Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-27
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
LETTER FROM CHIEF JUSTICE sHARKEY,
OF MISSISSIPPI.

in printed FORM cut from the columns of The
Mfssissppian." the following Letter, addressed,
as the reader will perceive to the Editors of this
paper:
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, APRIL A, 1880.
Editors Of The National IateLEgencer
GENTLEMEN: Your number Of the l4th of March con-
tans article headed The Proposed Remedy for the Evil
Of the Day Examined which does gross injustice to the
members of the Convention which in this place in Octo
Der last The part which it my fortune to take in that
Convention makes it necessary that should forego incna
ton and appear before the public to rePe an unounded
caumny That article is but the sequel Of several which
pre- ceded H. Of less bodness. The public Journalist owes it
TO the country deal canddy and fairly with the conduct of
Others ard in departing from this duty he Is like swift wit
ness he beays his Partially the cost OF his integys
Your article is lengthy and shall content myself with
noticing such portions OF it place the Convention in the
most prominent point OF view Your title seemed to give
promise Of discussions your essay begins and ends in
seriion and denuncaon You prove one thing however,
which may have not been generally known-an entire identity
in feeling with the North in its high claims Of power on the
subject Of slavery Your Northern readers will doubtless
feel graed your devotion to their avore measure, but
they will not be much enlightened by your argument Your
Southern coun,ymen longer regard you as neutral
am not willing that the Convention shall be judged by the
open enemies Of the South and still less willing that it shall
be condemned evidence and nences not found In or
warranted by, its declarations and assert in the most
solemn manner that motives have been ascrbed to the
beers which they did not entertain.
Your alusion to the Hartford Convention is artifce
which requires to show its object. Its history
is given length, and you conclude, from the " mode Of
composition and the Objects" the Nashville Convention
more deserving of odum This is condemning premature
iy assumed grounds. The Convention has met its
bob hnf,
Its objects just what the Convention of Mississippi
pressed them to be- When men have openly and fairly de-
clared their object, it is unjust to ascbs to them motives
which they did express, unless the charge be
tanned conclusive evidence My purpose is with the
Mississippi Convention and if you had dealt fairly by
you have towards the Hartford Convention vndcaon
would have been required The history OF one is given at
length but with tie other The Hartford Conven
ton pronounced innocent affair." the strength OF the
declarations contained its proceedings but the Mississippi
Convention is judged by the rule its declarations
dsregarded, and motives ascrbed TO which not
expressed One sat with closed DOORS and its edng
were kept secret, time when at with
powerful foreign enemy which had been opposed, and the
Justice of which had been denied by portion Of people
yet motives determined by the journal of its proceed
ugs the other with open DOORS published its proceed
ings TO the world and invited discussion yet is condemn
ed on what it did no, say.
You allude to the Mississippi Convention, and, after
setting resolutions, say These resolutions certain
Ey-upon sufficient ground in their avermens the
hal part of which Contained the second resoution
but political fanatics (and hardly they would be found
dspue-but family outline the purpose of which late discus
sions in and of Congress hardly leave doubt through
the fundamentally of the proposed Convention, unsetle
the foundations Of the Government of the United States
They set out indeed with protesting devoted and cherish
L ~. IL.
erosion by the Notwithstanding States, in order suggest
the idea that they he people OF Mssspp desire to have
only such they desire it, Here direct charge of
design to unsee the foundations of the Government 1t is
utterly denied that any such purpose designed 1t de-
MED that any member of the Mississippi Convention had any
such obec. in view and it is asserted that every member
there assembled is friend to the Union. The great the
leading object in calling TO preserve the Union 1t
asserted by you that the resolutions but family outline the
purpose unsee the foundations of the Government but
the picture filled out, by the aid Of perverted magma
ton The evidences furnished by discussions in and
Of Congress-" Why did you Judge the Hartford Con-
veution by discussions in and out Of Congress ," The
Mississippi Convention also axis be judged by its acts
and by its acts only.
Blu, in the foregoing extract it also asserted that the
sentia part the resolutions contained in the second which
you say none but political fanatics would be found to dis
pue" This is The third resolution is far
important It denies to Congress the power legsate
the subject cf slavery in the District of Columbia pro-
hbt the slave ira between the several States prohibit
the introduction of slavery in the Territories Of the United
States This is the very gst of the dispute and yet it
passed Of importance. This the controvered
question Of right asserted side and denied the oher
out Of which all the danger the Union has arisen On this
ground the Convention is charged with having begged the
question Of aggression by the non-slaveholdng States"
wish the South to mark your language, for this is the mme
date Of The quarrel We conscenousy believed, and
still, believe the North claimed much that Congress has
no power the subject Of slavery in the Territories, the
common property Of all the States. We believe that the
ercise such power would endanger the Union and pre-
this catastrophe If have begged the ques-
ton Of aggr son, shall continue in that category We
sincere in expressions of attachment to the Union.
believe the whole South is attached to and that
Others like you, do most to unsete the foundations of the
Government, by claiming fer power which does pos
ses by trying to build up consoidat fabric the
of State sovereignty and Of the constitution. And it, unfor-
tunaey the future historian shall be compelled deplore the
ruin of the Government and cause you and your
class Of politicians viii stand conspicuous the foreground
the canvass which shall repie the great drama.
But your great alarm for the safety Cf the Union has
arisen from portion Of the Address prepared under the d.
recon Of The Convention That is regarded by you
full development OF the cbjec-a Southern Confederacy
The language alluded 10 is this "Bes;des aud beyond
a r. tba 60,