Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-07
THE CANVASS IN MISSISSIPPI.

as THE CANVASS in MISSISSIPPI.
Ertract from Letter from Gen. Foorr, publish
sdin the Flag 81 the Us,ion," May %.
beg leave call attention for moment to the fact th.
in month Of March, 1850, and upon the 26h day Of that
month, made II my business during the morning hour to
address the Senate in explanation OF the objects held in view
by our Msssspp) October Convention in proposing gen
eral Southern Convention in Nashville The action Of The
State IF Mississippi had at the time when this explanation
given, been greatly misrspresented in several quarters
and we had been charged with aiming at the destruction Of
the Union ITSELF believed the accusation TO be untrue and
resolved to meet at once and 70 ee it sectusy BY such
proof would be satisfactory all reasonable
For this purpose, read the greater part Of the pub
shed account Of the proceedne both of the October Con-
venton and OF the State Legislature; and, in conclusion
averred what think all present were willing to admit TO Dc
true that had proved, first that sno organized movement
looking secession had at that period occurred and
cond that radical change in the fundamental law Of the
Republic had been seriously contemplated much less insisted
upon in any part Of the South" confess that the
inclined to make this early explicit exposition of the
attitude Of Mssssppin regard the pending questions
because had discovered that Mr. Calhoun and other South
gentlemen seemed to be looking with confidence
State for tho adoption of extreme measures which did not
believe people would either participate in sanction
This explanation be it recoected made in the Senate in
the month Of March, 1850, than month anterior
that letter which Mr.. B. published last week and
markabe fact that newspaper in the State Of Mississippi
venured to call my declarations thus publicly made at all
in question. Then the scheme Of prompt and peaceabe
secession Joint SEPARATE" hsd been announced to
our citizens then the project Of welding the whole machine
Of the Nashville Convention for secession purposes had
been dvuged. knew WELL though, and had suspected for
months before, that such project had been formed and
hai its execution would he in oil probability attempted II
had been distinctly propounded to in various FORMS and
had most emphacay denounced il and declared that
sL Nasnvs Convention such unhaowed purposes would
DC in my Judgment to the State of Mississippi with gross
injustice, and with something like perfdy went still
further Finding that nothing but the severance of the Union
nd
Of Congress- and that nothing which could say to them in
faenal conference could dssuade them from their mad de-
sign, made effort 70 postpone the meeting Of the Nash
vile Convention, until Congress should have adjourned with
out adjusting the questions in controversy This did partly
at the instance of distinguished citizens Of Mississippi
delegates the Nashville Convention who addressed me on
this subject by telegraph For this purpose, summoned
various Southern Senators room Of the Capt.
to and, when they had together proposed to Them
to unite with in recommendation that the session Of the
Convention should be postponed above described ma
ory Of those present against the proposition and had
to relnquish it, My mind full of solicitude, and at
addressed letters Judge Sharkey and other gentlemen
in Mississippi, warning them in the solemn manner of
the movements which in all likelihood to be essayed in
the Nashville Convention, and urging them to be specially
upon their guard against certain intriguing politicians whom
expected to attend the Convention from South Carona
Inmaions had been given from time to time that the plan
the conspratos to demand through the Nashville Con
vention amendments Of the Federal Constitution Of nau
to be refused, upon the denial Of which formal ord
of secession to be adopted, either by Southern
Congress second Nashville Convention. It began 10 b
rumoed also that the line Of the Missouri compromise would
be likewise demanded by the Convention, which known
every man OF sense in Congress equally certain
be adopted but the refusal adopt which would it was
hoped impar additional pausbly the project Of
sion. beg that may not be forgotten that Mr. Calhouns
speech of the 4h of March had then been delivered and
protest against the most Objectionable portion Of it been for
may entered This nearly two months before nv let
ter Of April Mr.. B. That speech among other things
had set the demand Of constitutional amendments in ac
corance with the plan Of dsunon then conectured 10 be
progress plainly that this part Of the speech should
be suffered to without objection from Southern Senator'S
especially from those representing State pesump-
ton might arise that this equison Of constitutional amend
ments had been part Of our October PLAN resolved lose
no time in correcting serious. The controversy
between Mr. Calhoun and myself before the American peo-
pe shall not dwell upon it. But beg leave simply to
call the attention Of the people Of Mississippi certain por-
Of that extraordinary dialogue which occurred between
Mr. Calhoun and myself when, coming into the Senate
be found me Directing to his speech:
Mr.. Calhoun. g But will say, and say it 5olRy-or
am not aad 20 say The ruth on any qlesonhas things
the Union. When this question may be settled when we
shall come to understanding, is question Of
Mississippi he thinks tina. the South can remain IN the Union
mr. Foofe eve cannot, unless the pending questions are
seed but in my opinion these questions may settled
and honorably settled, within ten days time.n
Mr.. Calhoun. Does the Senator think the South can re-
main in the Union apon terms Of equality 1stho,a specific
I'd "
Mr.. Fsote. 81 think she may ruithom any Precious
| amendment ef the Constitiion. Here we disagres."
.thr. Calhsu. " Yes, there rue Gsasree entirel."
All must SEE at that was then contendng for our
October PLATFORM "e Union it " whilst Mr. Calhoun
struggling for its overthrow. This nearly two months
before my April letter to Mr. Baksdale He then defended
and justified my precisely where was when
be thus defended me and he denounces trai-
tor" then thanked him for his vindicaton of mel am
now quite patient under his censures.
Since the writing Of that April letter the Nashville Com
has assembled and acted The author Of the address
which emanated from it (Mr. Rhett) has avowed that he
went to Nashville with disunon purposes in his heart which
had been cherished for twenty years Immediate secession
been avowed to be the of the Nashville Convention
In South Carolina and several other Sates. A second
Nashville Convention has been held which has conyoked
Southern Congress, with penay powers for the express
purpose Of declaring the Union at an end Our own Legs
ature has been called together by Governor Quman aud
counsed to abandon the October PLATFORM and coolefate
with the Governor and his confederates carrying into ex
ecuton his darling scheme Of " prompt and peaceabe
son oint separate" The Governor has recommended
to an approaching Legsature the appropriation Of large
sum of money for the prosecution of upon the Govern
ment Of the United States He has the Legislature
special message recommending military organization
and the immediate imposition Of most oppressive tax in
order to defray the anticipated expenses Of civil war in
which he expected doubtless to acquire fresh aurels upon
bale-helds marked with all the horrors Of internal strife.
State Convention has been provided for which expected to
send delegates to the Southern Congress already described
All this has been done too, Notwithstanding since our Oc
tober Convention held territorial governments have been
established in Utah and New Mexico without any restriction
in regard to slavery fugitive slave law bus been enacted