The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-28

plclon that l was about 10 become the specia
supporter and advocate of his claims TO higher
official honors than he has yet enjoyed" And
J If absolutely and Internationally pledged tc
! support the nominees of the Baltimore conyen
ton, and to act with the Democratic party of the
United States, how could he in the same speech
say of himself,-"not feeling authorized, as
member of the Union party Of my own beloved
State, at present absolutely to commit myself in
regard to the complex question of Who shell b.
elected President in 1852, shall without saying
more in praise of New England's gifted SON
myself bring forward witness in his behalf" &c.
4 Here he acknowledges his allegiance to the
l""Union party" Of Mississippi, that party which
rose from and lived by divisions in the Demo
cratic ranks. Who, as much as he, stroye to
keep up that division, TO inculcate the idea that
old party distinctions were abandoned, and to
drown the issues presented in the resolutions of
the Democratce State Rights convention by the
delusive cry of. Union or disunion?" Willany
! truthful man among us say, that adherence to
the Democratic party Of tho United States, and
! support of the nominees of the Baltimore con-
! venton, were issues in the last canvass of this
State; or does any one doubtif they had been,
that the Union" party would have been dis
solved
/ The alarm bell of disunion YVES ceaselessly
ringing, and the phantom of civil war was raised
in q land where no army existed, or was in con
temptation. These were the horrible expedients
adopted to induce the people to accept, as a
choice of evils, that " compromise" which con-
stituted Gov. Foote'S political capital. Even in
the letter am reviewing, written, as it was, to
show how faithful he had been to the Demo-
cratic party, he so far yieldsNo the force Of
habit as to return to his old theme, I" the CON-
promise !" and he mingles it with the selection
| OF candidate for the Presidency In connec-
| ton with superstition of the editor of the
| Richmond Enquirer, that the Baltimore conven-
| lion would, in some form, adopt declaration
of acquiesceDce in the measures as passed, en-
forcing the faithful execution Of the fugitive
slave law, and burying the agitation of the
slavery question, he says: & This have never
doubted would be the case ; and when this shall
have been done, with Gen. Cass, or some other
genuine compromise candidate for the Presi-
dency, the succese of the Democratic party in
the Presidential election of 1852 will be certain"
" Genuine compromise candidate" 1t is not
enough for him that the convention declare the
policy of the party to be quiescence in relation
to that legislation known as the compromise
measures. In addition to this, there must be
genuine compromise candidate. But if he be a
Democrat whose life has illustrated the great
Vi DeiuOcTaCy, 10 IeCOBHHZtu ITOu tue
days of Thomas Jefferson down to ours, but
did not approve of the compromise measures
who fears they will not give peace 10 the coun-
try-who is not a genuine compromise man"
what then! Will the gentleman adhere to
his Congressional pledge, and the associations
based upon it; or will he abide by his canvass
declarations? 1t is not only beginners who
| weave tangled web when they practice to de-
ceive. leave him in his mesh, to disentangle
| it if he may, by the instruments he has always
at hand, and by which it was woven. His com.
promise pledge, his unqualified declarations Of
an intention to support the nominees of the Bal
timore convention, and his position in the fol-
lowing sentence of the letter now under consd-
Grafton
-" though could easily mention several
worthy gentlemen, BESIDES of the Democratic
party, for whom, would vote, if Gen. Cass were
out Of the way
are attitudes which will probably seem TO
plain dealing men irreconcilable with each other.
In connection with his charge that with
others,) everywhere denied all regular affilia-
ton with the national Democratic party of the
Union" he further. says" what was Colonel
Davis attitude, you will see sufficiently ex-
planned in the correspondence between certain
worthy gentlemen of the county of Noxubee,
tention.n When [ was as delegate to the
Democratic convention of the 9th of January
last, my attention was called TO an article copied
into the Flag Of The Union containing the as
sertion that at public meeting in Noxubee
county, had been asked whether or not
would support the nominees Of the national
Democratic convention, and that had replied
emphatcally, MOI would not When, by in
vitation, | addressed the convention, | REFER ed
10 that statement to band II publicly as \ false
hood, and if the gentleman now comes forward
in more general terms to renew substantially
the same SANDER, pronounce him n liar.
Nor can he escape by his reference to worthy
gentlemen Of Noxubee county. They addressed
themselves 10 different question from that
contained in the SANDER which publicly brand.
ed rs soon as it came to my knowledge. Those
gentlemen (six in NUMBER when called on by
him with whom | had the discussion in Noxu-
bee county, state
According 10 our best recollection of what
occurred on that occasion, You propouDded two
questions TO Col. Davis as Democrat, which
were rs follows: Are you willing 10 20 to the
Baltimore convention with the Democratic party
should they, as usual hold such convention
and should that convention re-enact the Balti.
more Democratic platform Of 1914 and lS4S
dency and Vice Presidency Lewis Cass, Lev
Woodbury., II. s. Foote, Dickinson, Dallas
Buchanan, or any other reputable Democratic
statesman, he or they subscribing TO that plat.
form, will you vote for the nominees Of said
conyentionp Col. Davis was sitting TO your
left in front Of the platform he turned his head
and asked If you would have his answer then, "a
which you replied in the affirmative. Col. Da
Wis rose and said: In answer b. the first ques.
ton Of the gentleman, answer N0--a member
Of Congress has no buiness President making
in a convention. In answer to the second ques.
T ton Of the gentleman, answer NO-Pll vote
for no man whom my heart and conscience don't
approve and took bis seat amidst the rapturous
applause Of his party friends"
Though this does not quite agree with my
recollection of what occurred, and the style does
not strike me rs my own, or that OF my oppo.
neut on that occasion, the replies are substan.
- I a a n.