The Yazoo Democrat., 1851-07-30
JUDGE wILKINsoN's REPLY.

Hon. H. s. FooTE:
M dear Sir--My delay in returning an an
swer to your note needs no apology hope a
wilful disregard of the courtesIes of life will
scarcely be imputed to me by you, to whom
have been known so long, and as you say, SO
favorably. But have been disabled from writ
ing almost since the date of your letter, by in
trinity of health, and this would serve as my
excuse il an excuse was needed. | am at
loss to conceive why the opinions of one 80 en-
tirely out of the public view as have been tor
almost my whole life, should be of interest to
any one; especially to one SO conspicuous IN
station and character as you. Since you have
been pleased, however, to allude to my views IN
your public speeches, it may be just to myself,
as well as courteous to you, to state them ex-
picitly and fairly.
I believe, (and have recently stated this be-
lief in conversation and in the few public
speeches | have made,) that for Mississippi TO
meet South Carolina or any other Southern
State alone in Convention, would be simply an
abortive and useless procedure. nave usu-
aIly, however, il not always followed such
declaration, with an expression OF my sence oi
the great importance of the generaI co-opera-
ton of the Planting States in some measure o.
defence of precaution or of safeguard agdinsl
the ceaseless assaults of the North upon tneIl
rigflte. It iso My from conviction that sucn
cooperation cannot for the present be obtained
and from an unwillingness TO Jeoparolse tne
chances for such cooperation for the future' Oy
an indiscreet and precipitate step-that nave
dscountenanced the policy of meeting South
Carolina alone in the proposed Congress
cannot see any good that could come OF It
since the most visionary politician would nol
encourage the thought, presume, OF MIsSls.
sippi seceeding from the Union with South
Carolina; and If the Convention of November
next should advise IL, doubt If the people
would sanction the act. 1t appears to me
therefore, TO be indiscreet in the candidates fol
Office of the State Rights party 70 make this ar
issue in the present contest. Seeing that If we
succeed we gain nothing by it, and that It maJ
be an element and cause of failure. IL
fact, Il is not the issue proposed by the party
the late convention passedit by without a wor
of notice; the Carolinians themselves do no
appear to desire it, it is embarrassing, imme
terial. and might prove disastrous to the Jus
expectations of the party But you are yer
much i'm error, General, in supposing that ethl
is the only really practical point left open De
tueun tho two parties in Mississippi" or tina
g;t nav he fairly regarded as embracing a
cher Allew ma TO claim few moment
ar voar time, while = proceed 70 correct %
error into which yon have fallen. mere = =
ssatle-~quife recently made-impO tants pfaa
tfcals, oYer-rfding an others that were maoe o
tween the Borsh and the South during en
stormy session OF the 3lat Congress. IL =
wolves the right of a State TO p0aceable with
drawal from the Union whenever Ii may sup
pose is interest or its honor to require such
Tou rendered this iesue yourself IL yon
apeech IN Juneau lexington and your follow
efs are now making it everywhere. II had %
baen rendered before since the days of the eide
Adnma. You deny thlh rlght--We affirm L
And now for brief examination into the mel