dt
| to prove it.
The "iee soil" journals of this State have lately
made similar discovery, probably aided by similar
optics; but as these journals because If this very
speech, and the note thereon, honoIed me with the
distinction Of stereotyping my name, enclosed in
black lines at the head of their cou mns, for moaths
ard recommended that be burne,l ia efigy, and
treated with personal indignities anI violence, it
gave me little concern to see them endA avoring to
direct attention from themselves by assaiing me 10
an opposite direction. Nor, since the Wa'hington
Umao" has furnished lis contribution, should have
| thought the matter worth my notice. Thos.' who
pursue me in my retirement, whether as open aud
manly Opponents, or Otherwise have their seryo, to
perform and their parts assigned them, and have
no more disposition TO disturb their vocation than
have to inquire as TO the nature and amount Of the
wages, or question the manner in which they execute
their work.
was honored with seat in the Senate of this
State four years, and there ntrodu ,ed resolutions
upon the suoject Of slavery. and spoke AMI voted
thereon; was President Of the same body two wears.
and was seven years Senator in Congress fsous
the annexation Of Texas until after the ga sage OF
the compromise measures. have too, for the last
twenty years, often been member Of conventions
county, State and national; have presented resolu
tions, made speeches and proposed addresses; aud
IT, In my whole political course speech vo.e or re.
solution, can be found fayoring free soil sentiments
will consent to occupy position in the public
Judgment as degraded as tho most maevoent Of
| that faction or its most convenient accompcc
Near the close OF tho session of l847 returned to
| my seat III the Senate from most painful and dis
tressing domestic aflictop, aad found toe Three Mil
lion bill under discussion, during which the Wlnot
proviso, ESQ CO led0 was offered, and my colleague,
Gen. Dix, presented resolutions from our Legisa-
ture passed with great unanimity, instructing us
to vote In favor OF the pr0visO Gen. Dix advocated
the adoption of the prOvsO and voted for it, IspOke
against its adoption and voted against it, and, In 80
ding aroused aganst me soil and abolition ma
hgnity throughout the country.
The main subject under discussion was the pro-
pIety OF placing q fund of three millions in the
hands of tho President for the purpose of negotiating
treaty of peace with Mexico by tho pur Ii ase Of
territory. Tho proviso was an incidental question:
and treated acco, dingly: Neither. my frame Of
IN adequate opportunity TO consider discuss the
question; but the whole drift and spirit of W nat
did say upon the subject, although imperfecty re-
ported was against all slavery agitation as Will be
seen by the following extracts
As though it enough leSiate for the gov
erpnent of such territory may be procured under
ard by virf no Of lhis ArprO oria she'll
which OF cour, rests in uncertainty-th aendmsnt
fors oth provides Cor the domestic regulation any
Territory the continent Of Au erica Whicu sha herp
after be acquired By snncxe to this unased ascs tn
nDy o'her matter whatever" And thur tls wholesome
Sasas Of aseat the % var m@i 10 prSssoass Z ssssS
with ens Of destruction, abandoned By craven
os xhie the Why and asacneous FOE and his Dsaa,si
ally the roo pre5 ing upon the brave hearts Of
sSe domestic Of territory mt IN the
expectation that may hereaf obtain IT, but tna
eoSn nans Of hs ou M
ton md hs slavery towards the polar regions If then,
t. popular jadsnent ahsl commend that bioDeer bone
voence which seek to provide for the government of
territory which, though its acquisition yet sseps the
abyss OF 20 siby," may be acquired by tha pro
and nssotiaon opened and tho Pis,isnt sha propose
accept for indemnify. and tho Mexican government
tea and q treaty be- made bstween the two o govera.
ueDts and ratified by boh and the territory be organ
iaed BY The legislation Of coosross xhat adequate enoOu
sha she layisn upon that phi
lA throp5 and profound ttateamanshp, which In bill de-
signed to terminate bloody and protaced war; raging in
this apple OF domestic dsooId under the pretence of
e,rcing the benevolent ss OF freedom any terri
any part the continent be acquired BY tho United
Slater 1t ia justification for introduction Of this
element Of stio and controversy at this me and upon
this cccaon tnat IL Ia obstrocuy lust and proper and
that the Southern States should tahe exception to its
provisions. All kne~ the smouldering materials which
the introduction Of this topic would ynethe sectional
strife and local bitterness which would follow n It's
tran; oil bad and read Its fatal history the last
sion, and knew too well what controversies, delays
and ve1stions must hang itwhat elimination and
reformation would attend upon its t0some aod pre-
csious progress and What hazard would wait upon the
| result--how IL would erray against man, State
against Ste section agast section the South against
tho North and the North against the Southland what
ho nnt nvfu d5fpNt AMI astfr mia
chiefs, bat how its disorsaniang and perni-
cious Influences mGst be extended 10 other mea.
| su,es necessary to sustain the Of govern.
ment This bill not only Ouercd defeat at the last
but has boen subec.ed to the delays, hazards and
9ns1ss Of thu, ~ reason Of Of ts's misplaced prSvisoi
mipged their diecorlast Influences This proviso pre-
tending to crcumcrbe the limits Of snvery II made the
the presentation Of decaratory resolves In
~ favor and The bill becomes as oy mutual appoint
neut the common battlogro of abstract autago-
n each theoretic agitation il in iebtod to the other
for existence and each Bubsists alone upon tho Ament
provided ready to Its hand by its hostile purvcyor rhs
votsiies OF oppo ing sysens seem 70 have drawn mtnsr
each other in their efforts to who shall cause
,ohe Of heir incense to ascend the highest Both
arc asearg tho edfco from different angles, and
for alleged oppstpg rsasons-botn declare that their
support bill depends upon the contingency OF the
result and that L., and the hazard of de-
feat The enemy is overlooked and almost for
i.ius s.d ,su1s the subering esmonts Of oOnt.o-
ysrsy in proposing 70 prescribe eoassdc regulation Tor
the nmsnt OF territory which We nave some YeotA
tion may at some time, in some manner, upon somo
part Of the continent from some governments or people,
and upon terms procure. This exciting and trou.
besome question has necessary connection with this
ball. and H. indeed, 1t can havo any practical opera
on uhateysr would certainly be equally operative if
| passsl .eparately. =
But suppose ", do not, after all wo well may
ob,xn BY negotiations any portion OF Mexican ter.
ritory what . sublime spec acle Of egisation sill a
clause like this present the worldS IL will stand upon
tho pages OF the statute act OF tho American Con-
aIess ds.snca to regulate the government Of Moxcan
territory bat whoee operation suspended BY the IN
terpositon Of the Mexican Veto chapter In his
tory 20 be employed BY our enemies evidence of rspe
city, of weakness aud dcpravcd morsls targs. for tbs
tcr and scos Of the kney governments Of the earth,
for TIE dericn OF Mo1ico herself and the general
"a mpt Of mankind lapsed legacy TO the memory Of
| noisplaeed beneyolence and abor tiys legislation.
. =
ArS shat Is moro uiliarg Ia, that the enemies o
poular fri edom throughout the world scowirg with
nsenant qualification to this areat nation unable
to prosecute war against crippled and comparatively