Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1852-01-08
To the Democracy of Jefferson County
ST. LOUIS, December l3 1851


1t was my wish TO have been present at your
meeting on the 10Th instant, but telegraph
dispatch lust received, calls me to New York on
business which cannot be delayed or neglected.
u owe cordial visit to your county, which
mean to pay, and hope this will be the last
promise that precedes the performance. Your
county is star, and bright one, in the politi-
cal armament of Missouri, and true to the name
which it bears. It is not only always right in
the elections, but in all its acts and sentiments
When the nullifers undertook to get their Sc
cession resolutions sanctioned by popular meet
ings in the counties, in the spring Of l849, and
had actually succeeded in some half dozen coun-
ties, they were first baulked and repulsed in
yours. Now, when the reunion of democracy
is proposed, your county is among the first to
make principle the basis of reunion, and to re-
pei all approaches on the basis of dividing spoil,
or Of prescribing man. l admire the spirit Of
the resolutions which you adopted at your late
preliminary meeting, and commend them to
the favorable consideration of all good friends
of the cause. They contain the principles upon
which every true Democrat can unite, and have
only TO be made known and understood, TO rec
oncile all who have been innocently and tempo
rarily led astray.
| FIRST The reputation of the secession reso-
lutions adopted by the General Assembly in
l847. There is no longer room for any candid
man to be deceived about the reasonable char
acter of these resolutions. There was room for
deception at first, and great many good men
were deceived Incredulity was eXcusable two
years ago. and even honorable to the hearts of
those who could not then believe in the enormi-
ty of settled design TO break this Union, and
to establish new confederacy of the savehold-
ing States. Few could believe then, even upon
the strong proofs which exhibited; but the sea-
son for incredulity has passed by.
The events Of 1850 have proved everything
which | proclaimed in l849, and which knew
in l847. That was proud day for me--that
Friday, 18th Of February, l847-when Mr.
Calhoun first produced in the American Senate
those disunion resolutions afterwards adopted il
Missouri, and some other States. struck then
upon the spot proclaimed them as fire.
brands-and in fierce passage with theil
author, told him where | should be found wher
we came to their trials son The side of my coul.
IfrV." Where were the great defenders of The
Union then? Sound asleepl and sleeping OF
till 1850 when the thunder of disunion, LOUD
enough to awaken ihe dead, Weakened them also
Il saw the cloud that was charged with tha
thunder when it first appeared above the hori
zon in l847, and drove it out of the Senate. j
was then sent TO Missouri TO be gathered up bI
the little JupiierS here, to be sent back to drive
me out of the Senate: and they were sen
back accordingly. But the end is not yet
saw what they were at--came home, and appeal
ed to the people; and although that appeal sha
red the usual fate Of movements which arr
ahead of the times, and what said could not b,
rosedssa5, yst Il Geegaa credit enough to do on,
thing--tO saUe the SAFE of Missouri from The in
fanny Of being represented in the Nashville Con
UentiOnl There is no room for any candid MAJ
to doubt now.
The intent of the resolutions is proved b,
facts, and will be recorded by history and al
; who may noW adhere 10 them (though innocen
} in the beginning) Will take their place by tn
side of the original conspirators. Though no
|earied into effect in 1850, these resolutions ar
still upon the SAntute book of the State, and Mis-
souri, now stands upon the record, precisely o.
the same footing with South Carolna--A coop
ration State, boend by a legislative pledge I
. "co-opcrGre" with other slaveholdmg States
when thoy unite for secession. The Wings
: the General Assembly OF the last session wer
: faithless to their principles! and to their prev
Gus conduct, in not joining the Democratic merS