The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-31

the Indictment promptly on the termination or
my present office, If the same shall be accept
! able. As an individual charged with violation
/ of an act OF Congress and asserting my inno-
cence, have no favors TO ask from the Govern
/ ment; but as n citizen and public officer
may be permitted to suggest the entire absence
of any necessity tor pressing, to serious cohse-
quences, prosecution which, so far as the public
interest and am reputed to be connected with
it, certainly deserves to be regarded as frivolous
when short delay will quietly effect all proper
objects of the prosecution.
| The Government can scarcely hope to involve
me seriously in the charges preferred But
should it be that the indulgence of some sympa-
thy for the oppressed people of Cuba, calls for
the infection of some punishment, IT seems 10
me that the offended, Jaws of the country would
be amply vindicated by the eventual punishment
of the offender, without deeming it necessary to
invade the Government of State, foreibly seize
upon her Chief Magistrate, remove him from the
performance Of his duties and actually suspend
for time the Executive powers of sovereign
State.
| am, very respectfully your ob't. servant,
J. A. QrITMAN,
Governor of Mississippi.
Hon. H. J. HARRIS, U. S. Dist.ct Attorney
&C., Vicksburg, Mississippi
We have not been unmndful of the hints and
inuendoes ofthe Fillmorine press, that the Presi-
dent of the United States is determined to COM
pei the attendance of Gov. Quitm1n at New Or
leans Never has the Office of Chief Magistrate
of the United States been prostituted to more
ignobe and Infamous crusade against the bright
jewel of reputation, or the purposes of party ag-
grandizement sought more unscrupulously to
be maintained than we find recorded in all the
acts Of this administration. We have just seen
enacted the most unusual and extraordinary
scene of calling in aid to the counsel of the
United States 10 prosecute the cause of the
Government. 1t was deemed Insufficient that
the U. s. District Attorney should prosecute for
the Government, although amply able to do so;
but he had to be joined by an Attorney chosen
by the Federal Government at large fee The
people of our State will see, in this fact the hit
ter hostility which prevails in the Federal Gov
eminent towards devoted and able champion
of Southern rights.
What is the main circumstance out of which
the charges of the Government have grown ?
Governor Quitman happened to be in New Or
leans a few days be ore Gen. Lopez and his
friends sailed from that city. Yet he was on
the streets every day, transacting the business
incident to the. affairs of large planter, and
sought no covert to conceal himself from public
notice. So far as the Cuban patriots are con.
cerned, we venture to say that the u. s. District
Attorney was as fully, and probably more cog
infant of the acts Of Gen. Lopez than Gov
Quitman himself, yet that officer never dreamt
of arresting the expedition under the charges
now preferred, but was locker on like the rest
of the community. Now, why Gov. Quita an
should, at this late day, be forced to appear be-
fore the U. S. Court in Louisiana, to answer so
frivolous and unfounded charge as the present,
when no actual participation in the Cuban expe-
dition can possibly be proved, our people at
least, are at an entire loss to conjecture, unless
they assign it to the bad and unhallowed motive
Of desiri g to cast ignominy and re2roach upon
a brave and hitherto unsullied name. ..>
Is it for this, that the Government Of our
State shall be deprived of her civil magistratr !
We warn the President and his confcdrrates at
Washington not to persist in exciting the ndg-
nation of our people. They may 60 too fer
There is no man in Mississippi who would have
the hardihood to mpeach the loyalty of their
worthy Governor to The laws ofshis county,
Bad as they may be, he will render his need of
submission while thew are in existence: but
when the attempt is plainly and pnlpably made
to render him Infamous, to blight his name with
the charge of trator--as it is already given out
will be done, when in the power Of the Federal
authorities-every feeling of our nature startes
at tue 1cb, anu we WDuiu De rPcFehnG 10 all our
noblest instincts, were we to allow this migrate
full return to be made for the brilliant achieve
ments of Gen. Quitman, on those blood-stained
fields, in which our brave sons took so conspicu-
Gus part
Heaven would palsy our hands, were we to
stand by as idle spectators, and while the off
spring Of Gen. Quitman might thus look back
upon a furnished name, ours would be forever
coupled with it as derect to all the duties Of
men, and reproach to the history Of our State
1t is for reasons similar to these that we are
determined that the Federal authorities shall not
encroach upon the rights of our State They
have chosen an opportunity to try the strength
Of usurped power, in which one Of our noblest
sons is the intended sacrifice. Let them do it
at their peril
PRIVATE Dressing RooMs.-ln years past,
ere Cleveland aspired to be ruled b. Mayor
and Council, and when the now sedate and
exemplary fathers of our city were wild tearing