[6.] [256]Marcy to Wetmore, Jan. 21; Oct. 5; Nov. 7; Dec. 12, 1846. Welles papers. [345]Wright to Van Buren, Nov. 10, 1846. [345]Cambrelong to Id.., Nov. 30. [345]Thompson to Id.., Dec. 23. [345]Blair to Id.., Dec. 26. [345]Albany Atlas, extra, Dec., 1846. [345]G. A. Worth to V. B., Mar. 20, 1847. [253]Mower to McLean, Aug. 27, 1846. [132]Wright to Buchanan, Sept. 8, 10, 1846. Bigelow, Tilden, i, 110–1. Blaine, Twenty Years, i, 78. Buchanan, Works, viii, 365–7. [234]A. Johnson to ——, July 22, 1846, private.
The “Conservative” party arose in 1837 from the opposition to Van Buren’s sub-treasury plan, which Silas Wright championed. Many honest Conservatives, realizing they had been mistaken, left the party; but their places were taken by canal claimants.
[7.] Welles papers. Calhoun Correspond., 713 (to Mrs. C). (Hang) [234]A. Johnson to ——, July 22, 1846. (Office-seekers) Polk, Diary, Feb. 24; Apr. 7, 1847, etc. (Oregon) Polk, Diary, Feb. 24, 1846; Polit. Sci. Qtrly., xxvi, 458 (R. L. Schuyler); Cong. Globe, 29, 1, p. 815 (Delano); Boston Atlas, May 20, 1846; Blaine, Twenty Years, i, 65; Wash. Union, Aug. 18, 1846. (Veto) [253]Mower to McLean, Aug. 8, 1846; [108]Appleton to Bancroft, July 16, 1847; Wash. Union, Aug. 3, 1846, quoting Nat. Intellig.; N. Y. Herald, Aug. 15, 1846; No. American, Jan. 14; Dec. 20, 1847. (Generals) Von Hoist, U. S., iii, 298; Rhodes, U. S., i, 89; Buchanan, Works, viii, 365–7; Calhoun Corresp., 727–8 (to D. G.). [345]Butler to Van Buren, Nov. 6, 1847.
[8.] Lowell, Biglow papers, i, 59. (Adams) [260]Winthrop to N. Hale, Wash., “Sunday.” (Giddings) Wash. Union, June 30; July 2, 1846. Cole, Whig Party, 118–9. Smith, Annex. of Texas, 258–80. Cong. Globe, 29, 1, p. 309. (La.) Vol. i, [p. 205] and [note 3]; N. Orl. Jeffersonian in Nat. Intellig., Aug. 28, 1846; Wash. Union, June 30; July 2; Aug. 11, 1846. Calhoun Corresp., 1096–7 (Fisher). N. Y. Tribune, May 13; Dec. 15, 1846. [137]Prescott to Calhoun, Aug. 20, 1847.
[9.] Ho. 85; 29, 2. [253]Mower to McLean, Aug. 8, 1846. Taussig, Tariff Hist., 114–5. [345]Welles to Van Buren, July 28, 1846. London Times, Dec. 3, 1846. Courrier des Etats Unis, Oct. 17; Nov. 6, 1846. N. Y. Sun, July 9, 1846. N. Y. Express, Nov. 10, 17, 21, 30, 1846. Niles, July 18, p. 305 (Sentinel); Aug. 1, p. 345 (Nat. Intellig.); Sept. 12, p. 17, 1846. Boston Courier, July 8, 1846. Blaine, Twenty Years, i, 65. Boston Atlas, Jan. 6, 1847. Wash. Union, Aug. 18, 28, 1846. Nat. Intellig., Aug. 5, 1846. N. Y. Tribune, Dec. 3, 1846. No. American, July 16, 17; Aug. 1; Dec. 9, 1846. (Betrayed) Smith, Annex. of Texas, 314.
[10.] [241]W. to J. Kent, Dec. 11, 1846; Jan. 17; Mar. 5, 1847. Amer. Review, Oct., 1847, 333–46. Johnston and Browne, Stephens, 210–1. London Times, Dec. 3, 1846. Sherman Letters, 38–9. Webster, Writings, x, 12. Winthrop, Winthrop, 61. [13]Pakenham, no. 98, 1846. N. Y. Sun, Aug. 28, 1846. No. American, Dec. 30, 1846; Jan. 18, 1847. Rhodes, U. S., i, 91. Wash. Union, Sept. 30, 1846 (Mass. convention). Nat. Intellig., July 18; Dec. 25, 1846; Apr. 17; Nov. 20, 1847. St. Louis Republican, July 23, 1846. Journ. of Comm. in Wash. Union, Aug. 6, 1847.
