At last we
have worked these measures through both the House and Senate. In
the House the administration can put through at any time the Wilmot
proviso prohibiting slavery, and although the Senate always has and
always can defeat such a measure, both branches, and the executive
as well, have agreed to put this dog to sleep when possible, and
when found sleeping, to let him lie. My dear friend, it is not a
question of principle, but of policy, to-day."
"Principles should rule policies!" exclaimed the other virtuously.
"Agreed! Agreed! We are perfectly at one as to that. But you know
that Webster himself reiterates again and again that no man should
set up his conscience above the law of his country. Your Free Soil
party means not law, but anarchy,--and worse than that--it means
disunion! Clay, Cass, Webster, Benton, even the hottest of the men
from Mississippi and South Carolina, are agreed on that. My dear
Sir, I say it with solemn conviction, the formation of a new party
of discontent to-day, when everything is already strained to
breaking, will split this country and plunge the divided sections
into a bloody war!"
The other sat gravely for a time before he made reply.
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