The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-07-11
munioatod.

Mr.. Editor-When il was rumored here
some weeks ago, that the distinguished
gentleman whose name stands at the head
ofthis article, had abandoned the advocates
of Southern rights, and had declared his
appreciation OF the compromise Of the
Foote committee, his friends here, very
generally expressed the utmost conf
dence that the rumor was untrue, or that
what semblance Of truth it had, would be
so explained as to show that he was The
same reliable and u~nwavering defender Of
Southern rights that he has ever been 10.
garded, 9But eyen had the report been en-
ltlrelY HuF however much we mighhAaEs
regretted 1t, our opinion O the purity ofhis
motives, his high integrity and bis exalt-
81 patriotism would have remained UNI
Oh. nged.
We were surprised, mortified and dis
gusted at the remarks made by the Missis-
sippian Newspaper Of that date, in regard
10 Judge Sharkey. The whole article we
considered highly repreheuslble, and espe-
cially the following sentence: "He owes
everything to Us, and we may yet show
him thatiwe, can;beas indignant, as we have
been kind and generous" Judge Shaaey
is here directly threatened with the Ven-
gence Of the democratic party, if be should
not happen TO think as they did. He IS to
forget conscience, honesty, reason, dego-
ton TO truth and justice, and think only of
what shall be the consequences TO himself.
The elevated nature of the Chief Justice.
would place him far above the threat, did
not The kindness of his disposition prompt
him to pity the feeling which gaveit utter
ance. Ill.timed, indiscreet, and in every
point Of view, utterly reprehensible was
this same article. To resist, and not to
comply is the effect produced by threats on
a noble mind. II noticed at all il would be
tobe defed. What sort Of freedom wou Id
charactereize thoughts which originated in
reference 10 party favors2 A man Is not
to be allowed 10 think according TO hiscon-
science, according to bis sense OF truth lest
" we be as indignant as we have been
generous! This too is said to a4man
who does not hold, and never has held a
political station, Surely some braialess
lnteTioper deposed for the inonce, the yete-
ran editors Of The Mississippian, md i'm.
POssd cha SUI prerOstsFous M
puaence upon the ~compositor. Il must
have come from some foreign and spurious
source, in q manner which canno since
be delicately explained.
But besides being Objectionable, as
threatning a man for his opinions, the
Mississippian alludes 10 the vengence ofs
party. The slave controversy is one in
which no party mares or party distinctions
should be known. The true advocates Of
Southern rights have always taken that
ground, and he is false TO the South who
seeks party advantages out of the slavery
question, or claims for any party its peculi-
ar championship, Nothing can be more
mischievious to the South, more ruinous to
It's rights now in controversy than to give
the contest a party aspect. Yet such was
the direct tendency Of this illconsidered
and unfortunate article.
We consider nothing Il the kind thathas
been said above, Or may be said hereafter,
asat all necessary 10 yindicate Judge shar-
kew. He needs no vindication, Threats
compliments and c~ajolery would be lost on
him alike. Bot we feel constrained te
vindicate ourselves from any sympathy
with such sentiments as have been uttered
by the Mississippian. What gives that
sheet a right to speak for the democratic
peity3 or why should we be responsible
fof the Delphic decisions which sometimes
issue er tripode. Their sayings are en-.
titled 10 consequence, alone from the fac;
that they own sheet which from its circu-
lation gives them the opportunity Of being
heard by q goodly number OF readers
The OracuIar givings outof that journal,
are not the embodied sentiments Of the
democratic party, or the concentrated
opinions Of a large and respectable body Of
men, bu. the crude conceptions Of two in
diyiduals, not very greatly superior totheir
fellow cItizensi in general. This is it at best.
but the article to which we have been ain.
, ding, we deny even so respectable an ori-
gin, and assume that it must have been
written BY some thoughtless understrapper
who had temporary charge Of the Office
We have waited to see if this article
would not be repudiated, or if some apoIo-
gY would not be made for what We regard
q san outrage on public decency. Nothing
lnf fha btnI L. 49, a ?