The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-26
Mr.. UPsHuR
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. Is, 1912

DEAR SIR answer with cheerfulness, your in
quiries in your letter of the 18th instant Your ques
tons are as follows
l. Mr.. Johnson says, in effect, that was in the
habit OF nterchanglng opinions with the nulllfcatlon
party of South Carolina. Does he speak the truth in
this!"
Answer. never saw nor heard of any commune
cation from you, of any kind whatever.
g He says, also, that when my services were
desired, writer for the Southern Review, it was
reported among my close friends in South Carolina,
that went beyond notification, and was dsunlon-
list, determined to devote my future life to that cause
Is this true 7"
Answer. In consultation, for the purpose of re-
establishing the Southern Review, | did hear you
spoken of its Editor, !" but never heard dis
unionist' connected with your name, until heard it
on the floor of the House of Representatives.
3. " To such of you know the fact, (and think
confidently refer to Mr.. Calhoun and MIR. Pres
ton,) appeal to say if not actually selected to
conduct the Southern Review"
Answer. did understand that you were 4" select
ed to conduct the Southern Review
A. " Mr. Johnston claims to have been your conf
Dental organ Be pleased say whether he is ust-
fed in the general statement he has giveni"
Answer | do not know that the State-rights par
ty in South Carolina had any " confidential organ.'-
They striving against what they believed to be
enormous unconstitutional oppression, In way per-
fecty constitutional and upon principles which they
not only believed consistent with the existence OF the
Union but necessary to its continuance and perpeti-
ty. Twill add, although not strictly pertinent to your
questions, that, from the commencement OF the tarlli
controversy in South Carolina took the ground be-
fore the people, that if did not etectuay check
the encroachments of the General Government on
this issue, would soon have to meet them on an
other issue, far more dangerous-that OF slavery.
Believe me, dear sir, your obedient servant,
R. b. RHETT
Hon. MIR UpsHuR.
WASHINGTON, February IL, 1912
SIR l received, yesterday, your letter of the | lth
inst In reply, will say, think people party
has ever been more misunderstood, more grossly
misrepresented. than the notification party of South
Carolina That party had its origin pure, dsin-
tcrcsted PATRIOTISM and ardent devotion to constitu
tional liberty The attempt which has been made by
its enemies and opponents to attribute to that party
designs to dissolve the Union is vile caluhny. The
object to perpetuate the Union, and preserve the
integrity of the Constitution. Modification
conservative, in its character, of these two objects.
Its advocates did not propote contemplate voluntary
secession, but to continue the Union according to the
spirit of the Constitution it ratified by the diff
ferent States and South Carolina intended to
separate from the other States unless she should be
driven from them, in defence of her principles.
do not know that you were In the habit of in
terchanging opinions with the notification party of
South Carolina" Inever heard of such interchange
of opinions with any members of thatparty.
have learned, from runor only, that you agreed
in opinions with the notification patty of South Caro-
lima but that you went" beyond notification and
was disunonist, determined to devote your future
life to that cause never heard.
In the attempt which made to revive the
:" Southern Review" never suspected or heard it in
timaed, by any person, of any design to advocate,
through its pages, dissolution of the Union If
such had been its object, it would have fixed the
charge of disunion upon many of the purest and best
patriots of the land Its bect purely literary, to
be devoted the defence of Southern interests and
Southern institutions.
know nothing of your expected connexion with
that Review except from rumor, that you to be
one of the writers for it. The Oh ,reston Mercury"
the principal and confidential organ of he multi
fcaton party and to its columns with confidence
refer for the character of the principles of t,a py
and defy its enemies opponents to point TO single
paragraph in that print advocating dsunon.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
WIN. Blu TLER
Hon. A. P. UPsHUR
To be continued