Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-02-19
Letter from Jefferson Davis.
BRIERFIELp, Warren county, Miss.
February 2, 1852.
MrssRs. BARKsDAIp e. lows.

MEssRs. BARKsDALE q. JONES:
Gentlemen !: A letter signed II. S.
Foote which was published in news
paper at Jackson, Miss, the " Flag OF
the Union" Of Jan'y Both, 1852. con-
tains such an attack upon. myself, and
the party of which am member, as
cannot permit 10 pass unnoticed.-
That the answer may be made as pub
lie as the attack, ask for this place
in the 8. Mississippian. Respect for
the office of Governor of the State
constitutes protection TO the incum-
bent which | am not prone 20 forget or
disposed to disregard; but if the in
cu:nbent,, negiectful of the propriety
of his station, assail individuals, a just
public will not deny to them the right
to reply to him as if he were private
citizen.
The letter as published, is without
date, and addressed to Hons. ]. d.
Freeman, John A. Wilcox, and B.
ID. Nabors. The pretext is to repel
efforts made at Washington City. to
create distrust of the writer in regard
to his intentions touching the ap-
preaching Presidential CONTEST and
/ he requests the early insertion of the
letter in the columns of the Washing
ton ..Union." The inquiry naturally
suggests itseif-if this letter was writ
ten to protect himself at a distance,
why did he publish it at Jackson Miss
The answer TO the inquiry is found in
the following sentence of the letter.
al now repeat it, in this formal manner,
/ here in the city of jackson, aohilst q
contest for place an the Senate Of the
United States is pending, Dith ,etich my
name stands Connected" The publica-
ftion, then, in the city of Jackson,
though it might not expedite the re-
ceipt of his communication by those
/ for whom it was ostensibly intended
would bring the knowledge of its con-
tents most promptly 10 the members
of the Legislature, whilst that contest
was pending.
Yet, however he might elec;ioneer
with the Legislators as TO the manner
in which they would discharge dele
gated trust, though he should whining
ly 5eseech them to mingle his personal
interest with their considerations OF
public duty--these alone could never
have led me to break the silence | was
disposed to observe. But when he
departs from his former policy of CO.
vert insinuation, and introduces my
name for public aecusation-when
without provocation or connection
with the avowed object of his comnu-
nication, he couples me with an un-
founded and Oft refuted caiumny "a
gainst the party with which have
been and am politically identified, he
indicates me as the person who shall
mete out 10 him some portion OF the
Justice which has been so long delay
ed He says:
Throughout the late canvass in this
j State, the secessionists, with Messrs.
Quitnan, Davis and Barton, at their
head, in accordance with a resolution
of the Nashville Convention, every.
where denied all regular affiliatiou
with the National Democratic party
of the Union, whilst you and |, and ev.
+. cry other Union Democratic candidate
in the State, in. every speech which we
made, declared our approval and sup
port of the Baltimore platform, on,
determination 10 remain in fraternal
connection with the Democratic party
! OF the nation, aud our intention to sus-
tain the nominees of the Baltimore
Convention for President and Vice.
! President"
| lido not know whether one should
be most surprised at the insolence, the
wholesale SANDER, or the reckless false.
hood of this statement.
The Democratic State Rights party
of Mississippi, in their general Con.
vention of June last declared that Sc.
cession by Mississippi was inexpedient,
and was a proposition which did not
meet their appreciation. This, so Ear
as | know, and believe, was and is their
position. The resolutions of that Con.
rention formed the platform on which
stood in the CANVASS. To attribute
to the party the purpose of secession,
TO send abroad where the facts are less
understood, sucha caIumny against but
little less than half the voters, and a
very large majority of the Democrats
in the State, was an offence from which
| might have expected his fear OF pub
lie indignation would restrain him
from his regard for truth | had nothing
to hope. To name me as a leader in
that secession movement, knowing my
position as well as he did, was degree
offalsehood which only such miserable
malice as his. could produce.
The assertion that every Union
Democratic candidate in the State. in
every speech they made, declared their
approval of the Baltimore platform,
and their intention to support the nom
inees of the Baltimore Convention, is
too broad to require refutation. Ifthis
and the 'sfraternal connection with the
Democratic party of the Nation" had
been the shibboleth of the Union par
ty, those candidates could never have
been elevated into Office by a combi-
nation of a fraction of the Democrats
with the great body of the Whigs.-
How must they receive this assertion,
who have been accustomed TO hear him
speak Of the Union patty Of Mississip-
pi, as the formation of new orpani-
Fzation composed of the best elements
of both the old ones: that the Mh;g.