Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-08-30
stucco of an empty patriotism. But to the con-


amid our quiet homes, the quick ear of our ole
hero caught the first breathngs, and his brave ole
heart responded to the call. Doubtless his fire
side possessed, at least, the ordinary charms tha
belong to that "spot of earth man calls his home
But his country wanted him-not in the peaceful
halls OF legislation, but on the battlefeld-and ht
did not hesitate to turn his back upon the comforts
and endearments of his refined domestic circle
Nor did he hesitate to meet the privations and per
lis incident to scenes of war. He did not hesitate
then, to rally under the flag of the Union, the
stars and the stripes. Nor did he hesitate then,
to peril his life, to unfold and give victory to that
glorious flag.
The plains of Mexico every where, from the
heights of Monterey to the proud city of the Az
tees, attest ''his lofty deeds and daring high.''-
His consummate skill Of faultless gaantry, chal-
lenge the admiration of all who respect patriotic
courage or dauntess valor. His praises are in the
mouth of every While his prowess forms a
brilliant part of the glory of Monterey, and swels
the notes Of victory, that rise along the battle
path, from Vera Cruz to the last crowning act of
that glorious campaign. When, with his own
steady hand he planted the standard of his coun-
ry,in triumph upon the walls of the Montezumas
and presented to the federal Union, an empire won
to its banner.
Who can tell the hardships, the toll, the prva-
tion and dangers he underwent during this fearful
and eventful period And who can be astonished
that his experience and participation in the costs
of our acquisitions, should incline him to impa-
tience and resistance, when northern fanatics, in
robber bands, attempt the unholy work of plum
dering his own sunny south He knows the val
ue and the cost of California, New Mexico and
Utah. His sufferings and his valor aided in their
acquisition and purchase, and it is most natural
that he should keeny feel the indignity and wrong
in their loss. But of late it has be-
come common thing, even with southern men,
who never heard cannon or saw battle-men
whose interests and whose rights he has defen-
ded at home and at the terrible mouth of that death
dealing instrument, to denounce the old hero asa
traitor; and even Foote has the unblushing impu-
dence, to stigmatize his message as treasonable.
What injustice what ingratitude! what a burn
ing SANDER That old hero never yet surrender
ed to enemy, or betrayed his country, either in
the battlefield or in the councils of his State and
it badly becomes Mr. Foote, branded and borne
down he is, by the truthful tale of history, to
make so grave and false charge against one,
whose life has been spent in the support of the
constitutional and equal rights of man.
His political enemies little reckon the effectupon
their own heads, in the awful recoil of those un-
founded calumnies, which they so unscrupulously
utter against that old heroic statesman Thou
sands of Mississippi freemen will make them their
rallying cry, as they march up to his support in,
November next, and raise the shout of victory to
the hero of Chepultapec,
When the Mexican war had closed, the position
Of Quitman was truly enviable His generalship
and gallant bearing had won for him, proud
place in the admiration and affections of his coun-
try y-men. The people of Mississippi were justly
proud of their old citizen soldier. They had oft
BEFORE crowned him with civic wreaths-he never
had betrayed their trust, and now that he had re-
turned home and to their midst ''the laurel crown
ed hero" they chose to reward his fidelity and ex-
press their attachment by calling him to the first
Office in their gift. But his manly virtues and his
patriotic services could not shield but only seem
ed to point him out as fit subject for the poison
ed shafts of Executive malignity.
The free-soil administration saw in him, dan
gerous foe to usurpation and their unrighteous cru
sade against the institutions of the south.
He was in their way-the warning voice that he
was sending forth to his southern brethren, must
be hushed-he must be put down, disgraced and
stripped of his influence. To accomplish this,
Fillmore and his abolition coadiutors, hatched up
a false charge, had him arrested whilst acting as
Governor of a sovereign State, tore him from his
Office and carried him away to distant place for
trial And why did they not try him, when they
got him to the place appointed He had been
forced to resign his office or involve the country in
a civil war. Why all this fraud ? Why this in
suit to Mississippi? Why this indignity and out
rage to her Governor? Why dismiss the case
against his solemn protest and against his earnest
entreaty to have the charges investigated? Why
not allow him opportunity of vindicating his
character before the world ? Theeanswer is plain
They could have dismissed the case as well in his
absence as in his presence. They knew what the
proof was, but denied him trial, prefering tc
leave the cowardly knife in the old heros back
Suspicion might yet linger about his name, and il
the hands of corrupt demagogues might be usec
to prejudice his claims and cripple his influence
with the people.