The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-24


Ma. DUDLEY; am not q constant reader
Of the Mssssippian, but my attention has
been directed 70 an article in that paper Of the
Sd instant, over tho signature of'Casca, which
merits animadvoFsion The ostensible object
Of Casca's communication was 70 give the
editor Of the Mississippian AsynoPsis" Of Mr.
Clayton's speech delivered in Canton on the
22d Of last month, but il isa perfect tissue Of
Misrepresentation. My object is to bring
these Misrepresentation TO the notice Of the
public.
In regard to tho character ofthe audience
which Mr.. Clayton addressed, Casca says ne
found a considerable assembly, composed prin-
cipally Of Whigs'ani they for the most part,
whigs ofthe f0ien, their wives, children and
friends" Qshall take the liberty to italicise
such words and phrases az | may wish 70 re-
mark upon.) will not pretend to say wheth-
er BY the tterm considable," he meant that
the assembly was worthy Of regard or atten-
ton, respectable or moderately large but
mean 70 say myself, that the meeting was
large, the spacious court room being oruweed
/ There were no achildren" that / saw and
there was about dozen intelligent ladies'. And
although he meeting consisted principally OF
wings, they were not" for tho most part
wings oithe fotcn" You can,in the very out
set discover the demagogue spirit Of Casea in
endeayorilg to create invldious distinctions
between citizens who live in town and those
who live N the country, as If The latter were
any better than the former. This spirit Is
characteristic Of locofocoism. The "most part"
we're planters Of the counuy-what Casca
would have designated" the bone and sinew
Of the country, if they had been looofocos. He
says il was "as intelligent an audience as
could be collected in the United States for its
members" This, suppose, was intended to
be hyperbolical. II so, | will not quarrel
about il.
Casca admits that Mr. Clayton is "a man
Of gentlemanly bearing" but says Mr.. G.
made il evident to his (Casca's) stumble.
comprehensions," that Mr.. Clayton Is an
oldfashioasd full blooded aristOcrai," which he
defines to be ga man who scorns poor people
and Judges a mans worth and integrity by bis
wealth and ability TO pay debts" have no
doubt that Casca's "humble comprehension"
was the only one to which this was made ev-
dent, for Mr.. Cayton's cOuntenance and bear
ing'indicate the possession Of a large benevol-
ence and charity any thing but "seon."
know from conversations with candid demo
crats-demoerats Of "gentlemanly bearing,
J that Mr.. Clayton made favorable impression
on them as a man, however much they might
differ from him in political principles aud the
remarks Of the editor Of the "Independeni
Democrat might DO cited in proof of this
Sd. Casca says that Mr.. Clayton "then do
0 tailed Gen. Browns amount ofindebtedness t
? the Union Bank-how much he had borrow
ed how much he had endorsed for, how mucl
, he stil owed, with mathematical exactness
, and kept repeating that il came with verl
bad grace from Gen. Brown to set up sucl
Q plea as unconstitutionahty Of the UnioI
D Bank bonds" He then asks;
D aI1as it come 10 this, that a poor man can
4 not express his opinions on a grave constilu
tional question, because he has the misfortun,
> to be in debt - Nor be a candidate for Of
fee ia Mississippi while indebted TO a bank
"but at the hazard Of having base motfUes base
, ~ iHsinuaisd against him !" And then adds
"How Insignificant is this attack, and that to,
IN che absence Of Gen. Brotcal" lie contin
. ues "Is it honorable, is It magnanimous, i
d it even gentleaanly arist0cratic, to insinuA {,
s so base motive Of action to an opponent
1 &c.
h Now, in answer to al this I have 10 sa'
/. that Mr., Clayton did not urge Gen. Brown
. Indebtedness to the Union Bank as a Teasol
why Gen. B. should dot plead the constitution
atty, Of the bonds. This Casoa knows, o
= ought to have known ere he ventured to write
,el his1asynOpss." He showed corcusively tina
Gen. Brown bad been benefited to the amour
Of several thousand dollars by getting none
Q to a large amount for himself and friend
e when the money was about al par and beini
L now able to pay i back in the notes Of hi
q bank at their present deprecated ea
while Mr. Clayton himself never had 5Oii0w
. ed dollar from the bank, aud had not beel
benefited at an by It. Hence she larguei
that Gen. Brown, thus being largely profile,
by the k,couid with less reason and justice
be opposed to taxation to pay than MIR. Clay
, ton,who had received no profit whatever. AM
a while dong so he disclaimed any imputatioi
r Of bad motives to bis opponent There wa
h no base motives baselJ insnuated, as Case
alleges. How could Casca admit, as he doe
that a man who would act thus, as he repre-
&c senis him 10 have done is a man of agsHfle
y manly bearingl' l feel some disposition 4
2 doubt whether this phrase is ineligible to hi
y stumble comprehension"
But Mr.. Clayton did show from the journal
Of the Legislature, if am not greatly mistake
that Gen. Browns U0tes while a member {
% that body and sasorn to support the constitution
8, do sstop him from raising the question Of cons
T. tltulionality. II was this and not being "a poo
man according to the hypocritical and eontem
!. ptibe cantof Casca, that ought to prevent Ger
~ B. from raising such question. Is there an
e thing, then, in Casca's thirdlquesti0n VII C
y makes it evident that Mr.. Clayton is a fu
y booded aristocrat
9th. Casea "insinuates" that Mr.. Clayton
, father was violent Upp0dent Of the u. State
l. Bank, until that institution lent him S54,00l
i sand his wrath, as member ef Congress, a
le a representative of The people, cooled off, an
\ al his house were converted Of a sudden {
the Bank :" thus insinuatng that Mr.. CLAW
= tons father now deceased, who was one
J. the most distinguished statesman of Georgi,
y was while member Of Congress, corrupt, an
a bought to friendship to the United States by
4, loan Of money and enquiring Of Mr.. Georg
r. Clayton awhat would he think of Ger
Brown, were he to get up and tell him" thi.
y sand attribute Mr. Cayton's political course {
i that $4,000 Indebtedness to the Unite
10 States bank - Now,whether Mr.. CLAYTON
II father ever borrowed that amount Of none
!. from the United States Bank, am unable I
say and from the instances which Casea Ia
given Of his disregard Of correctness, shoul
J. feel an unwillingness to believe It upon his ur
a supported assertion. l have understood tina
a certain democrat iohispered-yes, sohispere