The New York herald., 1876-08-21

his election in which he pledged himself stand by the
South. He had, he said, written letter to Mr. DAVIS
(his son-in-iaw) assuring him that no would stand
! by tho South In maintaining all the rights
they enjoyed under the constitution and laws
! That letter. he said, written in order
his readiness TO stand with the South against the
aggrcssions OF aboltionsts; but that with a better
knowledge of the matters in controversy he had dis
covered that tho great body of Northern people
ceded ali that slavery entitled the
tution while the South demanded territory devoted to
freedom BY the Missouri Compromise, and threatened
disunon If their demands were not complied with
Mr. roombs in his letter says that Mr. Chnsman was
not with Mr. stephens and himself any of their
tervews with General Taylor. Senator Hamlin did
not see Mr. Clnsman with Messrs stephens and
Toombs Mr.. Clingman has always been associated in
my memory as ono OF the three gentlemen whom met
coming from the White House Nor | dis
associate him from Messrs. Stephens and Toombs He
have Joined them after they left Presidents
room, or 1t may be that in this respect mistaken
but, as Mr. Toombs suggests, Mr. Clngham himself is
! the best authority on this point
| Whom had written SO tar my attention called
TO letter of Hon. Thomas L. Ciingman In the HERALD
! Of this morning That letter contributes much and
valuable Information relating 10 the exciting questions
before Congress during the session of 1850 II frank
full and candid. II confirms, one respect, what Mr..
accord either with General Taylor, Mr Clay or the
ultra Southern He mr. Clngman) was, he says
in constant and close communication with Mr.. Clay
during the whole Of that session. He says that the
Southern members including wings and democrats,
were disappointed and annoyed ut the ''obstinacy'
and prejudice OF the President In favor of his own
plan, and that after several whig members had
stratcd with him in vain all OF that party fIom
the slave States, with tho exception OF Hon. Edward
Staaly OF North Carolina went TO the democracy.
Mr.. Clngman enormously supposes that Mr. Toombs
had no interview with the President until after he had
been taken ILL., Mr.. Toombs, in his letter to Mr.
| stephens as has already been shown, confesses TO
'ireqnent interviews" somo of which wero 'earnest
and decided"
Mr.. Clingman had not seen either OF my letters but
1t is TO be inferred from his letter that he
the Executive Chamber with Messrs. Stephens and
Toombs on the occasion referred TO. That passed
those three gentlemen coming from the White House
on that occasion Is hrmy and deeply impressed upon
my memory related the circumstances on the
DAY or evening Senator Seward Hon. John n. Clay
! ton Secretary Of State; Hon. Edward Stany and
others whom cannot name ! saw Mr. Cngman
| frequently afterward, but do not remember have
ever talked with him in reference 10 that incident
Mr. Stephens adds 20 the unwritten history of slavery
revelation of the secret conclave in which the
bus" scheme was projected. The contracting parties
were Messrs. COBB, stephens, Toombs and Boyd from
the slave States, with McClernand. Richardson and
Miller from tho free States The threo Northern men
| democrats Two OF the Southern
democrats and two, stephens and Toombs wings That
| compact subsequently modified by consultation
with Mr.. Clay. After General Taylor's death his sue
ccssor Vice President Fillmore and Mr. Webster then
Secretary of State, came TO tho support OF "omn
bus BILL" which compensated slavery for consentng
tho admission free California by giving up the Ter
rtorics to slavery and by enacting vndictive
Fugitive Slave law" To the support Of these
measures including the admission Of California Mr..
Stephens says that his colleague and himself SOL
emnly '.pledgcd" When. however, the final question
upon tho admission Of California taken in tho
| House of Representatives, Mr.. Stephens absent
and Mr. Toombs voted in the negatvel Mr. Stephens
explanation OF his absence when the vote upon the ad-
mission OF California was taken is that he had paired
| with Hon. Chauuccy +. Cleveland, of Connecticut.
This explanation .rascs another question Was Mr..
Cleveland opposed to the admission of California? II
not opposed, did not Mr. Stephens virtually deprive
California of a vote? Mr. Ccveland's constituents
WILL | think, be much surprised to learn
that their representative, but for his pair with Mr.
| Stephens, would have voted against the admission o
| California
Mr. Stephens, in explanation OF his colleagues VIC.
lated 'pcdge to vote for California says that took
offence at the refusal OF the House accept an amend
mcnt offered by Linn Boyd! Mr.: Stephens, at consid-
cradle length and with much compacency dwells upon
the political trumphs. in tho South resulting from tho
| compromise measures, while Mr.. Toombs in the
spirit is jubant over the election OF Howell Cobb for
! Governor of Georgia and tho reelection Of Mr..
Stephens himself 10 Congress- Ii should be added
however, that both these gentlemen ceased DO whgA
| becoming first democrats, and then as logical
quence, scccssors;s, and finally, ono OF them Confcd
| 80.
President The compromise measures however,
! brought no such political rewards 10 the distn-
| guishcd men Of the free States whose aspirations
were founded upon them The hopcs of Mr.. Fillmore
! and Mr.. Webster perishcd, and although a united
South allied the democracy OF the North succeeded
! In elccng Pierce and Buchanan. the disunion seed
sown in 1850 grew and rpened In 1861 into rebel
lion which terminated in the overthrow and dosruc-
ton Of democracy and slavery.
! will now return Mcssrs. stephens and Toombs
for purpose OF showing that while they deny that
they threatened General Taylor with the dissolution Of
the Union, dsunon their hearts and In their ut
tcrances.
Tho late Vice President Wilson, in his history OF the
Risc and Fall OF tho Slave Power" pages 2l4 and 2l5
OF volume H., records, follows one OF the most
citing and Impressive which occurred in tho
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. roombs who up to that time had professcd to
| be wh,g followed IN vehement and passionate de-
nunciaiion the soil members He declared that
had when 1--WE not to be intinidatcd
bv culogics upon Union III do rot hesitate - he
SAID. before this House and the country and
III presence oi living Go that If by your lcgisa
ton seek To drive from The Territories and TO
abolish slavery this district ain Tor dsunioD and II
nv physical courage be equal to the maintenance Of
my CONVICTIONS OF right and duty will devote all am
snd All have TO its consummation." He closed his
speech, which frequently appiauded by southern
Re atves with tho declaration that they would
not give hun security that the organization OF the
1 Hptl.e snD
constituents he would say, "Let discord reign |
forever" Edward u. Baker then a wing representa-
tive from Illinois, SAID that he could not permit the
obscryations OF Mr. Toonbs TO pass without an I'M
mediate and distinct reply. He told the Rcprcscnta-
tvcs OF The south that when they threatened the dis
solution Of the unon The people doubted their
ness that no ervid declarations. no fiery appeals