The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-26
y of the Navy, w ashington.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
ashinutOn. Feb IL. 1912,

SIR. have TINS moment 1eCelVeu yours Oh tne LIN
instant and hasten to reply, so far as can, to the
questions propounded in relation to the movements
of the null ticatcn party of South Carolina, and
to the charges brought against you by MI Ed w
Johnston
an actor upon the political stage and cannot claim to
myself the honor Of having been conversant with the
priv of many of the leading men Of that par
ty or of having taking very active part in the poll
tics of that day, although was not an idle spectator
or an inactive observer of passing events claim to
be of that party and did what could to sustain what
| conceived to be its true principles. But, In doing
So certainly struck my mind that was aiding
the designs Of men, or Of party, who were In favor
of dissolution of the Union. thought them as |
do now that that party indicating the true prn
cipes of the Constitution that those principles were
conservative, and not destructive of the Union and
that the Union itself was second in Importance only
to constitutional liberty. If this is the doctrine of
disunion then perhaps, | may be termed disunion
ist But was them and would be noO, very unwilling
to yield in my attachment to the Union to Mr. John
ston or any other person. have not the certificate
of Mr.. Johnston at this time before me, and shall
therefore undertake say any thing general
statements, having read it only once but shall
fine myself to some of the charges as set forth in
your letter.
You state that he says, in effect "that (you)
in the habit of interchanging opinions with the multi
fcaton party of South Carolina" OF this fact |
know nothing never having heard it alleged before.
| have heard it alleged that you defended our prnci-
pies before the people of Virginia, upon the true
grounds as conceived that they were conservative
Of and not destructive TO, the Union.
AS to the charge "that when your services were
desired as writer for the Southern Review it was
reported among your close friends in South Carolina
that you went beyond notification, and dis
unionst determined to devote your future life to that
cause" can only say that never heard it. or any
thing else that would give the least confirmation to
any such report rumor.
As TO the claim you say Mr.. Johnston sets up Of
having been "your (our) confidential organ, l will
only remark that this claim Is new to me; and simply
add that if he the confidential organ of any par
tv which was in favor of dissolution of the Union
il was not of the party to which belonged nor did
| ever understand dsunon to be the doctrine of any
portion of the notification party, as party, IN South
Carolina.
Yours, respectfully,
P. c. CALDWELL.
Hon. A. P UPsHuR.
WASHINGTON Feb. l6, 1912.
DEAR SR In reply to your letter, have no hesi-
tation IN asserting that the principles OF nullhcaton
were conservative The object of ratification as to
preserve the Constitution of the United States by the
Iveto of sovereign State upon an unconstitutional
act of Congress-. The intention to preserve the
Constitution, and so by preserving it conserve the
Union which rested upon it. One reason why the
nulllfers unwilling to call convention of all
the Southern States that complained of the oppression
of the General Government was the apprehension
that the united counseIs of a whole section of the
Union might result in sectional action, destructive of
the Union; and, whenever the Union party charged
us as being dsunionsts repealed the charge with
indignation and endeavored 10 convince them that
notification was the only remedy for the evils which
were rapidly destroying the harmony of the States
and the integrity oe the Union,