Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-05

FRANKLIN HAVEN.

l0r.
TO Mr.. FRANKLIN HAVEN.
Private WAsHrKeroN, Sept u, 1850.
Nh DEAR SIR: ] use the confidential hand
of another to write you a short letter, my
eyes holding ont to perform q small part of
the duty expected from them every day. am
in the midst of my periodical catarrh or shay
fever" or whatever You please to call it, but
which you know all about. read nothing,
and hardly write anything but signatures The
disease is depressing and discouraging. know
that there is no remedy forit, and that ii mist
have its course. 1t produces loss of appetite
and great prostration of strength; but since
the event OF last week terminated, have some
little time for rest, and shutting myself up
very much keep as quiet as l am.
Ny dear Sir, think the country has had
providential escape from very considerable
dangers. | was not aware of the whole ex-
tent of the embarrassment likely to arise till
came here last December and had opportuni-
ties OF conversation with Gen. Taylor and the
gentlemen of his Administration. Gen. Tay-
lOr was an honest aud truly patriotic man; but
he had quite enough of that quality which,
when a man is right, we call firmness, and
when he is wrong, we denominate obstinaey.
What has been called the Presidents plan was
simply this, to wit: to admit California under
her Free Constitution and to let the Territor-
les alone altogether, until they could come in
as States. This policy, as it was thought,
would avoid all discussion and all voting on
the question of the Wilmot Proyso. All that
matter, it was supposed, might be thus post
poned, and the Slavery question STAYED off.
The objection to this plan was the same as
that TO poor King Lear's idea of shoeiDg q
company Of horse in felt and stealing upon bis
enemies. 1t was fatty impossible; that's all.
But the purpose was settled and decided. Gen.
Taylor told me, in the last conversation. |
had with him, that be preferred that Oalifor-
MIA should not come in at all, rather than she
should come in bringing the Territories on her
back. And fhe had lived it might have been
doubtful whether any general settlement would
have been made. He was a soldier, and had a
little fancy, am afraid, to see how easily any
military movement by Texas could have been
put down. His motto was, sol ct arms Z" He
had soldiers foresight, and saw quite clearly
what would be the result if Texas militia
should march into New Mexico, and there be
met by troops of the regular army of the
United States. But that he had a statesman's
foresight, and foresaw what consequences
might happen in the existing state of mems
opinions and feelings, if blood should be shed
IN contest between the United States and
one OF the Southern States, is more than | am
ready to affirm. Yet long before his death,
and in the face of that observation which he
made to me, as already stated, / made up my
mind to risk myself on proposition for gen
erai pacifcation. | resolved to push my skitf
from the shore alone, considering that, in that
case, If she foundered, there would be but one
life lost Our friend Harvey happened to be
here, with him and Mr.. Edward Curtis he'd
little council the evening before the speech
What followed is known. Most persons here
thought it impossible that / should maintain
myself and stand by what declared. They
wished, and hoped, and prayed, but fear pre-
vailed. When | went to Boston soon after
ward, and was kindly received, snd intimated
that | should take no march backward, they
felt little encouraged. But truly it was not
until Mr. Eliot's election that there was any
confident assurance here that was not dead
man.
Itwoud be of little consequence, my dear Sir
if could only say that Boston soved EN-; but
can say with all sincerity, and with the fullest
conviction of its truth, that Boston saved the
country. From the commencement of the
government, no such consequences have at
tended any single election as those that flowed
from Mr.. EliOt's election. That election was
clear ana convincing PROOF IhaC Lnere was
breaking out a new fountain of brilliant light
in the East, and men imbibed hopes in which
they had never before INDUCED. At this mo-
ment it is true that Mr. Eliot is the greatest lion
that exhibits himself on Pennsylvania avenue.
He is considered the personation of Boston
ever intelligent, ever patriotic, ever glorious
Boston-and whatever prejudices may have
existed in the minds of honorable Southern
men against our good city, they are now all
sunk and lost forever in their admiration Of her
nationality of spirit.
But must stor here. There is much else
that could say, and may say hereafter Of the
importance of the crisis through which we
have passed. am not yet free from the ex-
element it has produced. am like one who
has been sea sick and has gone to bed. My
bed rolls and losses by the pillows of that sea
over which | have passed.
Ny dear Sir, this is for your own eye. You
are much younger than l am, and hereafter
possibly you may recur to this hastily dictated
letter not without interest. If you think it
worth reading you may show it to 7. B. Curtis,
Mills, Fearing and Harvey, &c. 1t is but half
an hours gossip, when can do nothing but
talk and dictate to a confidential clerk.
Yours, always truly,
nANiI WERSTEP