The southern press., 1851-08-09
taw-WgIny before our readsrs Geueral o mr.. /


eW- WeIay before our readers General OUR
MANS statement of his renc0untre with Mr..
FoorE. II will be seen that il varies materially
from the published account Of his antagonist,
and the General has not thought it necessary to
dun up certificates TO fortify bis veracity. His
account Of the transaction il very characteristics,
brief manly and decided
To the People Of Mississippi.
HERsASDo, July 18th, 1851.
The joint canvass between Senator Foote and
myself terminated yesterday abruptly in Sledge-
vile, Pamela county.
II is due to you that the causes which brought
about this event, should be made public.
embarked in the canvass under an agreement,
in writing, proposed by the frends of Senator
Foote, and accepted by me, "that during our can
vass, nothing OF personal character would be
introduced by either party, but that the canvass
should be confined to the political issues between
us, before the people" to the observance OF
which understanding our friends mutually
pledged themselves. Maa
At our first and second appointments, de-
clared expressly, that would neither introduce
personal matter, nor assal my opponents mo-
tives, nor even alluded to his political acts, not
connected with the present issues before the
country, unless compelled to do 30, by the course
OF my opponent. On my part, have, so far as
was permitted, conformed to the agreement,
and adhered to the course proposed-but re-
greet to say, that my opponent has habitnHlly dis
regarded the trims Of the debate, and frequently
used even irritating and inflamatory language.
At Grenada, he startled the aadirnce with the
declarations that his life had BEEN endangered
five or six times during this canvass and that he
expected to be assassinated, but that 10 such
event, the blood of an Union man would cry to
Heaven for vengeance It is true, he said, that
he did not accuse any prominent man of the
State rights party of such intention, but by this
language he left murderous imputation 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
instanced the threat of President Fillmore, to
use the military force of the United States
against Texas; and cited the indignity lately
offered to Mississippi in urging the arrest and re-
moval of the governor of the State to New Or
leans for trial, on groundless charge, thus vir-
tually suspending the executive powers Of the
State government
In the debate at Pamela, Gen. Foote, in an.
S"Ci w poiut VI my atBuuciih uFtchuCu
the conduct of the President, and although he
disavowed the intention of imputing to me any
guilt, yet he intimated that there was cause for
suspicion in the alleged fact that some arms be-
longing to the State of Mississippi had been
| carried off to be used in the Cuban expedition.
In my reply said that the charge or insinua-
tion, coming from whatever source it might,
that had been either instrumental in, or cogni-
zant of the removal, or abstraction Of any of the
public arms from the State, was false and scam
dalous.
With this, supposed further allusion to the
subject would end but on the next day at
Sledgeville, Senator Foote, in the same unquali-
fed manner, repeated the insinuation. Deter
mined to repel in a manner which could not be
misunderstood, such indirect assaults upon my
character, in my rejoinder deliberately pro-
nounced the insinuation as false and coioardly,
scandalous and upgenflemanly Upon some in
quires by him of what meant, repeated the
same language. He then inquired whether ]
intended to insult him-I said would answer
that question outside the crowd.
| Standing upon the ground, with table and
my papers before me, then turned TO the au-
dience, and was proceeding TO say that, under
the circumstances, believed that further joint
debate between us would be Injurious TO the
public morals, and therefore declared our joint
appointments terminated from that day. While
thus speaking, was several times interrupted
by Senator Foote, and at length heard Is voice
near me on my right exclaim you are a liar, and
turning towards him, / saw him advancing and
aiming blow at me, which slightly grazed my
person. Before could turn upon him, he quick
ly glided back out Of the reach of my arm and
as sprang towards him number Of gentlemen
rushed in and protected him from merited chas-
tisement, but not until had dealt him blow
with my fist, and one with my foot, the force OF
both weakened by the effort Of persons present
TO hold me back. This scene occurred In the
presence Of large and respectful audience Of
ladies' and gentlemen.
While feel mortified in having been even an
unwilling participation in a scene so dsreputa-
BILE TO n canvass for high and digniied office,
feel assured that ] will be justified by an intel
ligent public in having used the strongest Ian
guage to repel an insidions attack upon my
character, repeated for the second or third time.
] shall make no comments upon this affair be-
ing content TO leave Il TO the Judgment of M
intelligent and high-minded community
J. A. QUIfMAN.