The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-05-20

tire, as a magnanimous tribute to the person ue
al character of Mr.. CoRwiN, though there de
are some expressions in it which we do not sp
approve: u
A Washington correspondence of the South OF
ern Patriot lately wrote letter for that pa
per, repeating certain remarks he heard Mr. u
Corwin make at dinner given by him to
few friends, in which he denounced the Abo- n
litionists in the most contemplate and bitter b
style. We observe with deep regret that P
Cassius NJ. Clay has made this anonymous c
letter the occasion for severe and unjust at o
tack upon Mr.. Corwin, in which he charges
him with deliberate treachery 10 the cause oil
Freedom, for which he was rewarded by a seat
in the cabinet. &c, &c.
Mr. Corwin is one Of our friends. we
know him intimately-we know him to be hu-
name, generous to fault, and from the very
constitution of his nature, opposed to slavery
and oppression OF every form. Why did not
Mr.. CLAY, whom Mr.. Corwin had supposed his
friend, write to him and ascertain whether
the representation in the Southern Patriot
was fair one, before making war upon him!
Why take an anonymous newspaper report
as the ground of so fierce an attack upon the
reputation of man desirous of retiring quiet
ly to the shades of private lie!
Mr.. Corwin, it is we'll known, is given to
bandnage. Frank, humorous, amus'ngly ny
periodical, he is constantly uttering sentl-
ments in the social circle, which solemn
man, unable to appreciate jest, is very apt
to misunderstood, and which, if reported as
in earnest would lead to woful misapprehen-
sion. We have heard him say as many ex-
.l,:r C,,thorn Dntrint o.
ports, but we knew what he meant. We
have heard him, with the most ludicrous grav-
ity and terrific hyperbole, anathematise all hui
manity, all philanthropy, and effect the feroc-
ity of Nero--and in an hour afterwards have
seen him blazing with indignation at some
tale of injustice and oppression, and contrib
uting hundreds OF dollars towards the redemp-
ton of a fellow creature from bondage. The
very social qualities that make him the life Of
private circle, lay him open 10 the most a.
bomnable Misrepresentation.
The unfortunate act OF Mr.. Corwin's life
was consenting to take seat in the Cabinet
of Mr.. Fillmore. This act is utterly misun.
derstood and misrepresented by Mr. Clay
IIe attributes it to premedituted treachery
Speaking of the Wilmot Proviso agitation
and the discussion Of the Compromise in tht
Senate, he says:
ale gave way when the petings of tn
storm he had raised came on. He determine
at once to desert to the enemy. During tn
long time that the friends of freedom, unde
the lead Of Gen. Taylor, fought for the Je
ferson idea and against the platform, Ton
who was now fit for anything but speecl
spoke not. His treachery was anticipate
and developed in his rewarda Cabinet aT
pontment!"
Now, we happen to know that all this
wholly unjust. Mr.. Corwin was acting wit
the friends of freedom all through the strug
gle against the Compromise. He was neve
absent from his post, he always voted wit
the opponents of that batch of mongrel meas
ures. Mr.. Benton was recognized, by gen
eral consent, as the leader against it, and Nj
Corwin was anxious to do nothing that woul
derange the order of battle. He had hi
speech prepared, against slavery and slav
extension, was ready at any time to delive
it, but was restrained by the advice Of friend
who wished to see the Compromise defeated
and feared that such Il demonstration as b
would be sure to make might disaffect som
of the Southern men who were opposed
omnibus legislation. He acted in good fat
from the best of motives. There was !
treachery about him, although we thought Al
still think that he was ll-advised by his friend
The Compromise was defeated-Mr. FIJI
more became President. Nobody at that tin
could predict the extent of his detection. NJ
Corwin was consulted about the formation
the Cabinet lie did not dream that he cou
be persuaded to enter it. Hescouted the id,
such a step could be no gain to him
would probably put an end to his political C
reer. But he was beseged on all hands, dl
after day. His loyalty to the Wing par
was appealed to--he was reminded of his o
legations to that party--his personal frien,
piled him with every argument-until at las
against his inclination, against his judgmen
we are sure, he consented to become men
ber of the Cabinet, feeling at the same tim
that he was making sacrifice Of himself
reward, fOrsoolh!
From that time we have regarded him
occupying false position. The slaveholdr
interest could not forget or forgive what
had said and done, it knew that his views al
principles were unchanged The anti.slavel
interest could not shut it's eyes to the fa
that he was by his position separated from
anu WHlle ~ Nuo htiii puHHtu
censure the act Thus he was politically is
lated.
Such man is not fit subject for invectiv
or harsh accusation. He goes out Of ofiic
and is anxious to retire from public life WI
assail him rudely! Why strike one who asl
only to be let alone!
There are.men who hate freedom, or fro
selfish motives are actively nntagonistic
its friends. Let our arms be raised agan
them. Such invective as that of Clay, ca
have no other effect than to embitter the fec
ings Of mun like Mr.. Corwin, who, wha
ever his errors of Judgment, has certain gre,
qualities of heart and of intellect, which mu
always command the admiration and estee
of all who know him.
SINGLE TRACKS ON RAILROADS.
One of the most fruitful sources of acc