Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-02-26
HOLLY SPRINGS MISSISSIPPI THURSDAY FEBRUARY

o4O01I Il L 1A-> -|-Ai
nate Gen. Quitman anlLol. Davis as
the selected leaders of thu South in the
contest of arms then expected by GER
tain persons in South Carolina. / say
that, in my opinion. esvil war was
confidently expected in ny own State,
and in other States Of lie Union oy
certain persons"
Does the gentleman mean to say as
his remarks taken in connection seem
to imply. that and these with whom
acted in Mississippi, confidently ex-
pected civil war; THIS would be an
assumption wholly unIounded and
worse than gratuitous. 70 one knows
better than himself thatmy course in
the Senate relieves me frnm such suspi-
cion. l defy him to pro luce anything
said by me which WARTS the conclu-
sion. | invite a comp son between
hislanguage and lnxl upon that
s1p0 Kindred suhi1 1seenss@thhe
'aeeusation Sc more Z nsflfsbIe when
applied to those With e pm acted in
the late canvass in Mis1 ppi. Their
position was distinctly defined by the
general convention Eh3 nominated
their State ticket and mus aAye been
known to one who was sthere in the
field as a candidate. In the fifteenth of
the series of resolutions which consti-
tute their platform for the canvass.
they said
"Resolqed, That the advocates of
State Rights are the true friends Of the
I South, and of the Union: and that no
right can be more clear or more essen
tial to the protection Of the minority,
than the right of State peaceably to
withdraw from the Union, without de-
NAL or obstruction from any quarter !;
but whilst we assert the right, we con-
slider it the last remedy, the final alter
native, and also declare that the eXer-
else Of it by the State Of Mississippi,
under existing circumstances, would be
inexpedient, and is proposition which
does not meet the appreciation of this
Convention"
This surely does not look like con.
fident expectation of civil wari There
is the declaration that they did not
contemplate secession, and that if as
the last alternative itshould ever be re-
sorted to, it should be as a peaceable
remedy. This was the first and only
position of the party, upon. that sub
ject. Unless then, there be certain
persons who have run TO such extreme
OF consolidation as 10 believe that the
federal government would make war
upon the State if that position was en-
dorsed by the people; that the Presi-
dent would call out the army and navy
to reform their political opinions, | do
not Pefce;vs how why sscivil war
was confidently expected in the gentle
mans own State" 1t will be remem-
bered by many who heard me during
the canvass that so far as | treated of
civil conflict in another State, (South
Carolina,l it was to deprecate it, and
argue. for our policy as that which
would best serve TO avert the calamity.
But it was announced by Senator
Foote, that two gentlemen of Missis-
sippi were referred to, at meeting at
which Mr.. Rhett of South Carolina was
present, as the leaders of the South in
the event OF civil war, and as suitable
persons to be at the head Of South
ern Republic; that at meetings attend
ed by Mr.. Rhett, they had been mark
ed out for military and civil honors by
hundreds of toasts drunk on various
occasions; he had previously said that
he "could name the military leaders
who were expected by their admiring
friends to gain immortal glory in the
anticipated conflict of arms.'' Thanks
to the generous interposition of Mr..
Rhett, to shield from injustice absent
Mississippians who were assailed by the
representative of their own State, the
names were brought out-Gen. Quit
man and Col. Davis. This is not the
first petty fling which has been made
at me as military leader. The gen
| tfeman it seems cannot forgive the Of
fence of having attracted the kind con-
sideration of my felIow-citizens, by such
services as it was my fortune TO render
in the war with Mexico.
But address myself to the assertion
made, and ask where, when and by
whom, We're those toasts drunk, that
selection made, that nomination an
nounced! Having never seen or heard
of my selection as a military leader Of
the South in an anticipated civil
war, or of my nomination as the head
of proposed Southern Confederacy,
OF of one toast connecting my name
with either or both positions, must
have proof before I believe the occur
renee to have been SO frequent as is
represented.
If it has been done IN any case,
whenever [ learn when and by whom,
it will be easy for me to obtain the
most conclusive evidence that It was
without any understanding with, OF
good reason to suppose the proposition
would be acceptable TO me.
/ AS to the letter of Mr. Pickens, the
contents of which / do not accurately
remember, and Of which | have no
copy, viii only say that having been
written in answer to an invitation to q
festival in honor of Gen. Quitman, it is
not at all surprising that he should par
ticularly have noticed tae distinguished
military services of Gen. Quitman, MOI
4 that he should have connected with