The Yazoo Democrat., 1851-08-13

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me to make that fact public if | chose to d
,, so Since that period have referred t
your change Of position upon this point
! repeatedly in public speeches. As this i
The only really practical point left opel
between the two parties now contending 70
victory in Mississippi, or at least may b.
fairly regarded as embracing all others;
trust you will allow an old and warmly at.
tached friend to enquire whether your
views have undergone any change since we
last met, or whether you agree with me in
being utterly opposed TO the sending of del
egales from our OWE State to that Congress
and apprehend therefrom the most deplora>
BILE consequences.
/ am now. as have ever beeu, your
devoted friend, IL. S. FOOTE,
Hon. f. c. WILKINSON.
Il. G.. WiIlkinson's Reply
YAzoo CITY, July Goth 1851.
Hon. II. S. FooTE:
Ny Dear Sir:-s.y delay in returning
an answer TO your note needs no apology
hope. A wifnl disregard OF the courtesies
70 life will scarcely be imputed TO me by you
TO whom have been known so long, and
as you say, so iavorably. But l have been
disabled from writing, almost since the date
your letter, by infrmity of health, and this
would serve as my excuse, if an excuse
was needed. / am at a loss TO conceive
why the opinions OF one so entirely out of
The public view as | have been for almost
my whole lie, should be of interest to any
one; especially to one so conspicuous in
station and character 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 explicitly and fairly.
l believe, (and have recently stated this
belief ia conversation and in the few public
speeches have made that for Mississippi
to meet South Carolina or any other South
ern State alone in Co INVENTION, would be
| simply an abortive and useless procedure.
/ [ have Usually, however, ii not always fol-
lowed such a declaration, wRh an expres-
sion of my sense of lhe great importance of
the gene al cooperation of the planting
States in some measure of defence of pre-
caution. or Of safeguard against the cease
less assaults of the North against their
rights. II 10 snly from conviction that
such cooperation cannot Tor the present be
obtained. and from an unwillingness to ieop-
ardise the chances for such cooperation for
the furllre. by an indiscreet and precipitate
s,er-that have discountenanced the poli-
CIV Of meeting South Carolina alone in the
proposed Congress. | cannot see any good
that could come off, since the must vision
ary nolit,cian would not Encourages the
thought, | presume of Mississippi seeding
from the Union with South Carolina; and If
tho Convention OF November next should
sdv;se il. doubt il the people would sanc>
ion the act. 1t appears to me, therefore TO
ha ;ndiscreet in the candidates for Office Of
n. state Rights Party TO make this an is
.ue in the present contest. Seeing that if
we succeed we gain nothing by it, and that
), may he an element aud cause OF failure.
In fact. IT is not the issue proposed by the
the late convention passed it without
word Of notice; the Carolinians themselves
! : ROT annear TO desire it, it is embarrass-
-. ;mmaterial, and might prove disastrous
n the lust expectations of the party. But
10, are very much in error, General. in
snpnosino that this is the only really prac-
tieal point left open between the two par
l,ies in Mississippi" or that sit may be fair
Ely regarded as embracing all others. Al
low me 10 claim a few moments OF your
time. while I proceed TO correct the error
info which YOU have fallen. There. rs an
| issue - quite recently made-important,
"Dractical," overriding all others that were
made between the North and the South du>
ring the stormy session of the 3Ist Con-
gress. II involves the right of "a State to
neaceable withdrawal from the Union
whenever il may suppose it's interest or its
| honor to require such a step
You rendered his issue yourself in your
speech in June, at Lexington, and your fol
,awers are now making it every where. II
/ had not been rendered before since the
days Of The elder Adams. You deny this
trioht.-We affirm it. And now for a brief
Examination into the merits Of the. subJect.I
Do not tell me that you admit the right as o
revolutionary movement, this is sheer cant.
| Or lift means anything, it means mischief.
| Il is In effect denial of the right altogeth-
er. Every revolutionary movement is re-
beTlious movement. The one Of necessity
involves the other The mind cannot con-
ceive of the one without the other: ex
cept, indeed. that sort of revolution $50
common with the States) of peaceful and
bloodless changes OF the fundamental law.
These are only no. rebelious because they
are authorized and provided for by the
actual soUereign potrer. ea s
If any attempt were made in any OF the
States to oyerturn the government, or to all
ter the Constitution oi such State without
the express pcrmis sion and authority of the
actuaL. sorereign posccr; declared through the
lappointed modes and with all the prescribeo
torns, such asmovenent would be rebellion