Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-02-26

upon that letter must be taken as eyi-
dence that the gentleman had but mar
row foundation for his broad assertion.
In the daily Union of Dec. %, 1851.
Mr.. Foote is reported ON the 20th oi
that month, in reply to a statement oi
Mr.. Rhett, as to what had occurred
between those gentlemen when their
relations seem to have been closer than
now, to have said:
"If the gentleman had known what
peculiar difficulties we had TO ,encoun-
ter in Mississippi; if lie had known
what peculiar Taylor-Cass speeches
were made there by persons who pos
.sessed a particular infuence-which
made me leave certain duties which
was performing here, for the purpose
of counteraeting movements elsewhere
he would perhaps have perceived
that circumstances had occurred which
had zaa r;shi~se. anticipate at the time
of that conversation. These circum-
stances were of such a nature as even
to justify some surprise that the S tate
was not carried by 10000 majority
against u.s."
The illusions to Taylor-Cass speech
fes will | presume be SO generally un-
derstood to have referred to me, that it
would seem ike affectation to doubt It,
viii apply the test of fact to the whole
statement. Those speeches he.says
compelled him to leave duties he was
performing at Washington. The first
speech [ made in the Presidential can
vass of 1913 was at Raymond, having
gone there by invitation to a meeting
for two days Of joint discussion.
arrived lateand found Gen. Foote upon
the stand erected for the speakers. IF
he alluded 10 my speeches, telegraphic
speed would not serve to reconcile the
statement with the fact; if it was not
to nae then to whom did he allude ?
Again, what was there in my speeches
which he had no right to anticipate
He knew before the Nicholson letter
uas printed thatI was not satisfied with
il. He knew that | honored General
Taylor as patriot soldier and an hon
est man. In the few counties which
my physical strength enabled me TO Vi
sit | rendered justice to Gen. TAYLOR
as a man VINO had rendered services to
his country. / acknowledged my OBJ
legations to him for acts Of kindness
done 10 lIississippi's sons when under
his Command Thus | was willing to
pay the debt Of gratitude / felt to be
due to him. With all the power | pos
sessed, urged upon those whom l ad-
dressed the support of Gen. Cass as the
democratic candidate for the Presiden-
cy, always objecting to his doctrine OF
ssis1atter saxereisnty. but arguing that
the opinion was unconnected with the
duties which would devoive upon him
if elected President of the United
States. Are these the circumstances
which render it surprising that wed did
not lose the State by a majority of ten
thousandl | believed then that every
speech made to depreciate Gen. Taylor,
increased his strength.
He possessed the affection aud con-
fdence of tie people, and ] have no
doubt that injustice done to bis capaci-
ty.and his character drove many DEM
ocrats to his support, who otherwise
would have maintained their party al
legiance. The few speeches that Imade
could have produced but little effect.
but that they were not very potent for
evil is concIusiyely shown by the elec
ton returns of those counties which |
visited, They were Claiborne, Hinds,
Madison, Warren and Yazoo. If the
Democratic party throughout the State
had sustained its ticket as well as in
those counties there would have been
no loss which would have called for an
explanation.
Ihavenoticed only those points in the
speeches have referred to, which were,
or seemed to be, directed particularly at
myself, and have | trustsobserved that
temperance in language which, proper
at all times, especially suggested by the
present position of him whose remarks
/ have felt myself called upon to answer.
1t has been done as a duty to my own
reputation, to those with whom | was
associated. and above ali to the cause
in which we labored.
Your fellow-citizen. -
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Warren co., Miss, Jan. 26, 1852.