Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1854-05-16
po1Nas ANp eossIP 81 WAsHmeTON.
Correspondence q t'e 'ssifriit Q 5s9sr.9".

sGgc-tbe ddte otthfpgs IN the House on ne Sebras-
ia BI-debafe IN the SeAHte on ttespeto 4aessage' |
JAMES W. BELLER, Esq-12eGT Str; must write |
and mail my letter you tins evening orI shan not
be in time for your publication day And here let
me take occasion 10 say to you that for the remain
der of this session ofCongTess viii be allie to
correspond with you, as regularly, as have been
doing for the greater part Of the time in the last FIVE
months, since the commencement Of Congress- as my
other duties and necessary close confinement in warm
weather, in my condition of health will not enable
me to do so. But you shall have occasional letters
from when find any thing of special interest, or
marked Importance to write about.
TIE Veto Message youhave had in your possession
for some time past it is well written State paper
and so far as it is applicable 10 the subject of which
it specially treats is sound in doctrine, and must
meet the appreciation of every true Democrat in the
country. This message looks like the President
means to preserve the old landmarks of tue Demo-
cratic fathers But should have been better pleas
ed If my antcipations of the Message, prior to its
delivery, had been more fully realized and that we
should have seen in it, clear and unmistakabe evil
deuces of the determination of the President to veto
the Homestead Bill and all kindred subjects, should
they unfortunately pass both Houses of Congress
But the Message on these points leaves us somewhat
in doubt but rather leaning to the sanction of all
such measures. But we shall see. have great con-
fdence in the President and his attachment to the
faith of the Democratic party and its principles
and hope he may yet be enabled to harmonic and
bring back to first principles and square his adj
miuistrative action in accordance with the old rules
of faith of late years, the in
PRODUCTION Of tho eIsheIts of sectional discord, &C.
into the ranks Of the PARTY have caused sad nroads
to be made upon iisH. fscipes andpolicy. Northern
Democrats and Sonthcrsl Democrats not as of
yore, one in sentfmeut ind action The Southern
men for the most part, ase where they have always
been.
The disturbing question of slavery, is constantly
oJdtrun itself in some form or other and is the rod
which is swaowiugrtp all party organization in this
country, both in the Democratic and Wing parties,
so far as the nationality of parties is concerned.
Where is this to end are indeed upon sad times
rs the present state OF affairs in the House of Repre-
sentatives clearly and PowerfHiy demonstrates. Let
the people remain calm ana composed till the treason
able work now going on, Il little more distinctly de-
vclopes ITSELF But when the time comes, if come it
must let every man be prepared discharge his duty
faithfully ana earIcssly to the country and the consti
tuition. | think vi have man in the Presidential
chair to meet any crisis and think we have pa
triotsm in the country which when once fully arous-
ed, will burst forth and consume with a whitening
ting treason against the Union of these States and
the existence of the government. But shall sec
there may be some parliamentary eXpedent resored
to- to defeat the present factious state of things in
Congress But that your readers may fully
understand the state of things here and up to this
moment, Lannex you very Ineligible condensation
oft, from the Evening Star" ofto-Gay. You VIII
see that the master ends of aboIitonisn at the
bottom of all the mischief led by that graccless
scroundrcl and God-forsaken infdcl Greedy of the
New York Tribune. His echoes here, Senator Sum
ucr, &C. gave the lrhisc yesterday, and once the
treason was sprung. call ii treason, because the
ton is kindred to it, all it wants 10 complete it, is
an ogcH act. Lamentable to say, few Southern
Wings are found in eaLoo with them, well Col
Benton. Alasl how las the mighty fallen! If Ben
ton need nc jacei, be has got it now. What pity
he has pros,tutcd bis great mind, so much 10 his
vindicrivc passions in the last few years. If any
change in the State of tngs takes place in the next
few days you will sec it in the daily papers from
this city
THE DofNGs OF TIE Uo%sE,-Thc readers OF the
Star may not all know the influences under which
the minority of the House seem disposed to rcvOlu
tiOnZc the Government of tie United States, sooner
than permit the majority to pass the NeOrskd-Kan
bill in the exercise OF their clear constitutional
rights 10 do.
Up to yesterday morning, no disposition to defeat
legislation to accomplish this purpose manifest
cd. The early Northern mail however, brought
load of the New FORK Tribune, containing tAc fol-
lowing instructions viz:
" We are in the midst of a revolution! said Mr.
Clay, on a memorable occasion. We in tie
midst Of a revolution, is our response to the pro-
ceediugs at Washington on the Nebraska bill The
ATTEMPTED passage Of this measure is the first great
effort of slavery to take American freedom directly
by the throat. Hitherto it has but asked TO he al
lowed to grow and expand side by side with that
freedom, until now, atwhat is believed a favorable
moment it springs fIoIf its lair and clutches at the
life OF its political associate in the Government II
engages in coup d ettt and by the aid Of North
traitors to liberty attempts the most intocrlble
usurpation"
Before that, confusion should ensue-bc'ter that
discord should reign in the National CUUnCiiS-het-
ter that Congress Should break up in wild disorder
nay better that the Capitol itself should blaze by
the torch of the incendiary fall and bury nil its
inmates beneath its CTunibling ruiHs-tAan that this
perfdy and wrong should be iiaaIy aceoinplizllcd'
Shortly after the Honse met, Senator Sumner
made his appearance in the Hall, going around
among some Of the leaders OF the subsequent move
ment, calling their attention to this article in the
Tribune and recommending that it be carried out
In few moments afterwards, his Instructions and
those of Nr. Greedy, obeyed TO the letter, rs
the report of the proceeding OF the body from that
time to this show. The policy adopted is avowcd-
~ to prevent all legislation, unless the majority will
yield to the minUrty-a policy at war, utterly at
war with the principles of the Government of tie
the most observation-disclosures must sooner or later IN
form him.
As for the pretence that this remarkable conduct
resOrtcd 10, to secure further debate upon the
bill, it is simply bald and bold attempt to deceive
the public for brief season. Mr. Dean moved car
ly in the day to reconsider tue vote by which the
motion to lay the table Mr.. Richardson's rcsolu-
ton to the general debate the htailed, avowed-
" to enable Mr.. r. to accord longer time lin his
resoIution) for the delivery of hour speeches the
measure. Its opponents, however, instantly moved
TO lay Mr. Deans molten the table, and on that
last motion commenced carry out the instructions
of Acssrs Summer and Greedy.
These show the holloNness of their subterfuge, if I
sufficiently proved in what the world previously
knew; viz: lst that enc hundred-hour speeches |
than were ever before delivered in the consid
Grafton of bill in the House of Representatives
have already been mGtle upon it. I'd, that Mr.. |
Richardson's resolution afforded ample opportunity
for the delivery of at least twenty set speeches
the bill the close of the general debate. 3d. that
after its close before the question could probably be
TAKEN there would BE ample opportunity for the
delivery of two or three hundred five minutes |
speeches. each of which, according the prevailing