The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-23
Hon. A. p. UPsHUR.

WAsHlNGToN, eDFualy IA, lo4~,
My DEAR SIR In reply to your request that
would say, in writing, whether have, upon any oc-
casion, heard you advocate Z" immediate dissou-
ton of the Union, without qualification or condition.,
deem it most proper, in the first place. to state what
have been my opportunities of knowing your opinions
on that and every other political subject
For three sessions was student IN William and
Mary College, and during that time, with the excep-
ton Of few months, was an inmate of the house OF
Judge Beverly Tucker, the Professor OF Law OF that
institution. With his family terms Of the
closest intimacy during the time remained at col
ege and since leaving college, | have regularly,
twice in every year, been in the city of Williamsburg.
While was student and since, up to the time OF
your appointment to your present office, annually
you held your courts the Western Shore of Vrgna
and while in attendance upon the Inferior Court for
the County of James City and the city OF w VILLAINS
burg, Judge fuckers house was your home. Being
a member of the family of Judge Tucker, who was
one Of your most intimate friends with occasions ire
quenty occurring for the expression Of your sentl-
mens political subjects, (Which, during your resi-
dence at Williamsburg were daily discussed by your
self Judge Tucker, and others, i thought was pre-
pared to say with disnctness and certainty, what
were the doctrines held by you in reference to po-
cal topics generally, and especially what were your
sentiments in relation to all questions involving the
rights and interests of the States of this Union
have bestowed peculiar attention to the doctrines OF
the State rights school, and believed years ago. and
now believe, that they, expounded BY you, accord
ing to my understanding Of your exposition, reflect
the correct principles Of the Federal Constitution.
Repeatedly have heard you explain and defend
these doctrines, giving various in vindcation
Of them, the most striking and prominent of which
was, that they, rightly understood and faithfully act
ed upon would preserre The Union and maintain the
healthful and legitimate action of the different Go
vernments, State and Federal in their respective and
appropriate spheres What j have always under
stood you to say on the subject IN conversations, both
public and private, Z" hath this extent no more"
1t may be proper to add that, during my acquant-
ance with you, commencing in 1888, i have remark
ed the freedom and openness with which you have
expressed your political opinions. .Nsrer, to my
knowledge have you advocated an " immediate dis
solution Of the Union.n
With high respect, &c.
JOHN NJ, SPEED.
RICHMOND, February IL, 1912.
DEAR SIR BY your note of the 9Th instant, you
ask to state what opportunity have had OF know
ing your opinions of the value OF the Union, and
what understand them to be-
If long and intimate acquaintance with you, and
hearing your opinions upon that subject often and
over repeated, affords any ground OF knowledge,
ought to know them. Our acquaintance commenced
in the spring Of 1915, when commenced reading
law under YOU and has continued since with great
intimacy After you left Richmond and became a
Judge of the General Court, my house your
house whenever you visited Richmond, which was at
least twice year. and from week to ten days.
During tflls ulne anu particularly Wllhn tne last
eight or nine years, | have, upon very many occa-
sons, both public and private, heard you express
your opinions openly, freely and iearessly in rcla-
ton to the subjects of federal politics; and, although
have heard YOU in excited conversations partcu-
larly upon the subjects of notification and the aboli
ton of slavery never heard you express wish Tor
disunon nor any opinion that the Union ought to be
dissolved as an independent matter, unconncced with
some results which you thought worse than dlsunion
For instance have heard you say that the Con
stiluon was the bond of Union, and the protection
of the States and People from acts OF aggression on
the part of the Federal Government; and that wher-
ever the acts of Congress in open and papabe
violation of the Constitutions it. was the duty Of the
People TO resist and that notification the right
full remedy but that it ought to be re orted TO
excem in extreme cases ; and that upon such
siots you would maintain the principle at the hazard
of the Union | have also heard you maintain the
opinion that the Union should be dissolved rather
than submit to any of Congress abollshing slave
nv in the States A, tiue have ! ever heard you
express the opinon that the Union ought to he dis
solved except as an alternative for some measure
which YOU thought would he perverson OF the piin-
ciples OF the Constitution, and oppressive. On the
contrary in all that heard from you on the sub
ec YOU have always expressed high regard for the
Union and deprecated any act on the part OF the &c
neral Government calculated to bring it in jeopardy
and contended that yours were the true conservative
principles These opinions have often heard you
advance as have said before, openly and iearlessly
and am sure that my cighbols, who in the
habit of visiting you at my house, have heard the
same
With sentiments of high regard, am your obedi-
ent servant,
JOS. MAYO,
To the Hon. Judge UrsnrR