Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-12-23
Mr. Webster ON the Policy Of General Tsyier.
TO Mr.. FRANKLIN HAVEN.

TO MR.. FRANKLIN HAVEN.
Private. WASHINGTON. Sept. l2, 1850.
MY DEAR SIR: | use the confidential hand oi
another TO write you short lcttermy eye. hold
ing out 10 perform small part OF the duty espec-
ted from them every day. ] am in the midst of
my periodical catarrh or 'hayfevcr." or whatever
you choose to call it. but which you know all
about, | read nothing and hardly write my thing
hot signatures The disease is depressing and
discouraging. ! know that there /, no remedy
for il, and that il must have its course. IL pro.
duces loss Of appetite and great prostration of
strength: but since the event Of last week terIn-
mated ] have some little time for rest. and shut
ting myself up very much keep quiet us !
My dear Sir, think the country has bad
providcniial escape from very considerable dan
gers. / was not aware Of the whole extent Of the
embarrassment likely to arise ill ! came here
last December, and had opportunities of CONVEX
ration with General Taylor aud the gentlemen of
his Administration. Gen, Taylor an honest
aud truly patriotic man; bn, h. had quite enough
Of that quality which, when II man is right, we
call iirmncss, and when he is wrong, we denoml.
nate obsiinacy. What has been called the Pres
idents plan WAS simply this, to wit: to admit
California under her Free Constitution and to let
tho Territories alone altogether. until they could
come in States. This policy,ss it was thought,
would avoid all discussion and oil voting the
VuetHon Oh the w TpSleO All IHhl mat
ter. il was Supposed might be thus postponed.
and tho Slavery question STAYED off. The obj.c
ton 10 this plan was the same as that to poor
King l.ear's idea of shoeing company OF horse
IN felt and stealing upon bis enemies. 1t was
fatty impossible; that's all. But the purpose
settled and decided Gen. Taylor told me, in
tho last conversation. | had with him that he pre-
ferred that California should not come in at all
rather than she should come in bringing the Ter
rii nri m h.r hapl Ind ic bo Ind EyaI II
might have been doubtful whether any gen
crnl settlement would have boon made. lie
was soldier and Ind little fancy am afraid.
70 see how easily any military movement by Tex
as could have been put down. His motto was.
"ri Ell drmis,' He had soldiers furesi ght,and
quite clearly what would be the result If
Texas militia should march into Now Mexicoand
there be met by troops of the regular army OF
the United States. But that he had statesmans
foresight, and foresaw what consequences opin
ions aud feelings, if blood should be shed in a
contest between the United Estates and one Of
the southern States Is more than ! am ready 10
affirm. Yet long before his death, aud i'll the
fnce Of that observation which he made to me, As
already stated, made up my mind to risk myself
on proposition for general pucifcat,"n' | re
solved to push my skiff from helshore alone, con
siderng that. in that il she foundered there
would be but one life lost. Oui friend Harvey
happened TO DO hare, with him and Mr.. Edward
Curtis held little council the evening before
the speech. What followed is known. Most per-
here thought it impossible that | should
maintain myself and s,aod by what ! Declared
They wished, aud hoped, and prayed, but fear
prevailed When | went to Boston soon after
ward. and was kindly received, and intimated that
| should take no march back wnrd they felt n lit
tie encouraged. But truly i'll Twas not until Mr..
EGofs elec,ion,ihat there was any confident assn
rance here that was not dead man.
But must stop here. There is much else that
| could sny. and may say hereafter of the impor.
tnnoe IF the crisis through which we have passed
| ann not yet free from the excitement it has pro.
duced. | am like who has been sea sick
and has gone to bed. My bee rolls and losses by
the pillows of thut over which | have passed
My dear sir this is for yo1r own eye. You are
much younger than | am, and hereafter possibly
may reour to this hastily dictated letter no, with
out interest. If you think it worth reading, you
may show it - to +. b. Curtis Mills, Fearing
and Harvey, ne. 1t is but half an hours Cos
zip. when can do nothing but talk and dictate
10 n confidential clerk.
Yours, always truly,
DAN'L WEBSTER.