The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-02-07
Letter From Gov. Metcalfe.


the verge Of another world, does not in the
| slightest degree abate the deep and abiding in
terest which ihave ever felt for the entire sue
cess OF this happily organized and glorious re-
| public-the last hope of the true friends OF
rational liberty: for verify do believe that if
| this bright and lovely star shall be made to set
in darkness it sets forever. If once torn in frag
ments. as it will be il shhdered at all; no one
of these Insignificant atoms will ever again en-
| Joy the respect or confidence Of mankind, at
| home or abroad, or be worth preserving. The
| dissolution of this Union and downfall of rspub.
| licanism are one and ndvisible. Owing, as
do, all that have been in public life to the tact
| that was born and reared q regret that cam
| not say educntedJ under the republican, banner,
it is but natural that my affections should cling
and linger around that banner to the last May
Superior Power and Wisdom grant that il shall
be handed onward and onward untarnished, from
generatien to generation foreVet.
| 1t is by yielding to convictions and feelings
thus hanowed that, have been induced to lay
down the old party gauntlet, for the purpose,
hereafter, of giving my humble support to that
prtriot band who; in the last session OF Congress,
stood up so gallaEtly for their country-their
whole country-in opposition to that erring
combination of the two extremes from the North
and South. Recognising in yourself con-
spicuous and formidable member Of the patriotic
band alluded to, allow an old Fanquief brother
to greet you as such, and in the sincerity o! bis
heart to bid you God-speed.
You will remember that at the time Of the
meeting Of the southern members in convention,
in tne chamber of The Senate, | declined to
place my name to either one of the public ad-
dresses prepared for the occasion. Soon after
LII
versation of some length with Mr.. Calhoun, who
most emphatically avowed himself to be the
friend OF the Union, and in opposition to any
movement likely to hasten or bring on its disso.
luton: This iustrious man was sincere in his
declarations | never doubted; for John c.. Cal
houn would not dissemble. The poiut of differ
ence between him and myself viii endeavol
faithfully to explain, and it will be for the future
| to determine which of the two judged rightly
Iregret that the decision of question so impor,
tant should yet remain in doubt. He, after emu
merating the various provocations of the Nm th
admitted that he had lost all confidence in the
integrity of that section, and in their fidelity tc
the constitution. He identified that section gen.
orally, if not entirely with downright abolition
ism, insisting thar, in the event Of their success
in the question then pending and the application
of the Wilmot Proviso to the California terrific
rial bill, they would next strike at slavery in the
:. States, 'and your State, sir--your State--amnng
the first. Here we differed in opiEioii--he in BIZ
/. identity of the whole North with abo:tionsm
; and in my attempt to vhdirate that section
! against such an impntation: He had apparentl,
lost all hope of fulfilment, on the part OF INF
North, of Its plain constitutional obligations.
had not lost hope. On the contrary, endeav
ored to convince him of the sterling patriotism
! Of that section--tbe residence among them 0
/ few degraded ''moral lepers" notwithstanding
|. Mr.. Calhoun made to me no charge against tn
past acts of any portion of that people that di
not know to be true, and did not acknowledge
!, TO be so. had myself been an object of tn
most relentless and malignant persecution b
!, that class of beings-such as was unknown t
! and unfet by any other Kentuckan. Ny sym
pathies were of course with the South, but
! could not identify the northern section with abo
ltionism. | could not--I did not believe tn
sentiment to be well founded or just. ha
travelled and formed many acquaintances there
The very high rank which, in my opinion, man,
, OF the most talented amongst them occupied 70
! their virtues, their intelligence, their mora
qualities and disposition to be just, forbade, ut
terly forbade, that they would not at no distan
day rise in the majesty of their strength and pu
! down, no matter in what garb. the demonia
) spirit might appear that thing called abolition
ism. I still think that il Mr.. Calhoun was nov
living. after having witnessed your struggle
and the struggles of those who acted with you
added to the noble and patriotic struggles of on
northern brethren at their various conventions
he would have been in favor of the Compromis
and that at this time he would have bsen dec
dedly in favor of giving the thing, as il is, fai
II =
d recommend to his countrymen. If members
> Congress can desist from the presentation {
petitions coming from that Infamous clan; s
; disgraceful to that section of country, and s
!. Justly offensive to tile South, all, | think--a
y will be well; and until am convinced of th
I want of true patriotism on the part of majorit
!, of that section and of their ability TO have tn
!. late law enforced in regard to fugitive slaves
y for one, have determined to support The la'
: as it is, and those who supported that law, n
matter whether in tie omnibus form or seps
raieiY. This, I believe will be the ground occl
E pied by Kentucky, with but little regard to part,
: ? ], and think might say zoe, will support sue
! men as Clay and Webster, Cass and Dickinson
2 Foote and Douglas, Dallas, Buchanan. and th;
y host Of great and good men who. in the North ar
y South, are struggling for the constitution of n
! Union as it was as il is and as it will be, trus
q forever But if different destiny awaits u
and it be true that whatever. is is, right then
e bow in all humility to superior power and wi
: dom, and as soon as a repeal of that part of II
: late relating to the recovery of fugitive slave
,, shall take place, (Which Heaven in its mere
!. forbid) !, for one will take my stand with ii
y wronged and insulted South, and If do n
! greatly err in my views, SO will Kentucky, vii
! an unbounded unanimity. We are fully awal
: of the fact that we occupy the post Of DANCE
e as well as the post Of honor4%a post from whic
/ Kentucky never did and never will shrin
Kentuckians are endeared to their northel
J. brethren by every tie of love, Of RELATIONSHIP
J. of intercourse, Of interest of duty. of religio
. and Of true patriotism; but when tha. endearn
= tie is broken by direct refusal to comply vii
. their oaths of Office, looking to the higher las
X she has no alternative. The act itself wi
, be considered a dissolution OF the Union, al
! she must look out and act for herself acco
:, dinghy.
a With my best wishes for your success az
y welfare, and for the endless duration of Il
:. Union, have the honor to be, most truly, yol
p friend, &C.,
j THOMAS METCALFE.
=, Hon. H. s. FoorE.
IS ANEcDoTE OF A JERSEY GIRL.--In Ii
ii wear 1777, a young woman passing d
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