The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-29
From The Columbus (.Iiss. Democrat.

WASHINGTON CITY, december 4, 1900.
GENTLEMEN:-l have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your letter Of November 9Th,
propounding to me certain questions and asking
an early answer. Your letter was handed to
me in Jackson, but my stay there was short.
and my engagements of such character, as to
prevent reply before left for this city. I
therefore embrace this, the earliest moment
(since nv arrival here.) that can be spared from
my official duties to comply with your request
The right of the constituent to demand, and the
duty OF the representative to give, frankly, and
fully, his opinions upon all questions on which
he may he called to act in his respective charac.
ter; or upon all questions touching the relation
which exists between them, as constituent and
representative, fully admit. Whether your in.
quiries are connected with any subject on which
| can by any possibility be called to act, as a
representative in Cougress, shall not stop to
inquire, because had no desire to Withhold my
answer either ms representative or citizen, to
these or any other question you may wish to
PROFOUND.
Your questions are the following:
| lst. Are you in favor of. dissolution of the
Union now, or hereafter, because Of the legisla-
ton at the late session of Congress!
Cd Are you in favor of the establishment Of
a Southern coniederacy now, or hereafter, be-
cause of the legislation of the late session of
Congress.
Sd. Are you in favor of the secession of the
State of Mississippi from the Union now, or
hereafter because of the legislation Of the late
session of Congress.
4th. Are you in favor of any, and what kind
of resistance, on the part of this State, or all or
any Of the slave States, to the recent acts of
Congress!
The first three of these questions are not
novel, met them not long since, (substanti-
ally if not literally) in correspondence be.
tween distinguished senator of Louisiana and
some of his constituents. | had supposed that
my position on this question was well under
stood by my constituents, at least those who
had taken the pains 10 inquire what it was. and
such is my belief now. | have not either in
Congress, or before ny constituents, proposed
or advocated, either dissolution of the Union,
the secession Of my own State, or the formation
of Southern confederacy, and my opinions
have undergone no recent change.
Why then should you ask me these questions,
unless your object was TO give me an opportu-
nifty of refuing the calumnes of those who seek
to place me in n false position and to raise
false issue for their own promotion! have
not deemed it TO be my duty to dictate to my
constituents, what remedy they should adopt
for the evils imposed on them by the late acts
OF Congress but determined TO t9kc counsel
from them as to the remedy to be adopted III
they should approve my course in opposing
these measures. If were Of the opinion, how
ever, that dissolution Of the Union was the
proper remedy now to be adopted should i'm
mediately dissolve all connection with the Gen
eral Government by resigning my seat in the
House Representatives, assume the ground
Ill Il q Al
before the people of Mississippi, but one which
has been raised by designing men, to conceal
from the public gaze their own recreancy and
treuchery to the South. My object has been
since my first entrance upon public life, to guard
against all violations of the Constitutions; and to
preserve in its original purity, that Union which
was formed by the Convention of 1887; Union
of equality and justice established by the Con-
stitution--that Constitution which was designed
as shield Of protection to every part of the
confederacy. My policy hrs been directed TO
this end, and will continue to be, until al! hope
of It's preservation has been lost; then shall be-
! leve it TO be the duty Of the Southern people TO
go out Of the Union, as the only means of saw
| ing and transmitting TO posterity the principles
Of the Constitution. You viii thus perceive
that my constant effort has been to save and not
to destroy the Union.
You also inquire what my opinions will be
hereafter whether will be hereafter for the
remedies suggested inyour three first questions
on account Of the legislation at the late session
of Congress. What my opinions and what my
positions will be hereafter, cannot now deter
mine. | shall form my opinions upon the state
of facts which may exist hereafter; draw my de-
ductions, and take position accordingly; and
without the supernatural power of foreseeing
the precise state Of facts and circumstances by
which we may be surrounded; and the conse-
quences, immediate or remote, which may flow
from the late acts Of Congress must decline
giving aconclusion upon an underlined hypothesis.
My opinions when formed will not be withheld
from any portion Of my constituents who may
desire to know them.
In answer to your fourth and last question,
state that am for resistance 10 tho late acts Of