Stephen A. Douglas, who stood quite close to the administration, said in the Senate: “Conquest was not the motive for the prosecution of the war; satisfaction, indemnity, security, was the motive—conquest and territory the means” (Cong. Globe, 30, 1, app., 222).
[11.] Ho. 23, 81, 85; 29, 2. Sen. 97; 29, 2. Webster, Writings, ix, 260; x, 12; xiii, 359. Sherman Letters, 38–9. Boston Advertiser, Oct. 3, 1846. Niles, Sept. 18, 1847, p. 44. Rhodes, U. S., i, 91. Blaine, Twenty Years, i, 65. Winthrop before the Mass. convention ([note 10]). Courrier des Etats Unis, Oct. 17; Nov. 6, 1846. Wash. Union, Apr. 29, 1847. Pierce, Sumner, iii, 140, 144, 146. Lowell, Biglow papers, i, 56. Livermore, War, 92. Curtis, Webster, ii, 324. Amer. Review, 1847, p. 441. [13]Pakenham, no. 93, 1846. Benton, Abr. Debs., xvi, 54 (Morehead). (West) [198]Berrien to Gallatin, June 7, 1848. The North American of Oct. 8, 1847, used this language: “The abstract question of the extension of slavery is not the only nor the greatest issue of this contest. The great question is, shall we become the dependants and vassals of a Southern political ascendancy?... The nabobs of the South will dictate to us the terms upon which, in the face of their hostile policy, we shall struggle for existence. Our agriculture, our manufactures, our commerce, will be committed to their guardianship—the guardianship of the wolf over the lamb.” At the Springfield Whig convention, Sept. 29, 1847, Webster said he would “resist any further increase of slave representation,” which meant the same thing (Writings, xiii, 362). Nat. Intellig., Dec. 29, 1846. Cong. Globe, 29, 1, app., 919 (G. Davis). (Heroes) [345]Law to Van Buren, Aug. 2, 1847. Welles papers. Calhoun Corresp., 1096–7 (Fisher). Nat. Intellig., May 13, 1846. London Times, Dec. 18, 1846. [13]Pakenham, no. 93, 1846. Louisville Journal, Mar. 31, 1847. N. Y. Express, Apr. 2, 1847. Wash. Union, Aug. 13, 1847. (Debasement, etc.) Amer. Review, 1847, p. 441; Lyell, Second Visit (N. Y., 1849), ii, 257; Ho. 81; 29, 2; Monitor Repub., Feb. 2, 1847 (quoting Boston Atlas); Nat. Intellig., Nov. 28 (quoting N. Y. Eve. Post); Dec. 29, 1846; Norfolk Herald, Apr. 12, 1847; etc.
[12.] N. Y. Tribune, May 19, 1846. Cong. Globe, 29, 1, pp. 788 (Crittenden), 835. Welles papers. [169]Rives to Crittenden, Feb. 5, 1847. Hammond, Wright, 672. Von Holst, U. S., iii, 252. Amer. Review, Feb., 1847, 109, 118. Wash. Union, Mar. 19, 1847. Schurz, Clay, ii, 289. Detroit Free Press, Nov. 28, 1846. Cincin. Enquirer, Dec. 16, 1846. No. American, May 12, 1846. N. Y. Herald, Dec. 19, 1846. (Capital) [139]Fulton to Campbell, Jan. —, 1847.
The proper stand for the Whigs was pointed out by Gov. Briggs of Massachusetts in general orders: “Whatever may be the difference of opinion as to the origin” of the war, the constitutional authorities have declared that a war exists; patriotism and humanity dictate that it should be brought to a speedy and successful end; hence all should coöperate (Niles, July 11, 1846, pp. 293–4). It will be noted that the author is dealing in this chapter with politics, not the convictions of private persons, which, even when mistaken, were entitled to respect, because sincere and associated with worthy sentiments.