Piney Woods planter and Amite union literary reflector. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1838-1838, 1838-03-17
puCNr,ss Il 60.

ers are opposed 70 running inc cohtcst oNcI q
gain, in April We are not al all surprised a
this, as for the life of us cannot sec what the
could expect to gain by running when Claiborn
and Ghulson are in the field, suve, third dc
feat for their Salmagundy party. Twice alrea
dy has this pie bald company arrayed them OF
TO put down Claiborne and GholsOn, and as of
ten have they been forced to retire from tn,
charge broken and vanquished, so that now, will
their alag all tattered and torn, as it is they
may well try to obtain By artiiice and cunning
device, what in fair and open fight they never
can gain, However loudly the wings may talk
about reaction, they are not so much deceived
as TO believe that one single one of Claiborne and
Gholson friends will desert them at the ensu-
ing election. The people of Mississippi have
sustained them in days past, against the fury
and rage of their enemies, and they will sustain
them again Why notl Have their opponents
in the bold and reckless spirit of mendacity that
has characterized them, dared to charge them
with infdelity to ther constituents No This
they could not do-neyer did representatives
serve Mississippi with greater ability, zeal and
industry, than they have done. None have ev-
er labored more assidiously for her interests,
none have more ehectually promoted and secu.
red them. Yet are they made the subjects Of
the foulest and moS scandulous obloquy, 80 true
it is, that ABE thol chaste as ice, as pure as
snow, thou shalt MT escape calumny," 'espec-
ally the poet might have added if thou be en-
incnt and throw th ignomneous into the shade
The advocates Of ruth and justice-the bcne-
factors of mankinGhave in every age and under
all circumstances Ieen the objects of unmitiga.
ted Persecution'-ioliieo had his Prosecutors
socrates BIS murierers-Scnaca his, and the
AUTHOR of the Christian Religion was first
accused and torm,nted, and afterwards slain by
the very people WON h came to deliver. 1t is
then no wonder that Claiborne and Gholson, who
honestly and faithfully discharged their duty
with credit to themselves and these who confid
ed to them such important trusts, should be the
objects Of the vLuperation and abuse of those
who are scarcely worthy to unbind their shoes.
all the malignant and sublimated abuse--the
relentless persecution of their enemies charac.
tcrized by the rage and blood .thirstiness of the
wolf What is tie difference in the character OF
the victim and that of the puirsuer7
But the whole secret Of the opposition to these
men, is this; Prenti3s a. Co. want office, they
are out and can't get in till they get those who
are in out-and for this they call upon Clai.
bornes and Gholson's friends to desert them--tc
abandon well-tried and faithful public servants
This we are persuaded they will not do until
better reasons shall be given than ha e yet been
offered. The only objection, that with any de-
gree of FEASIBILITY can be brought to these men
is, that they held their seats in the national le
gislature to which the people of Mississippi cleo
ted them, and to which the highest constitu
tional tribunal adjudged them eptitled, and re
fused to run second time for an Office which
they conscientiously believed themselves alrea
dy in the possession of. All who will take the
trouble to acquaint themselves with the cir
cumstsncos under " hich these gentlemen took
their seats in September viii not only Justify
but will commend them. Hear reader, and
Judge for Yourself
"On our arrival here, we found the OPT
MON was almost uni, ersal, that the cleo
Ii was either valid for the entire term of
the twcnty-ftth Congress, or wholly null
and void and, consequently, that we must
either demand our seats for the entire
term, or at this momentous period of pub
lie affairs voluntarily lay down the trust
rep sed in us, and leave the State of Mis-
slssippi unrepresented. There WIS no
other aiternative-no middle ground. Not
twenty men in Clngress would haye vot-
ed that we were entitled to our seats for
the extra session only. 1t was conceded.
N all hlnds, that we were elected for the
tchote Congress or not at ALL Indeed. this
issue was presented BIZ the opposition.
through Mr.. Mercer, Of Virginia, on the
first day of the session; and before the
House was organized, or its officers elect
ed, an arbitrary attempt was made to pre-
vent us from taking our seats or express
ing yOlir voice in the election of a SPEAK
Err. Having Indignantly and successfully
resisted this attempt to stihe your rights.
we were called upon to determine wheth.
er we would abandon our places, or al
once assume the only tenable ground, that
tie election wds ralid for the entire term
In other words, whether we would consent
to distranchise the State at this IMPORT nj
] ncture, or claim to exercise those rights
which, by large majority, YOU had com
United t. our keeping. We could not hes.
itate. The whole matter was referred tq
the Committee Of Elections. Their deci
sion recognized the issue that we have
presented to You; the maj rity reporting
that we were duly and legally elected for
the whole of the twenty fifth Congress
and the dissenting min ,rity being of the
opinion that the election was wholly weld
ia this latter opinion arc could t assent
We believed their was vacancy in the
from Mississippi, that we
had been delegated by the will of the pc
pie, fairly ana fully expressed, to fill that
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