The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-23
From TIE .4labams Stale Register.
SENATOR CI.EMENS.
Letter from Hon. B. II. Baker, State Eena-
tor from Russell County.
CRAWFORD, MaIct

LCttOH kfVM 0O0s n h DNACHS OtatC CCAo-
tor from Russell County.
CRAwFoRD, March /, 1852.
| GENTLEMEN have recently seen two letters
| going the rounds Of the secession papers, charg-
ing Jere. Clemens with having pledged himself
to the Wing caucus on the eve of his election
to sustain, if elected, Gen Taylors administers
ton. The first of those letters was written by
jeff Buford and the other by Paul Mccall
Major Buford has also thought proper to use
my name to sustain in part the charge, in con-
nection with a letter which appeared in the Co
lumbus Enquirer soon after Col. Clemens was
elected, over the signature of "B." the writing
Of which he attributes TO me. Under these cir
cumstances, justice to myself, as well as to Col
Clemens, demands reply. The charges thus
specifically made by these gentlemen are the
only communications have seen which, in my
! Judgment, demand contradiction | was a
| Wing member of the legislature of 1880, and
was member of The Wing caucus about which
these gentlemen write. | was chosen and acted
as secretary to the caucus. The papers con-
tanning the proceedings of the caucus are in my
possession.
Major Buford in his letter, says:
ga small strip, containing a written pledge,
was brought in the caucus by Mr.. Rip Davis, of
Limestone. 1t was nearly or exactly in these
words-'If elected to the United States Senate
| promise to support the administration Of Gen.
Taylor
(Signed) JERE CLEMENS"
| Mr.. Mccall, in his letter, says
"Mr. Rip Davis, of Limestone produced n
small scrap Of paper, and read it, as near as |
can remember in these words-If elected to
the United States Senate pledge myself to
support the administration of Gen. Taylor
CSigned) JERE. CLEMENS"
So far as my statement goes shall dispose
Of these charges uery plainly and in a teto cords
| state positively and emphaticaAy that no such
strip of paper as The one described ,oas produced
or read 10 The caucus, IN my hearing, nor soas
there one read "nearly or Exactly like H." was
in the room when the caucus was organized and
remained until it adjourned. am quite certain
| saw and heard everything of interest that
transpred, yet will not permit myself to be-
leve that Major Buford or Mr.. Mccall would
knowingly and wilfuly make statement gross
| ly untrue. can only attribute the error in
their recollection to treacherous memory,
which error has probably been confirmed by the
existence Of strong party bias against Colonel
Clemens. They have evidently in this case,
overreached themselves.
Mr.. Mccall says he supported Mr.. Clemens
Wih ectreme reluctance, as soas nell kno,Dn," DC
Let US see if be did. Among the papers con
tanning the proceedings Of the caucus, | find one
in words as follows, to wit Names of those
,oho aoH pledge 10 rots for Col. Clemens" Fifty
names are signed to this pledge The Gath
name is Buford," and the AID name is :. Nc
Call" Nobody forced them into this pledge
They took it Of their own free will 1t does
not then occur to me that either of them sup.
ported Mr.. Clemens with extreme reluctance
| al bolJ h,, h.
ing these elections, at one of which Major Bu-
ford and Mr.. Mccall pledged themselves in
,ori.ing, to support any Northern Democrat
who would bring strength enough to the Wings
to elect their nominee, and yet Mr.. Mccall says
he supported Mr.. Clemens with extreme re.
luctance" Maj. Buford and Mr. Mccall have
filed their declaration and have alledged that
Col. Clemens did pledge, in writing, if elected,
TO support Gen. Tayor's administration To
this alleg At on, again reply: Colonel Clemens
made no such pledge 10 The caucus, nor did he
pledge himself 10 sustain or support The Wing
party"
Now to the letter written by "Bm 10 the
Columbus Enquirer. The portion of that let
ter necessary to be noticed, reads thus: aAbout
fifty of the Wings voted for Col Clemens
The result of this election will ] have no doubt,
prove TO be the tallest lick the Wings have
struck since the organization of the State
| There are the best reasons for believing that
Mr.. Clemens will support the administration,
and, not only SO, but will 90 further am not
at liberty 20 write all know upon this subject;
suffice il TO say we have accomplished much
The chiyalry arecompletely discounted. Their
brightest star has been eclipsed, and il may be-
their sun has gone down among clouds to rise
no more"
! wrote this letter soon after the election. Bv
| il intended TO be understood as meaning that
il was tall lick for The Wings, because
thought the result would put the chivalry Fitz
patrick and his frends-and the old pannel.
| Clemens and his friends-by the ears that It
would open still wider the breach already exist
ing between these two wings Of the Democratic
party, AID would nsequently offer the Wings
a much better chance To secure office. | be.
eved Col. Clemens would sustain the admins
tration, because he had said, as ] had been in
! formed in his public speeches 10 North Alabama.
aid pub icy in the streets Of Montgomery, that
the great question was the controversy between
the North and South, growing out Of the insli
tuition Of slavery, and that in all probability this
would continue TO be the controlling question
during Gen Taylor's administration; that Gen
| Taylor being by birth and interest Southern
man, would most likely be found on the side OF
his section; If so, upon this question he would
give him his support. This much believe Col
Clemens not only said but has written. | be.
lieved Col Clemens would 20 further than merely
give TO the administration luke. warm and cold
support on this great qnest ton. ! ielt assured
IL. the course Of the government was truly
Southern, he would sustain 4. with all the force
Of his powerful mind. lal,o believed he would
open bis battery upon the chivalry, the result OF
which might possibly inure TO the benefit of
the Wings ! C riainly never meant to be IN
derstood as saying or meaning that Mr. Clemens
had made an unconditional pleige TO support
the administration. ! knew nothing of any
such pledge further than already stated Nei,he,
did suppose he would sustain The Wing party
as party, nor did think be himself would be
come Wing. ! said al was not at liberty e
write 81 ! knew upon this subject" and mosi
as urcdly was not at liberty 10 write in detail
The modus operdndi by which the election Of
Col. Clemens was secured The resolutions
speeches, repors, &c, were not designed for
H..