The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-12-12
JACKSON, Nov. 10, 1850.
SIGNED,

JACKSON, NOV 10, looV'
Gentlemen: | have the honor to ack-
nowledge the receipt Of your letter Of yes
terday, which came TO hand last night, un-
der circumstances which you must have
known p~recluded anything more than a
brief reply. The questions you PROFOUND,
except the last, seem TO have been copied
from a letter addressed to a Senator OF
Louisiana, by citizens of that State, which
| trust, explains the nature Of the enqui-
ries. No one, who has taken so much in
terest in my opinions, as gravely 10 ask for
item, could have failed to find, in my pub
lie course, sufficient reason for the modiica-
ton Of those questions, so as TO conform TO
my well known position, had he been pre-
pairing questions for my particular case. 1t
any have falsely and against the evidence
before them, attempted to fix on me the
charge Of wishing to dissolve the Union,
under existing circumstances, am sure
your information and intelligence has ena-
bled you TO detect the shallow fraud. If
any have represented me as seeking to es-
tablish a Southern ConCederacv, on the
ruins Of that which our revolutionary faith
ers bequeathed 10 US, my whole Life and
every sentiment have ever uttered, in pub
lie or private, give them the lie.
II any have supposed gratuitouslY (theY
could not Otherwise that my efforts in the
Senate were directed to the secession of
Mississippi from the Union, their hearts
must have been insensible TO the obliga-
tons Of honor and good faith, which | feel
are imposed upon me, by the position Of
an accredited agent from Mississippi, to
the Federal Government. Your fourth
question, therefore, is the only one which |
feel you could have addressed to me, as
your Representative, for any other kind
purpose than to give me an opportunity
thus summary to dispose Of bastless
SANDERS against me,
The responsibility Of a Representative is
for the course he has pursued the issue
between him and his constituents must be,
that Of approval or disapProval the iuqui-
w it Involves is, did he truly represen,
those for whom he acted? was he right OIL
wrong? To know what he would do in
the future, the case must be distinctly sta.
ted otherwise he might answer to one
supposition, when the inquiry was directed
to another. 1t would require the gift o
, prophecy 10 tell, what remote consequen.
. ces may aow from the acts Of the late SEES
sion OF Congress, and without such gift, M
one could assume to say what he nigh
hereafter believe should be done. Whel
! a people lose the power TO maintain thci
! ri ghts aud protect their interests under tn
existing form Of government, ordinary pru
~ dence requires that they should seek sue.
change, as vii! secure them against th
= destruction Of both. The character of th
:, aggression, the degree and imminence I
10 the danger, will prescribe the means an
indicate the necessity. To the debates {
!. the Senate and such Of MY public addres:
es es as you may have heard, since my r,
a. turn to Mississippi, refer you Tor the caus
! and reasons of my opposition to the mea.
!. ures adopted at the last session OF Cor
4 gress, You ask me if am "in favor of an
and what kind of resistance'' TO those act
= AS your representative, | declined 10 er
Ter on that branch Of The question in Ii
United States Senate; in that capacity
lie took the position, that it was rot tor me
lg make an issue for the State. Your que
ut ton is not, | think, one which directs
Ter self TO my official position, but as | inter
to answer, il is unnecessary to argue III
M point, and | mention it as leading to I
statement, hat il is as a citizen, not as
Senator, Of mississippi, that | give you Z
opinion Of our duty, in the present crisis
Lam in favor Of the execution Of I
plan indicated by the State Convention
October, 1849, the address Of that Conyt
nto ton to The slaveholding States, and BY I
len Legislature Of The State at its last sessi,
which consider NAV be stated Tins