Washington telegraph., 1854-02-22
speech from Ex-Gov. Foote.

Il
/ The Hon. II. s. Foote. Ex-Governor Of
Mississippi. delivered, at Washington, on
7 Monday evening. 2Zd inst, bold, pointed
rema arkable, characteristic address, making
some singular revelations in presence of sew
cral hundred gentlemen and number Of
ladies' in the dining room of the National
Hotel. The Meeting assembled on short
notice. and was soon organized by calling
Mr.. Stanton, Of Tennessee, to the chair. and
Mess,s. Wheeler. of New York. and Bayly.
of Virginia, acting as Secretaries. Mr..
Stanton briefly explained the object Of this
meeting to be for the purpose Of extending
cordial greeting to their friend. who was
about to leave this section Of the country.
[llcn. Eag. g. Eng.
| Mr. Foote mounted table. and said it
was no, in the language of mere ceremony
that he declared the deep gratitude he felt
for this unexpected testimony Of their res
pect and sympathy. He came to Washing
/ ton. expecting 10 tarry only few Lonrs, 10
take leave Of few friends and then proceed
quietly to New York. where he proposed TO
embark. on Friday, for California But
] invited hy numerous respected and highly
valued friends he did rot feel at liberty TO
decline more especially as it was suggested
to him that certain parting words addressed
to the aur.icnce like that before him mi ght
10 some cxtent conduce to the public advan-
I tace. and perchance aid IN saving our below
cd country from the mischiefs that lie feared
were not far distant Thc conntcnances of
those presents reminded him of arduous
perils through which the country passed a
few years ago, when the country was shaken
to the very centre BY extreme factions
He felt imprcsSively that lie was now with
in the walls Of a building occupied by the
father of the Compromise. He had just
come from the room where he had often re-
ceived wise councils from his lips.
Mr. Foote here paid an eloquent tribute
to Mr.. Clay, and was warmly applauded.
! He continued-"lf lie deemed this nation
now in saietv he would not be there : but
the conviction was conclusive in his mind
that the country was again in neril-even
in more danger than it was three years ago.
This might seem bold proposition. What
were the facts? The Wilmct Proviso then
Now again it was threatened, though not so
| openly. Had not large body Of northern
/ fictionists recently assembled in New York.
dared to announce tie deadly issue Of the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law as one Of
the prominent issues Of the Presidential
campaign Of 1856 and the Wilmot Proviso
as another issue? IT has been asserted that
there was now no Free Soil organization in
| the United States
Did not every man know the monster
Free Soilis:n, was not vet dead, but simply
with 1isiecta mcmbra, which night again
be united and reused to action? The mon
s.er was fed BY clcc;ing and appointing Free
/ Soiers to office Presidents Polk and lay
lor, unenlichtcned by experience had be-
slowed ofiice upon them Thus qnietly the
monster sprung into existence. Early IN
/ the summer of 1850. in b dy of which
1 he should never again lie q member, he
took bold stand against the confirmation
of any known Free Soiler. He would tell
little piece of American history never be-
fore divulged After lie had declared his
position. an illus, rious Senator, now in this
citv. came to him and said, "are you serious
! in what you said ?" I replied, 'yes--whv"'
He said, because / concur with yon; the
Vice President concurs; Clay. Webster,
and every patriotic Scna'or concurs we
wish a conference with you, TO see If we
can extcrminatc this growing evil"
The conference occurred the very next
! morning. The result was, lie was supplied
with list of the Free Soil nominees then
1 before the Senate, and they rejected every
man on that list, agreeing that the compro-
mise could not succeed otherwise. All re-
solved TO srarvc the monster 10 death, u
they could lie got several other similar
catalogues, and afterwards disposed Of near
4 " ali. On the last night Of the session,
Mr.. Fillmore being President. small batch
of these nominees still remained. A Sen
ator from New York well known to fame,
begged and implored him to spare his friends
He replied, if we spare your friends. We
ruin the Republic. and will, therefore en-
deayor to defeat every one Of your friends.
He looked to the clock, seeming to divine
from it some consolation Mr.. Fillmore also
watched the clock, and withdrew all those
nominees, and nominated others, who were
confirmed. Now lie had confession to
make, and Senators present would correct
him if he misstatcd facts. Mr. Fillmore,
whose friend he had never been. as true
natriot. never. during his administration. no.
minated. Free Soilcr. [Applause and
cries of "gond,'' bravo.'' a remarkable
fact because Miliard Fillmore was Free
Soiler originally. Honorable to him 70 the
highest degree. ,,
But he came tonight chiefly to address
the National Democrats. lie believed theii
J principles were essential to the true happi
} ness and glory Of the country. lCheers-.