The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-07

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and my public have been quite willing IN gen
era to leave what have done and said in the councils oil
the nation be sobey considered by my countrymen OF
all paIties and have doubted that full justice would
be done me, in all respects, by my own intelligent con
.tuents OF Mississippi whatever arts OF deuson might
be practsed by my adyeTsafes, and however multiplied
and scurrlous might be the editorial anlmadveTslons
upon my character aud motives But an article was pub
shed last week in the columns OF the Mlsssslpplan oil
this city, under the striking caption OF 'uENERAL foorE
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP" 10 which | shall proceed
breiy 10 respond The present senior editor OF the Nus
sissppan seen to suppose that he has detected most
shameful inconsistency between certain words uttered by
IN addressing the Union convention the otner day
and letter which wrote TO him in the month OF Apnl,
1880. In my speech at the capitol ! sand thal several
editors in Mississippi had OF late INDUCED in much coarse
and indecent revlement OF me and my conduct as puo-
lie man, who formerly and up to the period OF the adop
ton Of the plan of adjustment Congress were IN the
habit OF commanding me III their columns win an exot
bance altogether repugnant 10 the laws oil good las,e'
apd more less dspeasng at the time, even TO myself
The senior editor of the Mlsssspplan, recognising MN
self having been specially alluded TO. charges me WIN
"iasehood," calls me VIPER ana traitor, anu
proceeds, IN confirmation OF ms heiee ana uhspatihg
decral OF unoendng citizen, 10 lay before his readers
the letter addressed 10 him. and which mas been already
referred to- The letter reads thus;
WASHINGTON, April 29 1850.
My DEAR smt Accept my warmest Acknowledgements for
the prompt and generous manner Ia which you have re-
peed ia number of paper, the absurd and un
sehsme of The Nashville convention My views have so
often been declared, both in Congress aud elsewhere, IN
jec that should been surprised at the ealumny
had been my lot be the object OF msrepre
senaron OF every kind during the whole period oil my SEN
Believe me to be your faithful and cordial friend,
+. BARKsDALE, esq. II. ,. foolE'
Now, in the first place. have TO say that did not at
all intend alude 10 MIR Barksdae when spoke OF the
exrayagan praises formerly bestowed upon me by GER
editors am no, aware that he has ever sinned in
this way, al least in conneXon with myself. will add,
and DO with more than cheerful Willingness OF
spirit that yet grateful to the quondam editor OF
the Yazoo Democrat Tor his former yndlcaton OF me
no NAL
time accused me OF dlsapprovng OF those movements IN
the State OF Mississippi which resulted IN the convoca,
lion OF the Nashville convention, as was at The time OF
writing the April letter. The sense of former kindnesses
is not exnguished in my bosom by the efforts now in
progress various quarters to bring undeserved dscred
But treaty. feel grateful 10 Mr. Baksdale for the pub
LEGATION of this letter, il is in perfect harmony with
everything have said in regard the policy acted
upon by October convention, and approved by our
legislature which sat few months thereafter, in rela
ton 10 the assembage OF general southern convention
at Nashville for the purpose of uniting the whole South
in some legitimate and efecual scheme of resistance to
certain oppressive legislative acts then menaced by the
enemies OF the South in the halls OF Congress, beg
leave say also Mr. Barksdae that the October
vention not held without special and formal con
sul,ation with myself and that the Nashville conven
ton was also called with my full consent, and in part
even upon my advice. | will make known TO him and
his readers several facts Of which they present
apprized Whilst soournng quietly in my native county
in Virginia, during the summer OF lS49 received letters
from certain citizens OF Mississippi, including Judge
hutchinson OF this town, in which letters was request
ed to hold spondence with Mr. Calhoun and other
prominent southern statesmen in regard 10 the course
proper be pursued by the October convention expected
then to assemble acled as desired, and very for
warded 10 the city OF Jackson letters from Mr.. Calhoun
Mr. Hunter, OF Virginia, and other southern statesmen
which have good reason 10 believe constituted in part
the basis OF action afterwards adopted by the convention
II IS but doing justice TO those gentlemen well as 10
my self, 10 say that their letters did counsel amend
mens OF the federal constitution, recommend seces.
son. either separate or JOINT Had they done So should
have forwarded them do think that they would
al pnp ar men her pft
the October convention This | infer from the pub
shed proceedings OF that wise and patriotic body which
Is we'll known TO have refused 10 make the admission
OF California test question, which demanded no
amendment OF the constitution whatever. and com
mtee OF which sent forth address in which the fol-
lowing noble sentences occur: 'Our strength as a ma
onour success in gaining the commerce OF the world
our future growth in wealth and popuationihe cause
OF human liberty and the peoples rights throughout the
world, depend upon Union il is. Let us be true
TO trust lei preserve the Union and leave slavery
to the natural course OF events" So say yet let us
be true 10 trust lei preserve the Union is
not as it might become after the adoption of constp
tlonal amendments which would perchance bring into
lstence political union wholly different from that es.
tabshed by our fathers lei preserve the Union, and
leave slavery 10 the natural OF events without
tempting either to build upor 10 extend by uncons
lutona legislative contrivances Ii is in my Judgment
much 10 be amenied that the sage monons OF the parent
convention IN Mississippi, OF which the Nashville
vention which afterwards assembled was only ema
naion had not been duly respected by the latter body
Tia this been the case the South would not have been
divided and distracted il has been by propositions
gnating with bilious and urged forward BY their
delrded and confding followers with mperious dog
matlsm OF tone and manner and a strange disregard OF
the feelings aud rights OF Others which seemed at
time seriously 10 the whole southern country
with scenes OF Jacobnical violence and outrage
The fact is, that the October convention adopted plat
form IN all substantial respects corresponding with that
adopted by the Union convention OF Mississippi last ao.
tumn. They resolved against the Wmot provso the alb
clifton OF slavery in the District of Columbia and all
kindred measures and declared the determination OF the
convention TO resist all such oppressive and inoerable
legislation al all hazards and to the last extremity"
This IS precisely Union platform OF the present hour
save that having obtained efficient fugitive law
since the October convention was held, we have de.
It's repeal, and 10 insist upon its faithful enforcement in
all time to come. To show TO all who have heretofore
doubted this point that have been all times sup
porter OF the October-convenon platform, and that
have from the beginning, entertained and expressed the
views touching the position assumed for the State
by that body, beg leave 10 call attention for moment
to the fact, that in the month OF March, 1850 and upon
the 26th day OF that month made my business during
the morning hour address the Senate explanation OF
the objects held in view by our October convention in
proposing general southern convention at Nashville
The action OF the State of Mississippi had, the time
when this explanation given been greatly msrepre
sented In several quarters and we had been charged with
aiming al the destruction OF the Union itself believed
the accusation To be untrue, and resolved 10 IL al
once, and 70 refute eectually by such proof
sure would be satisfactory to all reasonable men For
this purpose, read the greater part OF the published
counter the proceedings, both OF the October convention
and OF the State Legislature, and in conclusion aveed
what think all present willing admit TO be true
Jag secession" had that period occurred and second
that al change IN the Law