The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-25
LETTER OF GEN. J. WATSON WEBB.
WAsaINaTos, 1913 II street.
Saturday evening.
r. ne Edaors n Ne Union

70 he Editors Of De Union
In your paper or this date you have an editorial com
mencing as follows
aTas RESTORATION on THE Missouri CoMPRoasE-Gen-
WATSON Webb and Hon. Horace Greeley, now N daily
nnon The sessions &c Congress have been recog
pd on more than occasion as he leaders Of inc NORTH
ern fusion Representing Nr Seward ana ms principles
and ready TO 70 any means 70 break COW" the demo-
,ic r.rtv we have seen the declaring that be was
ay 70 on with Garrison himself IN any EFFORT that would
nuce any such result while the pages OF the New York
Tbuue have been filled BY the other with declarations Of
recommending hostility 10 the guarantees OF the federal
Constitution These gentlemen in company with Mr. Sew
"a have for several weeks 'eamped upon the battle
grouud at the federal capital and are writing long and
mnhalc letters their respective journals calling upon
40 republicans 10 Congress TO stand tirmH
Il, a. ,rue that am camped here with all my family and
,t Ihave become ahousebolderin Washington until April
rsx in obedience the expressed wishes Of my family
physcian but have done nothing to warrant the infer
epce made by you that am here with view to influencing
the election Of Speaker.
In ,be first place, | have been in the Capitol bat
twice duriag the present week and there only three
,,ea last week Secondly instead of writing long and
nhac letters calling upon the republicans in Congress
- Stand arm have written but onsetter for publications.
and that letter. bearing my initials simply Jasd the re-
beans and democrats 10 adherng 10 their respective
,ddates until such time il may suit the faction winch
reyeus te organization Of the House TO cast ther votes
e. N, Hanks or Mr. Richardson's insisted 1t IS clearly
.h1lr Al
two gentlemen to for Mr. Banks One OF these s my
representative and the other member from the
81, ~ New York who is indebted for his election TO assnr-
given 10 the public by me at his requests the virtual
disregard of which justified my reminding him OF his daty
aud that be had made responsible for bis breach hh
ooite true as you allege that have been called
10 account for my peculiar opinions as the late speech OF
the Hon r. X Zollcofer will recall but be did mol pre-
tend NOR did be innuae that had in any inter
-atfa If tle Members
co,ors, consult no other rule than their opinions Of
nropriety for assang those not the floor whose pc
cuar opinons do please them but the abuse OF TINS
privilege scarcely warrants your aluson TO Mr. Zoico
r remarks in the quoted above nave not seen
speech bu heard hathe said which consisted
in ofhe dangerous ttaekrepub
cau spirits Of the North nentrpon opposition to the Kan
sss law Ia remark which take no exceptions, emitting
the adective aud which scarcely be tortured into
being called to severe for bis myl peculiar opn
ouss Those peculiar opinions have been freely and pub
ey expressed for neght years, during which period
they have undergone the slightest change and du-
ring all which time they have been peculiarly acceptable
10 the South with the solitary exception OF my hostility to
the repeal OF the Missouri Compromises measure which
the moderate and Union of the South condemn as
much AZ do and which have constantly denounced as
most objectionable breach Of faith rncaled for by the
southern people unjust their northern friends and GER
tam 10 recoil upon those who perpetrated IT.
You aege that have declared myself ready to unite
with Garrison himself in any effort that would break
down the democratic party. Ths IS so error never
made any such declaration bat did decare-and am
now acting on that decisraion--that would cheer
fully unite with Garrison and the aboonists 70 restore
the Missouri Compromise but that accomplished, our
.snara,ion would be prompt and efectual because as
said in the very article to which you dude could
have any opinions in in regard TO our consu-
tnral obliuatinns in relation te slavery.
You do me injustice in another particular, wherein you
say;
win be remembered that IN the discussions ofthe last
year. the idea Of restoring the Missouri Compromise was
shown 10 be 80 inpracticabe and impossible that many
OF the leading n the opposition ranks Of the North
did not hesitate publicly say that they opposed to
it and among these may be cassed General Webb OF the
Enquirer
10 support of this you quote paragraph written by my
associate upon the receipt of the resolutions adopted at
Syracuse wherein the restoration Of the Missouri Compo
mise nos insisted upon should hare been every
naturally mourned its being thus apparently abandoned
and gave his feelings Of dependency il the declara
ton that The breath is longer IN il let the colin
pass But Messs Editors the very next day epudiaed
bis view of the question: and repudatng also two Of the
resolutions adopted by the convention proclaimed my de-
termination abandon my Efforts to restore the
Missouri Compromise, or obtain what would be con-
sdered equivalent For this have been both ridcued
and abused and charged with striving for what those in
tsrested think expedeu declare mposabity But
notwithstanding all this have wayered in proclaim
ing my conviction that the present House OF Representatives
will be athess to the reposed in them by the people
If they do early day repeal much of the Kan
conflicts With tie great Compromise OF 1890 Sec
onallsm aud purely sscozt members Of Congress may
threaten disunon if this be done but all such threats will
be laughed to scorn by the friends Of the Uuion whether
Of the North or of the South.
If the Missouri Compromise cannot be restored rather
souhern members Congress shrink from such proceed
ing then let southern brethren adopt the only other al
tentative in their powcrRdmit Kansas free State
That would be at compromise covering the
great and fragrant moral wrong perpetraed in the repeal
Of the Missouri Compromise and it would forever settle
this vexed question and drive slavery agitation out
Congress and into its exclusively sectional precincts ee
fectuay as did the Compromise Of 1850, until il
yved and rendered universal By the out
rage Nor would this the South any sacrifice You
very well know that happen what may, Kansas must and
will sooner later into the Union free State
and Is the part OF wisdom therefore to admit her With
opposition aad thus put end and forever, to
ali agitation on the subject Of slavery But refuse TO adopt
ths course and every election at the North from this time
made to turn upon the restoration Of the Missouri Com
promise By this proceeding too the South would restore
their friends the North the moral power they al
ways possessed until deserted aud repudaed by the South
in their uncale-or repeal Of the Compromise Of ls2o
That act TO a fragrant insult in the estimation
OF the whole country and placed us bound and help
less at the feet of those very aboonists wEo until
then, comparatively powerless and those who