The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-31
Letter of Hon. MIR Clemens, or Alabama.
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 2sth, 1859

WAsHINGroN. Jan. 2sth, 1852
To Major Valiam Fleming.
My DEAR MAJOR Your letter OF the 2s instant reach
ed me last night and shall proceed to answer il in the
same kind spirit in which 1t was written You and |
have been something more than ordinary friends and il
would not become either Of US to withhold from the
other any opinions we may entertain You say that
have been appointed eector for the State large by
the Union convention recently held in Montgomery and
ask If this done with my consent never heard of
any such purpose until after it had been executed and
doubt il any member OF the convention had thought Of II
previous to the meeting in Montgomery You ask also
II intend TO accept IT, answer, that depends upon cir.
cums'ances have not seen the resolutions and do not
know what kind OF platform they have erected More
over is impossible tell at this time what course cir
cumstances will render it proper for the Union men in
Alabama to pursue. To be effective, whatever we do
should be done in conjunction with Georgia and Msss
spp United these three States control the presde
a election and doubt not this fact will soon become SO
apparent 10 induce attempts TO effect an organization
upon common basis We will then be in position 10
secure any just demand made by the South without war;
without bloodshed. and without dsunion; for no party
dare nominate candidate with the certainty OF having
votes sganst him. In that case shall certainly
accept the nomination for elector, and devote whatever
energy possess to the cause.
There other contingencies in which you will wish
10 know what my action will be. II General Cass, or
any other democrat unarnished by soil or secession
heresies receives the nomination Baltimore shall
support him and SO, believe, will the Union wings Of
the South, unless, indeed they have presented to them
man OF their own party equally unobjectionable If
any man who owes his selection TO reeso secession
Influences is nominated, shall not support him. no
matter what personal sacrifice it may entail
have now stated to you my position freely and
frankly Let me refer as frankly 10 your You are
old Jackson democrats believer in the doctrines OF
his proclamationa admirer OF his farewell ad-
dress. Has not occurred you that you have recently
been found in strange companyi
In the resolutions OF the so-called democratic conven-
ton, especial pains taken TO omit all mention even
of the OF the Sage OF the Hermitage Not ore of
his acts is mentioned with appreciation not one of his
opinions is endorsed. II you should be any loss 10
account for the omission, you have only look TO the
constitution OF the body OF which, TO my regret you
were member In the first district they selected as
democratic eecor gentleman who opposed the removal
OF the deposes opposed the subreasury and at the last
election refused 10 vote for Gen. Cass OF the three del
egates TO the National Convention, all are believers in
the right Of secession In the second disrc, seces.
sion made elector, and three secessonsts are the
delegates In the third district the thing has been
done. In the fourth district secessonst is an eecor
Two OF the delegates are secessioniss and believe is
the other but do not know his opinions In the sixth
district there is secession delegate In the seventh
district the eector and all the delegates are secessonss
When use the word seccssonist, mean believer in
the right OF secesson-a right which you and deny,
and which all the sages OF the republic have denied be-
lore u.s. 1t is not surprising that such body should
have avoided all mention OF the name OF Andrew Jack
son with as much care they would avoid the iangs
OF the rauesnake. observe also that you were not
without small leaven OF whggery-secession wings
Of course--that being the only mantle which, in the
opinion Of the convention. broad enough to
every sim Admirable exponens these OF Jackson
democracy
have wish to deny that the convention contained
many good and true democrats well warm and de-
ciied friends OF the Union but they in lean mi
nority, and gave color to it's proceedings II was
never intended they should The thing originated under
secession auspices and its fruits such might have
been coniectured.
You say that the democratic party is now completely
recognized did not know that the democratic party
proper had been dsorganized. A few restless spirits
during the last set up false GODS and tried to
compel the rest Of rs worship them. When the Au-
gust elections dissipated the mental mist by which
they were surrounded, they found II TO their interest
Ito indulge in lamentations over the distracted state
Of the democratic party, and tried to obtain credit for
patriotism by loud professions OF anxiety for the well
fare OF party which no one had injured but them
selves. II was thus that you and others drawn
into this reorganization scheme, which means, in
plain English giving the control OF the State TO the
secessioniss The action OF that convention has done
more to destroy the democratic party than all other
causes combined The people not represented Its
action does not reflect the popular will and when
appeal s taken to Them will and shall be- the cob
web bands woven by the small wirepullers about Mont
geometry will be snapped into abousand pieces. Do you
doubt this Take your case, and let ask you
IN Kindness what right did you have to pledge Madison
county to abide the action OF such body None You
did not reflect the sentiments Of one-hfth Of your con-