advantage, I have condemned without stint or reserve. It has been a trying period, and no one could suit all of even his friends, and scarcely himself. I have had to stand up against the feeling which you honestly entertain in common with many intelligent men of the North; against the prejudices of the weak, the machinations of the wicked, and the efforts of some Southern mad-caps, who wanted dissolution per se, and therefore wanted to break with every Northern man. It has been the worst period our government ever has seen, or I trust ever will see in this century. I have on the whole done what I regarded as best, and it must stand or fall with me in the judg ment of the people. I will only add that it has been done frankly and openly, and those who will condemn, or those who will approve, will not have to seek for my course in indirection. I did not favor the mode of the party union of last fall; but although some names upon the ticket were not acceptable to me, I supported it cordially, and did all I could to forward it. I am, with you, for carrying out that union in letter and spirit. I have no more idea of refusing to associate with you as a Democrat, because you disagree with me in some particulars regarding the slavery question, than because we may not agree upon temperance or religion. If we will all be thus catholic, there will be no difficulty. As you say, there are a few men who desire and intend to rule or ruin, and but for these there would have been no breach,-but for these there would be a speedy and healthy reunion. It remains to be seen whether Democratic impulses and Democratic progress can be checked and delayed for individual aggrandizement. Look at the present degraded state of our national administration-the spawn of trickery and fraud; succeeding only by reason of Democratic. divisions. Too impotent for good; too imbecile for opposition; abolition beyond the constitution; ultra slavery to dissolution; the scorn of its opponents; the laughing-stock of its sensible friends. Oh, that all true Democrats woull look at it and determine to lay aside all but their principles, and reclaim. that holy land from the infidel! Sincerely yours, D. S DICKINSON. Hon. HENRY S. RANDALL. REV. DR. ROBERTSON TO MR. DICKINSON. FISHKILL LANDING, DUTCHESS CO., DEAR SIR-Though I have not had the pleasure of any intercourse with you, since I left the charge of the church at Binghamton, I venture to write a line to ask of you a favor. I learn that it is proposed to ask of Congress to furnish the men for the expedition which Mr. Grinnell is so generously fitting out at New York, to search for Sir John Franklin and party. Sir John and Lady Franklin, especially the latter, are dear friends, with whom I had much intercourse while a missionary in the Levant. Our intimacy has since been maintained by correspondence, and from Lady F my family had a visit about three years since. Of course we feel a deep interest in the fate of her noble husband and his companions. I doubt not your sympathies have also been awakened in regard to them; and I would beg of you to do all you can with propriety to have the proposition to Congress for aid favorably entertained. Other missionary families beside my own, as well as various American travellers, have participated in the kind attentions of Sir John and lady, and feel an increased interest in their welfare. It may help, with weightier considerations, to influence some, that their countrymen have, in other days, been under obligations in foreign lands to those who are now placed in circumstances to awaken the sympathies of the whole civilized world. We should be most happy to see you, or any of your family at the Rectory in this most beautiful region on the banks of the Hudson. With cordial regards to any who may be with you, Very truly and respectfully your servant in Christ, MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON. WASHINGTON, April 17, 1850. MY DEAREST LYDIA—I have just received yours of Sunday, and am pained to hear that you have such bad weather, especially on Manco's account. It has been as bad here-cold, damp, windy, and rainy. You say that Manco thinks he would improve more if he was where he could get better medical advice, &c. Alas! poor boy. He does not know how valuable are the quiet comforts of a home and its thousand nameless advantages, which cannot be procured abroad for love nor money. The best medical aid he can get, beyond good nursing, is his own naturally good constitution, and the recuperative operations of nature in a healthy climate, -with great care and prudence in exercise and diet, temper of mind and everything else. In two weeks the air will, for a portion of the time at least, be pure, healthful, and elastic,-enabling him to go out mornings to air his rooms with the breath of summer, to be revived by early flowers, and the influence of the fresh earth, which you remember cured him from sickness when a babe. Now this is what is to benefit him if anything can, and I think this will, if he will be quiet, patient, and careful. If I go to Carolina, I shall start on Monday and be absent about ten days. Whether I go or not will depend on what I hear from you. If I go there I shall try to be at home soon after my return, but the exact time I cannot of course fix. There is nothing new or interesting here. All are well at the Irving, except Mr. Upham, and he is quite ill. The ladies send their kind regards. Love to all. Affectionately, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON. WASHINGTON, April 2, 1850. Sunday Evening. } MY DEAREST LYDIA-I am now expecting to start with the Committee to-morrow morning. We go via Richmond, Petersburg, Wilmington, and so on to Charleston. I do not intend to go further than Charleston, but return from there and try to The Committee appointed to accompany the remains of Mr. Calhoun to South Carolina. reach home the forepart of next week-I hope as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, but will write you on the way South. At present, I am very much pressed for time. Give my love to all the dear ones, and ask them to be patient till I come. Very affectionately, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON. RICHMOND, VA., April 23, 1850. MY DEAREST LYDIA-We reached here last evening at half past four. The reception was one of the most imposing ceremonies I ever saw, and a vast concourse of people were assembled. We leave here at nine o'clock. This country looks about as I supposed-much that is very beautiful, and much worn and sterile. I was especially struck with the great number of beautiful residences here. I never saw so many fine ones together in my life. The military companies, too, were rather the finest I ever saw. Here are the "first families of Virginia,” and there are many old men who preserve all the peculiar manners of the days of Washington. Love to all. Very affectionately, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO LYDIA L. DICKINSON. PETERSBURG, VA., April 23, 1850. MY DEAR L. L.-We left Richmond this morning, and reached here about noon. At Richmond, I saw "O'Connor's child," whom you saw last summer at Norwich, and who sent his respects to you. I have had so far the " uppermost rooms at feasts, and greetings in the markets." I cannot get a moment to write. There have been hundreds calling to be introduced, and I have been so busy shaking hands that I could do nothing else. Last evening, a fine moonlight evening, as I was returning from Senator Mason's (don't laugh now), some of the most touching and beautiful music greeted me that I ever heard. It was a negro singing "Lucy Neal," and accompanying it with his banjo. I stopped some time to listen to him, and was charmed with the plaintive melody. We leave for Wilmington this evening. Affectionately your father, D. S. DICKINSON. GOV. BOUCK TO MR. DICKINSON. FULTENHAM, April 24, 1850. SENATOR DICKINSON-Dear Sir-Yours of the 17th inst. came to hand by due course of mail. I sincerely hope you will succeed in adjusting the slavery question. The position of yourself, Cass, Clay, Webster, and the majority in the Senate on this question, is, no doubt, in accordance with the wishes of a vast majority of the American people. If you succeed, which God grant, it will, for all future time, set at rest the vexed question of slavery. It will do more: fanaticism and abolitionism will be rebuked, and demagogues who have been riding these hobbies will stand disgraced in the estimation of all honest men. It will virtually carry out and sustain the position taken by yourself and General Cass at the beginning of the excitement. Clay and Webster are putting themselves on high ground. Yours, W. C. BOUCK, GENERAL CASS TO MR, DICKINSON. WASHINGTON, May 1, 1850. MY DEAR SIR-While Foote is laboring at the administration for the Lady Franklin expedition, I drop you this hasty note. We have this day had the third meeting of our committee, the second since you left us. We stand thus:-We have determined on the admission of California without change or limitation. We have determined on the establishment of territorial government without the Wilmot proviso. On the extinction of the Texas title, beginning just north of the Passo, and running thence |