Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-04-17
LoNewooD, March 90, 1859.
TO the Editor of the Vicks6urg Wig

To the Editor of the Ecks6urg Whig:
My DEAR SIR--My very humble views, as
member of the national Wing party, have been SO
often inquired about in different portions of this
State, and have had so many kind and f1atterng
letters from many of my friends, whose partiality
has induced them to invest me with much more OF
merit and Importance than deserve, and who de-
sire to know my position in regard to the question
of the next Presidency, that have concluded to
address you these few lines, and declare openly
and frankly my whole position. We have no Wing
| paper in our town. or l would not trouble you
and although the Wing press is ably represented
In the State, notwithstanding the late confusion
and attempted fusion of parties, choose to trou-
bic yow from the fact, that | have lately advised
with you on this subject, and | believe that our
views will accord. can never think that the Wing
banner will ever be lowered from the masthead of
such veteran papers as yours, or the Natchez Cou-
rer Conducted by the gifted Hillyer, or the Va
zoo Whig, conducted by the talented relct OF as
true Whig as ever answered the bugle call of
Henry Clay, the Aberdeen Independent, or
the Chlckasaw Banner, or the Holly Springs Ga
zette-all of which are guided by hands, able and
strong, and firm in the advancement of genuine
1 Whig principles. Some have faltered in the ranks,
1t is true but believe they have acted sincerely.
The Whig party in Mississippi viii be most likely
! sheared, In the coming contest, of many OF its
/ brightest and valued ornaments, but it will as
! likely be strengthened by accessions equally as
bright and valued from the opposite party The
! Wing party never allied with abstract, sec
tional notions of secession, and of course gentle
men who entan those views, which they misca
State Rights, will join themselves with the body of
their old opponents in this State. who believe with
them. On the contrary, neither has the national
Democratic party ever countenanced such tenets ;
and it is my belief that unless the Baltimore Con-
ventlon shall expressly repudiate those tenets that
many of the genuine Democrats of this State will
suspect that something is rotten in the State of
Denmark The Democratic State Rights party
led on by the noble and illustrious Davis, still
adheres to the platform on which was fought the
late political battles in this State. In fact, such
men as Davis never lower their colors and his
late able speech before the Convention which met
in Jackson the 9Th of January, shows that he is
true to his ancient political principles The Union
/ Democracy with the patriotic Foote at their head,
cannot and will not be allied with the June plat
form of the State Rights party. The only ground
on which they can consistently cooperate, in my
opinion, will be that the Baltimore Convention
shall be silent, non-committa, on the subject of
the Compromise and Secession and tbs would
be consistent on the part of Uncn Democrats only
in the event that the Philadelphia Whig Conyen-
ton shall pursue the same course.
Now let us reason this question: and offer some
! specllations as to its probable disposition. We
Will then nnQ so se grOunQ on Wnlch 70 DaSe con-
lecture the future position of parties in this
Sta e. During the past year, no opinion has been
more generally promulged than that Northern
Democrats were more reliable for the South than
the Northern Wings. | never, for instant,
shared or assented to that opinion, because |
thought kneeg better. ! had just returned from
the North, and had not been idle in the endeavor
to find out if such was really the case. Taking
the Compromise the test of soundness, as all I'm
ion do, and | have never doubted that the
! Whig party North would be found to be the most
worthy of confidence. Iventured to predict,
on more than one public OCCASION that, on the as
sembage of Congress, this test would be put to
a fair trial, and that while in Difference alone to
the State Rights Democrats of this State of Ala
bama, and South Carolina, the Democratic party
would waive a recognition of the Compromise, the
friends of the Administration would inevitably
4 adopt directly such recognition. l felt the more
certain of such result when found that the Union
majority of this State reduced from Sep
tember to November, and when, mainly in conse-
quence of system ofdetraction and persecution al
: most unprecedented, the majority OF Gen Foote was
reduced to the meagre amount OF some 1000 votes
did not believe then, and believe still less now,
that the cduSe of Col Davis should be measured
by his vote, that its popularity had been ncreas
ed in consequence of Gen. Quitman's withdrawal
But felt assured that the nation would so Judge
and that Gen. Foote would, most uniustly be
sufferer in the cause he had SO nobly upheld
Consequently, l looked to see whether his cause
! would be endorsed by the Democratic representa-
" ton. The caucus met to nominate candidate TO
= Speaker, and the not only waived, but, a
think, expressly repudiated the Compromise test
d 1t has been generally regarded Reputation
and the ever jealous and spirited editors of th
= Mississippan emphatleallys claim that the caucu
y in Washington endorsed the suggestions of tha
journal. No Union Democrat in Congress has ye
: denied such construction so far as know and un
d til this is done efectaoVy, must believe that
d Reputation was intended in order to meet th
S views of Buchanans friends, and to eonciiate tn
u State Rights Democrats and Whi of those State
e ] have already named, in which they form yer
. large aggregate majority This was the first &C
in illustration of the soundness of this national De
: :, mocracy on the Compromise question.
!, But let us look further This act of the Hous
- caucus does not seem to have met the approval
: Gen Foote, at least He was, | soemnly be
Iieve, in earnest on these questions He think
and | agree with him, that the South came o
conqueror from the Compromise struggle in Coz
or gress. He doubtless was mortified that the Den
ocratic should, bJ its course, have disal
pointed public opionion at the South. He TIER
fore determines on, at least. manly and cand
tst course The South and the nation had decided
It's acquiesce in the policy of the Compromise bill
IL That decision had not been recognised records
ng in the great responsible body of the nation He
le fered to the Senate what has been called his ..
If naty resolution L do not agree with those wi
OF condemn this act of his as imprudent or unnece