The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-26
MIR. UPsHUR's LETTER.
wA.nlNoroN, February y, 1872
{ APPENDIX b, Concluded

WAsHMeTos, February II, 1872
DEAR Sm avail myself of the first moment at
my command TO reply to the questions wlhch YOU
PROFOUND to me in your note oil Yesterday, a."
glad of the opportunity which is afforded me oil 'ih,
dcating the principles and purposes oil a great ana
patriotic party, with whom il was, and sun Is, my
highest pride to have been associated ms pleasure
will be enhanced il what may say saii De oil any ser
wee 10 one who when a torrent OF Ignorant preju-
dice was sweeping over that party, had the moral
courage 10 stand up and vndicate their principles,
and who did with an unsurpassed ability.
To your first question, answer, that from the be-
ginning the end of the notification controversy,
was in the habit Of the fullest and most confidential
communication with nearly all the leading men of
the party by letters, in private consultation, and in
caucus, and that, with one single exception, never
heard a sentiment Of unfrendness to the Union ut
tered or intimated. But, the contrary, the con-
slant declaration of the utmost devotion to that
Union, and settled opinion-howeyer mistaken 1t
may have been-that the greatest guaranty ior us
perpeuty was to be found in the recognition oil cur
principles There may have been individuals oil the
marty who thought dissolution of the Union " desl
rable - can only say that never met with such
an one. confidently assert that, II there were any
such, they did not amount to one per cent. Oh lne
party. nd for this appeal TO every memocr OF
the party of any prominence in the State With the
admitted head Of that party, Mr.. Calhoun my reia-
tions political and personal, were OF the most init
mate character. Those relations are now totally
changed; and, whilst trust that could not be m
duced to repeat any thing to his disadvantage, which
had heard from him during the existence OF those
relations take pleasure in saying that in the fullest
and freest conversations with him, for hours and
DAYS at a time never had cause to suspect that
he desired the dissolution of the Union On the con-
trary | well know that he has always regarded such
an event as great caamity--one of the greatest |
know no man more deeply impressed with the value
of that Union, and one whose opinions are so
strong and settled that it never will be dissolved
But sir is it for moment to be supposed, that
the men who were most prominent in that contro-
versy whilst in all their speeches and public docu-
ments they professed ardent devotion to the
Union were secretly plotting its destruction
To your second question: ! answer, that never
saw nor heard of any letter other communication
of YOURS with the nullifers of South Carolina, except
the published essays signed Locke" and Napier"
never heard that you were disunionlst about the
period of the re-establishment of the Southern Re
view. nor at any other time; and deny that disco
luton of the Union the object in revying that
work The purpose was solely the vindicaton of
Southern literature and Southern political opinions.
II any paper could be said to have been the organ
of the notification party, 1t was the Charleston Mer-
curry There were other papers which were ably
conducted amongst them the Columbia Telescope,
with which MIR. Johnston had some connection, do
not think ostensiby editor. But do not hesitate
to say that whatever paper may have been the organ
of a disunon party in South Carolina, such party
never numbered hundred members.
Very respectfully your obedent servant,
WADDY THOMPSON Jun. >
The Hon A. P. uPsnrR.