Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-08-18
Political History.

Oth 14Cio CIV
NV atteotioD has been called to letter OF
pears 10 your paper of the Sth inst, in which
some references are made to me 10 connection
with Messrs. Stephens and Toombs. under.
stand that there were some previous letters OF
MIR. Thurow Weed 10 which mention was made
of nv name. The transactions which led to
the mistake of MIR. Weed we're in themselves
sufficiently interesting to justify an cl aoorate
article in one of the magazines OF the day; but
| shall content myself with as concise state
lneui as | Gao present to make the matter uu-
derstood. | know much more OF the traDsac-
tons than any one else, bu, there are gentle,
men living to whom all the several facts shall
refer 10 are koown as far as they are material.
During the session OF 1850, at which the
COMPROMISE measures were passed, hlr. Clay
resided at the National Hotel. was also
boardcr there, and, though opposlng Mr. Gays
plan, | was in constant communication with
him. 10 fact, il several days had passed With
oct my calliCg at his room In the evening ne
would on casually meeting me about the Capi,
toll say, wv here have you been all this while
I expect you have b:eni III some mischief dc
would say frequently, Il wish to hear from you
all and then | will decide for myself.
During conversation one evening l SAID 70
him that there were three forces or obstacles
TO his scheme Vi c"npf0mlse that were suttl-
Client 20 defeat it, VIZ: First, the opposition OF
the anti slavery party, led by such nen as Mr.
Seward; second, that of the ADMINISTRATION or
General Taylor, and, third, that or the S0uth-
ern rights mn That he would not WIN tue
support of Mr.. Seward porty, because they
| desired 10 keep up sectional agitation LOT poil-
teal effect, aud we're opposed, therefore, to auy
settlement, aud that a. the administration hao
| plan Of its own it would regard ITSELF as de-
| feated it any other form OF settlement was
adopted; but that the Southern men would DC
| induced 70 cooperate II certalu cnsogcs were
| adopted 10 his scheme Of adjustment. mat
one Of two things would bring hun ouuthrrn
votes enought to enable blm to pass bis Bills
either 10 cut IF the Souheru portion Of Can
forola by the liue of thirty six thirty, or. what
and as an equivalent on the western border OF
Nilsson, i, to change the ue OF thirty SIX thlrty
to the tortch parallel, aud, alter running 1t
| back to what was the eastern border OF Utah,
then defect it to the south aud extend 1t 70 the
Pacific Ocean with the southern boundary OF
! California. had in speech made 10 Janu-
airy previously, urged this plan. MIR. Clay re-
iected instantly the proposition TO chacge tue
linc of the Missouri Compromise. lie also at
first said, you had as we'll talk OF dividing
the moop as California" but, after some lur-
thcr conversation, seemed 20 yield somewhat
though he left his purpose undecided, or al
least did not then announce 1t.
A few evenings alter this, 90 my meeting
him, he said impetuousy, and with seeming
djsappointment, You were mistaken, for the
| Southern Senators will not support my plan.
even if We agree TO the division Of California.
He then stated that Senator FOotc, Of MSSls-
sippi, had that day spoken to Hunter, Soue,
Yulce and Turney, and that they oil refused.
| told him that such hasly movement as that
which he had tried Was iljudgcd aud cerIalu
10 have failed; that time WAS necessary to make
the preliminary movements which, telt cont
aept, would bring them 10. | then explained
in detail to Mr. Clay what | proposed should
be done. 1t Was 10 substance this:
General Taylor, II was understood, was ther
contemplating the use OF the army 10 settle tnt
dispute as 10 the boundary of texas. there I
plated iutv OWL val. fhe Southern
Wings especially were excited, feeling thai
they had already gone as far 10 their support
of the extreme Northern views Of their party
as they could afford to do. My colleague, Mr.
Outlaw MIR. Humphrey Marshall, OF Ken
lucky md Others were disposed to abuudoI
the administration il such policy was insisted
90. After finding that most if not all of tho
more moderate Of the Southern Wings concur
red 10 these views, a caucus was called com
posed of Southern Wings alone. After full
interchange of views it WAS agreed that prop
or effort should be made to induce Genera
Taylor to change his policy, aud in the event
Of failure so to change his purpose it was evl
dent that the Southern Wings, probably al
with the exception OF Mr.. Stanley, would aban
don the administration, cut loose from the
Northern Wings and ACT with the Democratic
party. Three geutlem were selected 10 CON
fer with General Taylor-Mr. Charles NJ. Con
rad Of Louisiana, a personal friend OF General
Taylor aud Representative from his own
State; Mr.. Humphrey Marshall who had
served under him III Mexico, and MIR. Toombs,
who had been one Of the most active apd
lor as presidential candidate. ln order that
there might DOT seem to be any menace implied
10 the. movement, it was agreed that these
gentlemen should converse with Gcaera lay
Tor separately. Mr.. Conrad first saw him and
stated to ME The result of the interview. He
said that the President was obstinately fixed in
bis purpose, and that his mind was 30 pr,ju
diced that he regarded the opposition to his
scheme as factiouS, and stimulated by Messrs.
Clay aud Webster from chagrln because he had
superseded them as 4 presidential candidate,
while Cass was hostile 90 account Of his defeat
Mr. Marshall soon after had an interview with
similar result. While speaking of it to me
he burst into fit Of laughter, saying, the old
fellow takes the military view Of the nuesti W;
he said he had oinely men from the North and
only thirty from the South (reterring to the
| relative uumDer of whig members from the two
sections ard asked, Am to give up my
ninety in the North for your thirty in the
| Sou;n 2 +"
Mr.. roombs did not see General Taylor un-
til after he had been taken i'll, bur before he
| was SUPP osed TO DC 10 dagger He became i'll,
| ii may be remembered, alter attending the
celebration of the Fourth Of July, and died 90
the 9Th About the time Of his death some
Of ho-e papers which we're in sympathy with
Mr.. Weeds views had exaggerated statements
If Mr.. Toombs' interview, aod represented him
/ ]. 4,