Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-06-13
Join WHITE.
To Messrs Gales &.Seaton.


WAsHINcroS,. May 6, 1874.
rid NY DEAR SIR:--I have received
your note, bringing to ny notice a
certificate subscribed By Eve gentle
men, members of the present House
of Representatives, all Of them my
political opponents, which you inform
me is going the rounds Of Locofoco
papers. The object Of that certificate
seems to be to verify the correctness
of an extract taken from the National
tntelIIgencer of the 1st Of July, 1920.
In that extract am stated by for
naer member of the House of Repre-
sentatives I believe not now living) to
have remarked, in debate which oc
cured a year before, TO the following
effect: s'If gentlemen Will not allow
US TO have black slaves they must let
US have Uhtte Ones; for we cannot cut
our frewood, and black our shoes, and |
have our wives and daughters work in |
the kitchen"
think you attach an importane TO
this miserable attempt 10 prejudice me
which il does not merit. Here is an
extract from the files Of the Intelligent
Ger, under date near twenty-four years
ago, not from any speech Of mine, but
from speech of another member Of
Congress. He does not undertake to
give my Uords, but merely states his
impression OF the eject OF certain
words used by me year before.
During the long and arduous discus
sion Of what was called the Missouri
question, l was so ensrossed With the
importance Of the subject,an so deep
ly. apprehensive of the awful conse-
quences which it involved, that never
wrote out or corrected any speech of
mine made during the progress Of The
debate. On the last and most innor-
tant occasion Of the agitation ofthatl
question, | made an elaborate speech |
of several hours duration, no part of
which, believe, was ever reported
by any of the stenogIaphers, as It GER
lalnly never was by me.
/ certainly will not undertake TO re-
+ cite what were the precise words US
ed by me on the occasion of any of
the numerous speeches, short long,
which l made in Congress on the Mis-
souri, question; but this will under
take 10 assert. with the most perfect |
confidence, that [ never used the
words. or any words whichw would bear
the impoft Of the extract. 10 which l |
have alluded. I am confident oft be- |
cause ! never enteTtained such SEN
timent in my. Life. ! never conceived
acontingeacy in which / would favor
orcountenaRce reducing white men to
slavery. To such an imputation L i
may oppose the tenor Of whole life, |
during which my humble exertions
have been constantly directed to the |
preservation oflibsrty at home and the
encouragement of its establishment in
foreign countries. If have not been
able to extend these exertions to the |
black race held in bondage in this
country it has been because Of consid-
erations and convictions, sincerely and
honestly entertained, embracing the
the peace and happiness of both the
white and black races. which have
been often presented to the public.
Ii is quite possible that, in arguing
upon the existence Of the institution oil
slavery in this country may have
commended that the black race supplied
those domestic offices which, undert
the names Of "help,'' '.menial SER
wants." and t'domestics," are TO be /
found in every state of civilized socie-
~ and consequently relieved the
white race from the performance off
these Offices. If i have ever employ
ed such an argument, (of which have
ao recollection,1 i il apparent how en-
gonecus inferences may have been
dFaWnfron il which il did not author-l
ize. .ssE ass ass
have no desire % disparsgs tle.f