The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-03-11

could be put On the trial Of secession 81 he
act of the Executive, or Of the Legislature,
Or Of the Convention, which had been al.
thorized BY law, Or allof them combined. II
the Convention, il accordance with its pow
ers, should propose to the people Of Missis-
slppi to withdraw from the Union, the Dem
oeratic State Rights party of the State, by
their resolutions mere pledged to oppose the
proposition. They had declared that they
were not willing to fly to that which they
had designated fthe last remedy, the final
alternative, under the then "existing cir
cumstauces;" one of which circumstances
vas ''the Congressional enactments then in
operation, on account of which, Governor
Foote says those resolutions looked to seces-
sion.
The general, ! properly might say, the
universal, declaration Of our party, was, that
we would aequiesce in the decision of the
people of the State. We have done so; and
if Gov. Foote cannot see the difference be-
tween this, and an acknowledgement that we
are satisfied with the action of Congress
or between a failure to make such an ac-
acknowledgement, and an intention to counter
act the execution of the laws, it is his mis-
fortune, not our fault.
The Democratic Convention of January
last was called in the usual way, and at the
usual time-the glorious anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans The NisSiSsippidn
long recognized, and never better entitled
than now, to be respected as the metropoli-
tan organ of the Democratic party, kept for
some time in its columns, an invitation to all
Democrats, without reference to recent divis-
ions of the party in our State, to unite in
this convention, which was to assemble for
national objects. In conformity with both
the letter and the spirit of the invitation, the
excluded all new tests, asked for
no acknowledgements, attempted to make no
decisions, imposed no censure, offered no ar
guments, took no action upon any of those
questions which had disturbed the unity and
harmony of our party in Mississippi.
The resolutions of the Baltimore Conven-
ton of 1913, and the Kentucky aud Virginia
resolutions of 1913, were re-afirmcd, and
delegates were appointed to attend the Ma
tional Democratic Convention, which is to
assemble at Baltimore in June next.
Why then does he call this a secession
Convention His fears as to the consequent
ccs to himself, if harmony should be restor-
ed in the Democratic ranks, would naturally
suggest the word spoils; andas language has
a great command of him, he would therefore
assert, though the Convention met as usual,
that it assembled "to clutch the spoib of
Office" But why does he call it cnven-
ton of secessionists? Was it because of
the character of the members? The fathers
Of the Democratic party were there the old
friends Of jackson; the men on whom the
party has bestowed honor, and who have shed
honor on the party, were there. The name
which is descriptive of them consistent
Democrat must be willing to bear This
creed of secession, sometimes with him
virtue, sometimes a crime, he formerly assert
ed to have been held by Jefferson, and Bar
bour, and Jackson, referring to the procla-
nation of the last to sustain the assertion as
to him. just now it is with him a crime !;
and do not doubt that many have heard him
declare that Jefferson and Jackson were the
mortal foes of the doctrine, and that he could
get their certificate to prove it. AS he has
rot the certificates of honorable gentlemen
to prove that, at certain times and places, he
his devotion to Democratic prin-
ciples, and determination to support the
of the Baltimore Convention when
the candidate of the Union organization, in
which the measures called the compromise
were held to be paramount to the principles
of party; when he required the nomination
of ga genuine compromise man" for the
Presidency; and when his hope for success
in the canvass in which he was engaged was
dependent on the support of the Wings. If
he can answer what he has said at one time
or place, by proving that he has said the re-
verse at another, he is safe for the past, and
has but lite to dread for the future.
As the fugitive rogue cries "Stop thief!'
to avert attention from himself, so does this
man accuse others of offences of which he is
most VIGOROUSLY guilty; and most violently
denounces the opinions Of which he was once
the most noisy advocate.
An habitual defamer, he complains that he
is assailed in his absence. Prominent among
the first actors in the Southern movement,
he now assigns the worst motives to those
who engaged in it. Intriguing for place by
a combination with the Wings, he yet vaunts
his Democracy, and ascribes the effort which
was made to re-unite the party on undisput-
ed principle, to desire for the spoiIs Of
Office
A changeling in his history, changeling
by his nature, even now, whilst with ono
hand hopefully clinging to the "Union party
for present reward, and reaching out with
the other to fasten himself on the democra
cy, for the favors their future power may be-
stow, he fippantly prates about "change
both of name and principle" and exultingly
refers to the defeat of the Democratic ticket
at the last election When mixed ticket
succeeded by a union with portion of the
Democratic with the mass of the Wing par
ty, and he was the beneficiary of the associa
ton (called the Union partly thus founded
and maintained by disturbing the Democrat
ic organization.
That he should avail himself of anything
rejoice at anything, that gave him station o.
emolument, was no more than l expected
from him; for l have long held him to b.
as full of intrigue and selfshness, as he il
destitute of truth. or principle Yet it nigh
have been expected that shame, or if that
which oftentimes fingers in the breast from
which virtue has departed, be lost also, ther
it might have been expected that an outward
respect for public opinion would have pre-
vented him, who in the last two years hai
50 often proclaimed that old party distinc
tons were done away, from arraigning 9th
ers for a change of name and principle. He
L !. I