Southern planter., 1832-12-15
From he Mississippian
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MR.
POINDEXTER g. MR.. PLUMMER


POINDEXTER & MR.. PLUMMER
AsnwooD PLACE, Avgua 27, 1882.
Dr0r Sir, My letters 10 the editor Of the vicks.
burg Register, relative to your vote on the bill
from the Senate, 'providing for the distribution
Of the neil proceeds Of The sales Of the public
Ia DE- amGng the several States, for a limited time,
intended, simply to inform the people Of Missis-
sppi Of the ultimate disposition made Of that mea
sure in the House Of Representatives, without the
slightest expectation that il would be used for any
other purpose than that for which II was written,
has been ascribed by the party prints in this state
to a motive Of hostility on my part 10 your
reelection, and the facts communicated under my
signature boldly and unequvocay denied.
do not permi, myself, TO credit the idea, that
this movement has received your sanction, for you
are we'll aware, that although we have voted in the
respective branches Of the National Legislature to
which we belong, on the opposite Sides upon sew.
eral important measures, deeply interesting 10 our
constituents, and the Union at large, the personal
relations previously subssiing between us have not
been thereby changed or interrupted To correct
myseffI have been led into an error and to put pub
lie opinion right if the information impaired To me,
concerning your vote on the land Bill above referred
to, was accurate, il is due 10 candor, should make
you acquainted with the statements made to me in
Washington; and the names Of tho Honorable mem.
bers Of the II. Il. from whom | received ihem re-
spectng your course on that occasion 10 which lbeg
leave 10 add a request, that you either affirm, or
dsavow the facts. ms they were detailed TO me, the
substance Of which shall now give you.
Aner the adjournment Of the House of Repre-
seniatives on the day the Land Bill was indefinitely
posiponed | was informed by Col Henry anDiel
Of Kentucky, Col. w. r. Davis Of South Carolina;
and Dixon II Lewis Of Alabama, that the fate of
the land bill had been decided by your casting pOfe
These gentlemen mentioned at the same lime All the
circumstances which occurred in the discussion, and
final action of the House, on the motion made by Mr.
Wilde, Of fGeorgia, TO postpone the Bill indefinitely.
They state, that you spoke against the provisions
oftbe bill, but urged an immediate decision, and
therefore opposed the motion to postpone. On the
question being taken by yeas and nays, you voted
in the negative, and the vote stood for postpone.
ment, 80, against il II. Mr.. Speaker Stevenson,
was known TO be hostile TO the measure, and finding
that change fyour vote, would produce iie, and
place the decision in the power ,of the Speaker, you
rose and claimed the right, undeTa rule ofthe House
TO change your vote TO the affirmative side; which
being done, the vote stood 80 against 9O but be-
fore the Speaker decided, two other members friend
y TO the Bill, rose, and changed their votes TO the
Affirmative, with view of moving on the next day,
: reconsideration Of the question when the absent
members might be in their seats. The motion was
accordingly made by these gentlemen on the day
ollowng TO RECONSIDER, which passed in thencgaiive.
Thust appears that had your vote stood as YOU |
ave H. in the first instance, the motion to postpone
he Bill indefinitely would have been rejected; aud |
y the same vote the bill would have become law. /
The two votes given in the affirmative, by members
friendly TO the Bill, Cor the purpose before mention
ID, made the final vote on the Journal stand SO 10
y, which has occasioned many honest individuals,
o doubt the accuracy The statement in my letter
'ofaras respects hesoundness ofyour views ON this
reai question, have not word to say; have not.
nd shall not do than TO state the facts as ,hey
ocurred, and as they were represented 10 me. by |
he Honorable members, whose names | have given
ou; ;and also many others on the next day, whose |
smes will be given if required Regarding only
he principle on which you rest the vindicaIion of
our vote, It is not material whether YOU gave the
asiing vote, or merely ranged your name among
he opponents OF the measure, but il is due TO me-
hat should learn directly from YOURSELF whether
he facts as represented to me, by the members of
The House Of representatives. be true or false, as
herein detailed, and # denied by you, whether in
whole, or IN par2
shall be much obliged to you 10 give me an I'M
mediate reply 10 this communication, dIrcctt to me
II Natchez, i can reach that place tie course of
The Mail by Thursday next, not, at Vlcksbura. al
which place, shall be ON the 9th proxlmos
iave the honor TO be with great respect, your most
lb't servt