The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-06-10
James &. Jones.

This gentleman, on the 18th of May, 1859,
wrote letter, at Washington, to his friend
Gen. Zollicoffer, Of Tennessee, explaining
the reason of his continuing in the Wing eau
Gus at Washington, after Mr.. Gentry and
others retired. The letter is published in
the Nashville Banner His language ia
nanly-such as becomes a true patriot
II says:
"l did not leave the caucus because did
not see the propriety or the necessity of do
Ing so. did not see that the interest oI
the country, of the South, or of the Whin
party, required it; and felt it my duty Ia
remain. The caucus was assembled for the
specific purpose ofrecommending a time and
place for the meeting ofthe Wing National
Convention. was then and am still of the
opinion that our powers extended thus fal
and no farther. To have gone beyond this
would, in my judgment, have been an as.
sumption ofPower not delegated to the eau.
Gus. The people in most of the States had
declared in favor of National Convention
Many OF them (ours among the rest) had ap-
pointed delegates to attend that Conven-
ton. All that was asked, expected, ,or desired
OF us, (and that only as matter of conve-
nlence) was, that we according to the usage
OF the party should designate the time and
place for the assembling of the Convention.
10 have done more, would, in my opinion,
have been departure from usage, an u
sufpation Of power, and, in effect, the revival
OF the old Caucus system in its most odious
form. What right had this Caucus to make
declaration Of principles for the govern
ment of the party! What right had it to
lay down rules of precedent 10 the meet
ing called by the people! / thought these
powers belonged to them; and as they had
appointed their agents, clothed with these
powers, was unwilling by any act of mine
to Interfere with their rights. If this self
constituted caucus, wholly irresponsible as
it was, had right to affix one condition pre-
cedent to the meeting Of the Convention, il
had right to affi& all indefinite number; il
it had a right to declare one principle az
part of the Whig creed it had a right to
declare what should be the entire creed OF
the party; if it could properly decree these
things, it had to take but one other step and
that was to designate the man who should
be the representative of those principles.
thought the people fully
competent to manage their own affairs and
declare their own principles; and as they
had appointed their own agents for that
purpose, | was unwilling to intervene be-
tween them and the exercise of their priv.
ileges. Hence, was unwilling to do more
than to indicate time and place for the meet
ing ofthe Convention-leaving the balance
to the representatives of the people, to whom
it belongs.
In the inventive Imagination of those
who seek to find fault, and who labor with
great avidity to conjure up some unworthy
motive for every act, it is alleged that my
course touching this affair, was suggested by
a desire to c0nciiate the North in order to
secure my nomination to the Vice Presden-
cy. That desire to Conciliate the North
is true;l desire to conciliate all parts and
sections of the Union; would by all honora-
Bile means promote the harmony of all its
parts. But that | seek to conciliate the
North at the expense Of principle, or for the
purpose above indicated, is a gratutious as
sumption on the part of those who would
doubtless have found some objection equally
great had | taken different course. NV
name has never at any time or place been
used in conneXon with the Vice Presidency
by any agency of minc and ifmy friends in
different portions Of the country have seen
fit to use my name, it is as cruel as it is un
just, that should be made the victim o.
these ruthless assaults. If there is anything
wrong in it, it is no fault of mine, ut rather
the misfortune ofthe kindness Of my friends
For the comfort of those who manifest 81
much concern on this subject, and who seen
to think that some great wrong has been in
tiicted OH the country by the mere presenta
ton of my name, to such | would say
"peace, be still'-I have never sought h,
place, do not now seek it; have nevel
wanted it, do not now want it. and if my
name is presented to the Convention, it will
be without my agency or consent. | hope
this will relieve me at least, from one cause
of complaint and attack; but confess tha
some other equally just and plausible will bt
found. | am content with the position
have, and in the coming contest seek NJ
higher honor than to bear my part in the la
Dor and toll necessary to vindicate the prin
ciples of the Wing party, and secure its tri
umph.
When the Convention shall present it
candidates to the country, shall not stoI
to inquire whether they are my first choice
or not. have long since learned to surren
der my preferences to the good Of the coun
try. All | shall ask to know is that they arr
sound national conservative Wings, true t.
the Union, the Constitution, and all its com
promises. With these assurances ! shal
buckle on my armor and go into the fight, no
for thirty or sixty days; but I enlist for the
war.
Iseek no new alliances, no new affiliations
am still a Wing Tne old Wing party il
good enough for me, want no third party
composed of fragments torn from other par
ties, bound together by no common bond
united by no creed or code of principles, NJ
principle of adhesion, but that of a name.
repeat, the Wing party is good enough fol
me. have ever Thought it a Union party
believe in its principles-nm content tc
abide its fortunes, and am ready to follow i
through gloom to glory or thegrave.
Respectfully, your ob't serv't,
JAMES C. JONES.
"WoMAY's RIGHTS. AT the election o
al. Ga l. ,rnh