Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-08-02
70 THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI

uERNASDo, July l9,h, ISL
The Joint Canvass between Senator t10is
and myself leraiGs.eI yesterday sdruFd.H IA
SedgsyiIle, Panola couaty.
/ Il is due 10 you that the causes which brought
about this event. should be made public.
] / embarked in the Canvass under an ag'ee'
meuL in writing proposed by the friends Of Sen
ator Fo0ie, and excepted By me, 'yhat during
our Canvass, nothing Of a personal character
should be Introduced by either parry, bu. that the
canvass should be confined to the political issues
between Us, before the people," to ihe,O observance
Of which understanding our friends mutually
pledged themselves.
At our first and nd appointments, de-
clared expressly, that would neither introduce
personal matters, nor assaI ny opponents mo-
tiyes. nor even alluds to his political acts, not
connected with the present issues before the
country, unless compelled so to do, by the course
Of my opponent. Ga my part, have, so far as
! was permitted conformed to the agreement, and
adheared to the course proposed-but | regret
to say, that my opponent has habitually disre,
garded the terms Of the debate, and frequently
used even irritating and inhamatory language.
At Grenada he startled the audience with the
declaration that his life had been endangered
five or six times during this Canvass and that he
expected to be assassinated, but that in such
event, the blood Of an Union man would cry to
Heaven for vengeance. 1t is true, he said, that
he did not accuse any prominent man oil the State
Rights Party Of such intention, but by this Ian
guage he left the murderous impu,aton upon his
opposers generally. As the Canvass proceeded,
he became more personal. had, upon several
occasions, alluded to the arbitrary and alarming
powers asserted by the present Administration
Il n,tanced the threat of President Fillmore,
to use the military force OF the United States
against Texas; and cited the indlgnity lately
offered to Mississippi in urging the arrest and
removal of the Governor OF the State to New Or
leans for trial, on groundess charge, thus virtu>
ally suspending the executive powers Of the State
Government.
In The debate at Pamela, Gen. Foo!e in an
swer to this point of my argument, defended, the
conduct of the President, and although he dis
avowed the intention olimpuing to me any guilt,
yet he intmated that there was cause for susps
ION in the alleged fact that some arms belonging
10 the State of mississippi had been carried off
10 be used in the Cuba expedition.
In my reply | said that the charge or insinua-
ton, coming from whatever source il might,
that had been either instrumental in, or cogni-
zant Of the removal or satisfaction Of any Of
the public arms from the State, was fdsle and
Scdndd'Ouc.
With this, supposed, further allusion to the
subject would end; hut on tie n xt day at Sledg>
vile, Senator FooIe in the same qualified man
ner repeated the nsinuatlon. Determined to
repel in a manner which could not be visunder
stood such indirect assault upon my character,
IN my rejonder deliberatly pronounced the
insinuation as false and cowardly. ScdndllouS
and ungentlmanly. Upon some enquiries by him
OF what meant repeated the same language.
He then enquired whether intended to insult
him said, would answer that question out.
side flhe crowd.
Standing upon the ground with table and
my papers before me, then turned 10 the audi
encc and was proceeding to say, that under the
circumstances. believed that further Joint de-
bate between US, would be injurious to public
morals, and therefore declared our Joint appoint.
menis terminated from that day. While thus
speaking, was several times interrupted by Sen
a,or Foote, and at length heard his voice near
me on my rlHnt eAClaln you are llar' anu
turning towards him, saw him advancing and
aiming blow at me, which slightly grazed my
person. Before could turn upou him, he quick
" glided back out ofthe reach of my arm, and
as sprang towards him a number of gentlemen
rushed in and protected him fiom merited chast,
isement. hut not until had dealt him blow
with my fist, and one with my foot, the force Of
both weakened oy the effort of persons present,
to hold me back. This scene occurred in the
presence of large and respectable audience OF
ladies and gentlemen.
While feel mortified in having been even an
unwilling participator, in scene disreputable to
canvass, for a high and dignifed Office, teel
assured that will be justified by an intelligent
public in having used the strongest language to
repel an insdious attack upon my character re-
peaed for the second or third time. shall make
no comments upon this affair, being content to
leave it to the judgment of an intelligent ana
high minded community.
% J. A. QUlTMAN.