Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-07-07
From the SdUannah Republicans.
a

ducG letter Written 10 IuO Dy 0cils II uT-
rson in the year 1886, and referred to by
him in recent letter to correspondent
in louisiana; and that after searching
among my papers / stated to the public,
my inability ito comply with the request.
The continued anxietywhich was nantes
ted to know the contents of this letter,
otherwise than from my recollection of
them, which was all | could offer, made
me very DESTROYS, ifpossible, to recover it.
Having occasion some time since TO visit
Darien, met there with Allen B. Powell,
Esq, who represented the County of Nc.
Intosh, in tho senate of Georgia, in the
year 1885. He stated to me his perfect
recollection of having seen that letter in
my possession at Milledgeville, in Novem-
Der of last year, and of having read it a
second time in the Office Of the Southern
Recorder, at that place. | Immediately
caused an enquiry to be made for it there,
but without success. Having great conf
dence, however, in the correctness of Mr..
Powell's recollection, and having in the
mean time heard from other gentlemen,
that they also, had seen this letter at the
same time and place, before leaving Sa-
vannah to attend the late State Rights
Convention, | wrote TO Mr.. Powell, re-
guessing him 10 communicate in a letter
addressed 10 me ats Milledgevile, what
ever he knew in relation to this lost paper
that while there | might myself cause an
other search to be made. He complied
with this request, but owing TO the diff
Guilty oftransporting the mail at that par
ticular time, his letter did not reach Mil
edgeville until | had left it, and it was for
warded TO me from that place. AS soon
as | received it, again addressed N.Y.
self 10 friend there, requesting that a
further search might be made, and avail
ing myself of Mr.. PowelPs suggestion
that an examination might be had ofthe
files of the Recorder and Milledgeville
Journal, TO ascertain if il had not been
contemporaneously published in one of
those papers. The mail of yesterday
brought me an affirmative answer to this
last enquiry, and copy ofthe letter, ex-
tracted from the files Of the Milledgevlle
Journal, of the 22d November. 1886. The
absence of Mr.. Orrne, of the Recorder, in
whose possession Mr.. Powell had seen The
original, prevented any further search for
If in his Office. / send YOU a copy of the
letter of Allen B. Powell, Esq, and OF
that of Gen. Harrison, which will thank
you TO insert in the Republican"
l am, resp. your obi. servt.
J. MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
Eds. Of the Daily Republican.
Copy Of a letter from Allen b. PotceH, Esq,
TO j. N. Berrien, Esq.
RIDGE, May %, 1910.
DEAR SIR-Your favour of the 25th
inst, is before me. recolect distinctly
your showing me the letter from General
Harrison. You afterwards told me, that
you had left it with Mr.. Orme, and said
that you wished it seen by as many per-
sons as possible, and / invited Col. N. j.
Mcdonald to go and sect. He declined
andI went over, and Mr.. Orme handed it
to me, and / read it again; this, am pos
tive of. | had just before given my rea-
son in the Senate, on the resolutions to
instruct the Electors to vote for Van Blu.
rem, inthe event of their ascertaining that
Judge White could not be elected, and |
referred to Gen. Harrison's remarks on
the Missouri restriction. / was backed
by DIR. Williams, of Troup County. Our
remarks, with others were published in
the Georgia Journal. | was glad to see
Gen. HIS letter, and that he held to his
former opinions. And now, my dear sir,
| will state that my memory has greatly
deceived me, if the Southern Recorder
and Georgia Journal, did not publish the
letter, without saying who it was directed
to.
Respectfully, your obd't servant.
ALLEN B. POWELL.
To the Hon. ]. NJ. Berrien.
Copy Of a letter from Gen. Harrisonto j. M
Berrien Esq.
NEAR New LANCASTER, 9TH Nov. 1886.
My Dear Sir.-This is the first dav of leis-
ure that have had since had the honor to
receive your letter of the Both September
and avail myself ofit to answer the three
questions you propose to me, and which are in
the following words, viz:
1SI "Odu the congress OF the United States
consistently with the Constitution, abolish
slavery either in the States, or in the District
of Columbia
End. "Do not good faith and the peace and
harmony ofthe Union require that the act for
the compromise of the TaTifT, commonly known
as Mr. Gays bill, should be carried out accor-
ding to-its spirit and intention
Sd. : Is the principle proclaimed by the
dominant party, the spoils belong to the VIC
tors, consistent with an honest and patriotic
administration ofthe Office Of President of the
United States ~
1.proceed to swer these questions IA the
order they are proposed.
lst. lido not think that Congress can abolish
or N any manner interfere with slavery. as Il
exists IN the States, but upon the application 81
the States-nor abolish slavery in the District
OF Y Columbia, without the consent ofthe States
Of Virginia and Maryland, and the people Of
the District. The first would be, in nv onin-
ION, palpable violation of the Constitution
and the latter breach Of faith towards the
states have mentioned, who would certainlv
not have made the cession, if they had SIN.
posed that i would ever be used for purpnsa
90 inherent from that which was its object
ana 50 nJurIous 20 them, as the location of s
Tree colored population, in the midst Of Their
slave population Of the same description. Nor