Washington sentinel., 1856-07-24
IN A TIGHT PLACE.

General James Watson Webb, in his speech
in the Black Republican Convention, thus ad-
dressed his fellow members:
On the action of this Convention depends
the fate of the country; if the Republicans fail
at the ballot-box, WE will be forced to drive
back the slaveocracy with fire and sword"
lGreat applause.
The General, in reply to Mr.. Stephens
speech, referring to this thunder of his, says
that he spoke for himself alone, and that no
one else is accountable for the sentiment ex.
pressed.
Did the General not mean by "WE," the
members of the Convention and of the party.
and did not the members respond and endorse
the sentiment by loud and prolonged ap-
plause?
Or did the General use the "WE" in edito-
rial parlance, and mean only himself. If he
did mean others than himself, then they are
equally responsible. If he meant none other
than himself as he alleges, then it comes to
this, that General James Watson Webb will
be forced to drive back the slaveocracy with
fire and sword.
Were this threat thus made by any less for,
mdable or less successful hero than General
James Watson Webb, we should have less ap-
prehension, but, coming from quarter which
never makes threat and then fails TO accom-
plish it, il behooves us to look round for means
to propitiate this dangerous man of war as
well as Of words.
We will, therefore, appeal to his magma
nimty, and to his high sense Of honor for his
pledged faith.
The General as well as the pubc-at large,
have fresh in their recollection the pronuncia.
mento of General James Watson Webb upon
his joining the Black Republican party, in
which, studiously and with nice precision, he
defined accurately his position.
The General declared that he had not gone
over to the Black Republicans, and that he did
not intend to go over; that he entered into
temporary alliance with a party (whose princi.
Piles he condemned) for single and special
object, to wit: "the restoration Of the Missouri
Compromise !" that this being done, he would
fall back into his old ranks, and all again be
as we we're.
We have intended to state truly, and to state
fairly, the position assumed by the General
Now, as the Republican party, including the
convention of which the General was a mem
Der, refuse to restore the Missouri Compromise,
or to allow it to be restored, and so avow it, we
do not exactly perceive how the General ex-
poets to accomplish his avowed purpose, his
only purpose, his darling purpose, by adhering
TO this party, by denouncing his own party
the Fillmore party-which concurs exactly with
his wishes, and is seeking to accomplish the
only thing which the General in his pronun.
ciamento declared he expected or desired to
get by his temporary change Of front Dear
General, why do you abandon the only possible
mode Of securing your wishes, which would be
by joining Fillmore2 and why. dearest Gene
raj, do you join the Black Republicans, with
whom the accomplishment Of your avowed
purpose is a matter Of admitted impossibility I;
and obi General, most perplexing OF all, why
did you specially select, nominate and advo-
cate Governor Seward as the nominee Of the
Black Republicans for President, while you had
still ringing in your ears this ayowal that he
was opposed to all comprOmises--to your com.
promiseY
Now, dear general, as the only possible way
that you can hope to carry your point, your
only point the restoration of the Missouri
Compromise, is by abandoning the Black Re-
publicans, and joining the Fillmore party, we
earnestly entreat you to do so, alike for con-
sistency, (which has always, with you, been the
jewel Of FIRST water,) as for an opportunity to
you to get rid Of that dreadful threat which
"WE" did make.
Our great solicitude to escape the certain
and terrible effect Of that fearful threat, has in
duced us to seek some hole through which