The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-03

tNuShts uut lc yet tldo ~ w iOait1 lhtOt Atou
the claim he sets up on the 9th of January, be-
cause he was governor elect and because he
was entitled 10 be considered Senator for a
day or two longer; that resignation of bis to the
contrary notwithstanding. lspoke of him harsh
ly before lie was inaugurated against my will,
his conduct has required me to do so afterwards.
In my first publication after his Inauguration, |
avoided offensive expressions. But he says 1
more than once intimated that he was guilty Of
falsehood and double dealing did not intend
to intimate il; but to present the facts which
proved it as defence due to myself and my
political friends. tiiff'
lquoted from the Daily Union of December
18th, 1861, the following remarks of Mr.. Foote,
inpreply to Mr.. Rhett, ina debate of the 10th
December
"If the gentleman had known what peculiar
difficulties we had to encounter in Mississippi,
if he had known what peculiar Taylor-Cass
speeches were made there by persons who pos
sessed particular influence-which made me
leave certain duties which was performing here,
for the purpose of counteracting movements
elsewhere--he would perhaps have perceived
that circumstances had occurred which had no
right to anticipate at the time of that converse
ton. These circumstances were Of such ma
ture as even to justify some surprise that the
State was not carried by 10000 majority against
u.s. ~ M t
Not doubling that he referred to me as having
made Taylor-Cass speeches, | thus commented
upon it:
"Those speeches he says compelled him to
leave duties he was performing at Washington.
The first speech made in the Presidential can
vass Of l848, was at Raymond, having gone
there by invitation, to meeting for two days of
nj Mt uoain Il loft nd fornd (yap
Foote upon the stand erected for the speakers.
If he alluded to my speeches, Geographic speed
would not serve to reconcile the statement
with the fact; if it was not to me, then 10 iohom
did he allade? Again, what was there in my
speeches which he had no right to anticipated"
He replies thus in the article before me:
@The true Interpretation is, that came home
| in order to counterfeit the influence which
feared he might exert by speeches and other
wise. In the paragraph quoted, spoke first of
the peculiar difficulties which we had to en-
counter in Mississippi then spoke of 'Tay-
lor- Cass speeches made here and there. de-
scribed these speeches as having been made by
persons who possessed a peculiar influence
which (that is to say, which influence or the
dread of it) made me leave Washington for
the purpose of counteracting movements which
| anticipated, &c, &c. will leave il to any
psychologist in christendom to say whether do
not put the proper construction upon the Ian
guage imputed to me in the report"
II the Psychologists" sustain such eqniyoca-
ton, am sure honest men will have nothing
more to do with them. II seems unnecessary
to add anything to such an exposition, yet /
will say, that my opinions in relation to Mr..
Cass and Gen. Taylor, must have been as we'll
known to him when he conversed with Mr..
Rhett, as when he left Washington to visit
Mississippi At the reception at Natchez, Vcks-
burg, and New Orleans, on the return of the
Mississippi regiment from Mexico, and at the
dinner on the occasion of the resignation of Mr..
Crittenden from the Senate, | spoke of Gen.
Taylor as great soldier, pure patriot, and
honest man, and thus will ever speak Of him.
The attempt to represent the speech at the din
ner to Mr.. Critten len as political in its nature,
would be unworthy of man who had any thing
noble in his character. The dinner was not
political, and the toast TO which was called on
TO reply, was given TO the army. He produces
Wing reports only of the speeches | made in
the canvass of ls4s. The files of these papers,
though his present supporters, would probably
show something in relation to himself at that
period, which II would give him no qualification
TO republish. Secluded az am, / have no OPP
portunity 70 refer 10 Democrats papers to find
their notices OF my speeches at that time, and
TO present them as the appropriate answer to
the extracts he brings from the Wing papers Of
that date.
Perhaps might there find also, something in
relation 70 his former connection with the Wing
party, when he saved an union between him.
self and seat in the legislature Much, very
much, Of his subsequent unmeasured abuse OF
the Wing party and its leaders, could not fail
10 find. There too might find his sauthorized''
construction Of the Nicholson letter" which
he Afterwards silently sat and heard repudiated
by its author, a. one for which he (Gen Csss)
was in no degree responsible Broadcast over
the columns ofthe Mississippi press, might be
found his declarations (withn the last two
years. that old party distinctions were done
away, and that new organization should be
founded upon recent acts Of Congress And
after this had served his purpose, the shameless
averment that he had been exceedingly, yea
painfully anxious 10 prevent that division 10 the
ranks Of the Democratic party OF the State which
"he" foresaw would arise from a renewal Of the
contest at homo which had been wsged between
~him and myself In the Senate" II will be re.
collected by many that after the close Of the
session at which "the compromise" passed, he
visited Mississippi, ttaversed considerable por.
ton Of the State, and commenced that agitation
which he subsequently continued.
On the other hand i must be remembered by
some that returned TO me home, and occupied
with private affairs, remained there until near
the period when il was necessary 10 start back
10 Washington City. Who then, renewed the
contest at homel Who did that which he
says he foresaw would divide the Democracy OF
Missisissippii
But the boldest Of his misstatements, IL they
be not all ofthe superlative degree, is that in
relation 10 the ground OF controversy between
us He says, that ] was dspleased with him
because he would not yield "the principle Of
non-inierventionS and aid me In the enactment
Of what he called atthe time the @Wlmot Pro
Uiso Sosah' He further says that Eve had both
acted together in lS4S, in opposition 10 this
dangerous and unconstitutional proposition, !"
and that, he did not understand that he had
been sent 10 Congress with instructions to
change front upon grave constitutional ques-
ton" &c &c. What proposition Of mine did
he term the Wilmot Proviso Soufh, when did he
use the expression, and where IL Il 10 be found