The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-09


and he speaking apart with me- expressed the great
est amazemen at the opinions he had just heard ayow
ed by Judge Upshur, spoke Of them in terms OF the
most marked disapprobaton and also of the indscre
ton OF the Judge; the more especially so, as he was
high officer of the Government of Virginia, and
one whose station and talents gave him great iniu-
ence IN society. Judge Barbour and myself usually
occupied the same chamber at the hotel in Norfolk
Upon retiring to room, Judge Barbour again adj
yerted to this subject. II seemed to have made
deep impression his mind He deplored It because
he saw the danger to which the Union was exposed
by the public expression of such opinions by persons
holding the rank in society and the station IN the 60
yernment that Judge Upshur did that, u ne reay en-
tertained such opinions, he ought not TO express te
IN such open and public manner
81 remember also, our conversation upon TINS SUD-
iect during the last winter, when Judge upshur was
spoken Of as Senator of the United States asked
YOU whether you remembered your discussion with
Judge Upshur on board of the steamboat upon the
subject of the dissolution of the Unlon and the OPT
Mons then expressed by him. You replied you had
most distinct recollection of the whole discussion,
and of the opinions and doctrines advocated by the
Judge at the time and probably added you would
not be likely easily hastily to forget them such
was the impression they had made on your mind.
81 most earnestly hope you may not have occasion
to use or make public this letter. To this have the
greatest aversion and have to request, therefore,
that you neither show it speak OF 1t to any one
whatever until you shall be forced to make il public.
tended, because have been much interrupted by my
professional engagements.
$ am, with regard, very truly yours,
"PHlLIP HARRISON.
8" Hon. J. Nj. Boris"
FEBRUARY %.
:" have, since writing the foregoing letter, just
seen it stated in the Wing of this morning that Judge
Upshur in correspondence between himself and
Mr.. Wise, published in the Madisonan, has, in the
most positive manner, denied having expressed
the opinions attributed to him by you, or ever hold
ing any conversation with you upon the subject This
regret most sincerely. II seems TO me utterly i'm
possible that many of us could have misunderstood
the opinions of the Judge openly declared and it
seems to me equally impossible that the Judge should
have forgotten his opinions repeatedly expressed,
and the occasions upon which they were expressed
but it seems to me it must be so:
aP. HARRISON" .
To The Editor Of the Whig.
Sir regret to perceive that your paper of yes
terday makes a reference to a conversation which
passed some years since in the streets OF Norfolk be-
tween Judge Upshur and myself, of which casually
spoke hearing of the unpleasant difference between
MIR Bolts and the Secretary Of the Navy. 1t is due
to both those gentlemen, and proper so far as am
concerned, that my statement shall be before the
public under my own signature that no improper use
may be made Of it.
Conversing with Judge Upshur some years since in
the streets Of Norfolk on the subject of notification
heresy, dangerous in this that many persons who
had not to correct information would be led off
by the plausible arguments by which it was support
ed for all have their fle-eaders. The Judge said,
have no tile-eader replied you have no occasion
for he-leader, as your situation in life enables you
to obtain correct information for yourself; although
said l. jestingly, some say Mr. Calhoun is your file
leader Judge Upshur then made use Of the fgura-
tive expression of which have spoken: /" No, have
fleeader, and claim the credit of being the hrst
mi no Tho a.. Nhct
was intended by this expression, cannot say 1t
was used, as have said, in connexon with the sub
ject of nullihcation and if any qualification
panied the remark it has escaped me.
C. NJ, BRAXTON.
February A, 1912
Mr.. Johnson says:
"The Hon. John M. Bolts is pleased TO consider the
facts which am able to state as important TO esab-
sh what he has alleged in regard the avowed OPT
MONS of Judge A. p Upshur, as to disune nism.
Without pretending myself to decide whether the
consequence which he attaches to what | can aver,
will will not attach to it in the view of the public
do not feel at liberty to refuse gentleman who APP
pears to me to have taken perfectly warrantable po-
sition the benefit OF such knowledge Of the matter
possess.
Gas ajournalist, taking an active part in Carolina
politics from 1928 TO the close of 1886, and Directing
for large part of that time, the principal organ of
notification, the COLUMBIA Telescope" | was in
continual communication with those to whom, from
I,
Judge Upshur naturally disco- ed his opinions the
most freely, AZ OF their ahest defenders beyond
the State and their leading partisan in the press OF
Virginia, his opinions and his efforts commanded
much attention and much admiration in Carolina !;
and, his part need not fear TO say that the
fdence felt then in him have led to far more n
reserved declaration of his opinions than he could
well practise at home, where those opinions possessed
much more limited currency.
"Towards the close of the year 1886, general
noffb
tenn Of the South stood, induced movement through
out the Carolina party to revive the Southern Re-
view" in order that, in the great interchange of
thought which now influences powerfully the fate
of civilized communities, the peculiar interests and
ideas of the planting States might no longer be
presented In the attempt to effect this object my
self took very active part and designated, with
the approval of the leading of Carolina, the
editor of the proposed journal.
GA corps of the ablest writers that could be
brought to the defence of the South was Of course
to be enlisted. Most of those who fitted to aid
in such design were consulted, either directly
through those who could speak for them. 1t was in
forming this list that, while canyassng the assistance
Of Judge Upshur, | learned what was, in Carolina
among his closer friends reputed to be the length to
which his opinions went, was told that he had
passed far beyond notification; that he regard
ed disnuion the only safety for the South and that
he had determined to devote his future life to that
cause.
vi TACT learned IN that Mighty circle TO
which Judge Upshur looked so much, and with men,
bers of which he communicated so unreservedly,
could not doubt, especially as it was in conformity
with other things which personally knew | had
been shown the printed sheets of the dsunion novel
Of 'the Partisan Leader" before yet published
had been told the purpose for which it written,
and who was its author and had received an init
nation, from the publisher that the writer wished
me Judge Upshur to bring it favoraby into public
notice by review. | aware that the Judge
stood in the most intimate association Of political
purposes with the author Of the novel; and APP
proved its design. With those proofs before me,
| could not do otherwise than to yield entire credit
to information from so high a source, and so
strongly confrmed; and therefore state, without
hesitation, my conviction that Judge Upshur, at the
end of 1896, was, in view of the circumstances then
existing in the country, deliberately and systematica