Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-01-13
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. s, 1860.

'S"Ae WIZ ASSsou WI oitJ OCCdSlUudliy
let the light of my cpistolary counte-
nance shine upon you. 1t was my in
tention to have commenced a winters
chat with you some weeks ago, but l
have been too much provoked at the fail
ure of the present House of Representa-
tives to organize and go to work, to pay
any attention even to private correspon-
dence. There appears to be two little
squads of men in the House determined
to prevent the election of an opponent of
the "irrepressible conflict" to the Speak
ership, unless they can have their own
way. One of these consists of four or
five anti-Lecompton Democrats, and the
other of as many "South Americans. 2.
The former were found voting last for
John G. Davis, of Indiana aud the lat
ter persist in voting for Mr.. Gilmer, of
North Carolina. The anti-Lecompton-
iites say Democrat can be elected when
ever Davis, of Maryland, and Etheridge,
Smith and Nelson, Of Tennessee, Ameri-
cans, will show any earnestness of oppo-
sition to g Helper Bookism," by voting
for him, provided the party at large do
not exact an endorsement of Lecompton-
ism as well as the support of Democrat.
Thus matters stand at the present writ
ing The Democracy at large won't unite
qpca 90 anti !.eeosapton Democrat: the
latter will not all vote for an administra-
ton Democrat; and some Of the Gamer
leans, in turn, do not seem disposed to
vote for any sort Of Democrat, This
class of men must secretly desire the
success Of Sherman, for they certainly
know they will be making no compromise
of their principles in voting for, an anti
Helper-book man for Speaker After
the organization they can fall back upon
their opposition platform, and fire at you
Democrats as much as they please
In consequence of the factousness Of
SO many members of Congress, 90 in for
employing them all in cleaning the streets
of Washington, and gathering stones
around the city for paving all the streets
and avenues, and hope you will second
that motion with a loud voice.
Before John Brown invaded Virginia,
to inaugurate that reign of instruction
and butcbery which the /" Helper book"
recommended to the slaves of the South,
and previous to the discovery of the en-
dorsement of that book by large num-
Der Of the Republican members of the
last Congress, the Americans Of the South
seemed disposed to give an indirect aid
to the triumph of the Republicans next
fall, if they could not force the latter into
the ranks Of their " Peoples party"
Now, however, VIC find even Henry Win
ter Davis voting steadily and pcrsever-
ingly for one of the largest Shareholders
in the South, and every American in the
Legislature of Maryland voting with the
Democrats in favor of the strongest kind
of Southern resolutions II is true this
vote was soiled and somewhat spoiled by
the resolutions offered in the House by
Mr.. Dennis, of Somerset, because those
resolutions concealed large amount Of
q aid and comfort" to the ''irrepressible
conflict" party. They charged the Dem
ocratic party, by implication, with re-
pealing the Missouri Compromise, and
thus renewing the slavery agitation to
the injury of the South and the distur-
bance Of the peace Of the Union and
yet what are the facts in the case?
To get at these | must return to mat
ters in Washington, and refer to the able
| speeches which have been there deliv-
cred by such Southcrners as Crawford,
Curry, Bonham, Boyco and Pryor All
Of these distinguished men traced home
to the doors of the anti democratic North
erners the violation of all compacts and
compromises that have ever been entered
into between the North and the South.
They proved that the North sought to
nullify the Missouri Compromise before
it was fully dressed in its infant clothes,
and that, before il was thirty years old,
they tried TO repeal it through the agency
of the Wilmot Proviso. Under the adj
ministration of Gen. Taylor, VIM. II
Seward was the master spirit, and, during
that administration, the Missouri Com
4 promise was repealed SO far as it applied
to California, and all soutberners thus
excluded from that land Of gold. If
asked whether all these things are so,
must do your party the justice to say,
Mey are. Under such circumstances.
Mr.. Dennis resolutions offered in the
Legislature, we're peculiarly unfortunate.
I, for they win be quoted in every Republi-
! can journal to show that Maryland is
watering in her fidelity to her sister
States of the South He made amends,
however by promptly voting for Mr..
Freaner's resolutions after his own were
rejected, and for this | tender him my
humble thanks
Do not be surprised when / tell you
that have recently heard many Of my
brother Know-nothings say, that, if the
Democratic party should have TO settle
their family disputes by proposing Ed
ward Everett, Of Massachusetts,, for
President and James Alfred Pearce, Of
Maryland, for Vice President, they will
not only vote that ticket, but guarantee
its success by a majority equal to that
Pierce obtained over Scott. Edward
Everett is one Of the ablest and purest
men and truest patriots Of which our
country can boast, and as lie has shown
himself true to the rights Of the South,
under the constitution, and as the Hell
per- book endorsement proves that the
subjugation or humiliation Of the South
is to be made the oyershadowing issue in
the coming contest by the Republicans, /
do not think that you Democrats would