Senator Daniel Webster to Franklin Haven, May 18, 1850

Washington, May 18, 1850.

MY DEAR SIR,—The success of the "Compromise Bill," as it is called, depends on the number of Southern Senators who may fall off from its support. It is said Virginia and South Carolina, and one member from Alabama, will vote against it. If more than six Southern Senators refuse their support, the bill will fail in the Senate.

In my opinion it is unfortunate that the measures were all put together. When I left the committee to go home, it was agreed that they should not be, but that vote was rescinded in my absence. The situation of things is singular. There is an unquestionable majority of votes in the Senate, in favor of every one of the propositions contained in the bill, perhaps with some amendments, and yet I have fears that no majority will be found for them altogether. The policy of putting all in one bill was founded on calculation respecting the best chances of votes in the House of Representatives.

I believe it is true that many leading persons of all parties in the South and West, out of Congress, urge the passage of the bill as it is. I shall of course vote for it, and for all measures, and almost any measure, intended to settle these questions; but I am sorry to say, I fear our Eastern members will hardly go the same way.

It is a strange and a melancholy fact, that not one single national speech has been made in the House of Representatives this session. Every man speaks to defend himself, and to gratify his own constituents. That is all. No one inquires how the Union is to be preserved, and the peace of the country restored. Meantime all important public measures are worse than stationary. The tariff, for instance, is losing important friends through the irritation produced by these slavery debates. I suppose no history shows a case of such mischiefs arising from angry debates and disputes, both in the government and the country, on questions of so very little real importance.

But we must persevere. The peacemakers are to inherit the earth, and our part of the inheritance would be a very good one if peace could really be made.

Yours always, truly,

DANIEL WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 369-70