Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-19

oligutSot hitluS llClt DtNGT was tile l6uSt
approach TO familiarity between us.
| will not assert that have never held a
conversalionwithM Mr.. Bolts. do not keep
record of the conversations of the Sec
rotary Of the Navy" nor of any other
man, although it appears that Mr.. Bolts
does. | can safely say, however, that it is
very improbable, to say the least of it, that
a conversation such as he describes ever
occurred between him and me. There is
not upon my memory the slightest trace of
any such incident, nor can | now call TO
mind any one occasion on which | have
ever been in company with that gentle
men.
L will not pretend to say what Mr.. Bolts
can "prove," but assert in the most direct
and unqualified manner, that he cannot
prove the truth of his charge against me.
by any witness who is himself a man of
truth. understand that charge to be that
am, or have been, the advocate of an
immediate dissolution of the Union" with
out qualifications or conditions. | have
never, at any time Of my life, entertained
any such opinion or feeling. On the con-
trary, have, on all occasions, advocated
union, uponsthe true principles of the Con-
stitution, and have sought to recommend
my own principles, upon the ground that
they were conservative of the Constitu-
ton and the Union. This is well known
to you, for with you Ihaue had converse
tons "for hours" upon this very subject.
You say correctly that have printed and
published my opinions and under almost
every form Of address, essay, pamphlet and
book" and if any thing can be found in
any Que of these publications to Justify
the charge Of Mr. Bolts, | will surrender
the point.
l think it almost certain, although can
not recall any particular occasion on which
1t occurred, that have expressed decided
preference for a dissolution Of the Union
over the establishment of systems of policy
which | regarded as fatal to all liberty.
avow the same opinion now. would
sooner see the Union dissolved. than wit
ness the success of this very abolition
movement. | would sooner see il dissolved,
than witness the establishment of con-
soldated Government, with all power and
all right in the hands of an uncontrolled
and irresponsible majority; I would sooner
see it dissolved than witness the establish
ment Of any principles which violate its
true character and defeat its legitimate
objects. These opinions l am very GER
tain that I have often expressed, and
shall often express them hereafter. But.
that am, or ever have been, disunionist.
in any other sense than is here expressed,
is utterly untrue.
Casual expressions, dropped in the course
of free and unguarded observations, are
always liable to be misunderstood. They
may be heard by those who have not heard
the limitations, and conditions, and qualif-
cations, which previous remarks have put
on them, and they may also be heard by
those who keep 'records of private con
versations,' and who, of course, always
hear as they choose to understand. Against
such as these, no one has any defence
There SbOuid be, even if there is not, a suf1i-
cient defence for every gentleman, in that
sense of honor, propriety and delcacy,
which renders every private conversation
a matter of implicit confidence.
Very truly, your friend,
A. P. UPSHUR.