The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-26
From .he Natehe. l,f;.H.,;ppi, Courier, Oct Is. |

From Tie Watcher (Dfisissippi) Courier, Oct. Is.
Col. Tarpiey-A "Reminiscences. M
We had occasion to notice the other day the up
pheasant situation which Col. G. s Tarpiey had
made himself or his friend General Pierce to occu-
fpy, in stating that the latter had told him he had
repeatedly, and long since, and 70 the face of bis
denied tie correctness of the New
Boston speech; when General Pierce has assured
Jus in his De Leon letter that he never the
port until is republication in July last. The two
[satements are utterly irreconcieable; either Gen.
eral Pierce did not tell COL Tarpey what the latter
reports him is saying, or he told what according
Ito his De Leon letter must be untrue. In either
sevent, the importance elsewhere attributed to Col
|Tarpley's revelations is destroyed. Whether Col.
|Tarpley misunderstood and misrepresents Pierce.
Tor Pierce deceived ,Tarpey, the fact of the incon
gruity Of the statement OF the latter with the letter
lof the former at once puts perfect extinguisher
to any light that may have been attempted to be
thrown BY COL Tarpley upon the New Boston
(afFair.
Inasmuch as Democratic papers in other States
Dare trying to make capital out of Colonel Tarp-
Eley's "Reminiscences Of PIERCE" j. may not be I'm
proper to remind our friends elsewhere that Colo
incl Tarpley's memory is not regarded generally
las the most tenacious. Such was proven to have
Ibeen the case two years since, and we fear that
mental quality ss has as not a,i improved since
ISOuhTon, upon the authority of other papers,
Charged that prior to the meeting of the Missis.
IsipPi Convention of October, 1s49, Mr.. Calhoun
had addressed Colonel Tarpley letter on the sub
3ject OF the action TO be had ut that conventions;
that he bad advised Mississpprs taking the lead;
Lsuggested Southern Convention; and that the &C
3tion Of the October Convention should be followed
by that Of the Legislature; that he saw no hope
from the North; and that in a certain contingency
secession was the only remedy.
This charge the MississiPpian pronounced q
sheer fabrication. and stated that II did so on the
authority Of Colonei Tarpley himself. This denial
|in the next Mississippian, in which he distinctly
ayerred that "there was no foundation for the
statement." He acknowledged the receipt of the
3etter from Mr.. Calhoun, in reply to one from him,
asking hisviews as to the proper course for the
|in 1t on the subject Of secession.
Immediately on the appearance of this letter, the
editor OF the Southr0n addressed note to three
prominent citizens of Jackson-one of them Hon
Charles Scott, now Chancellor of the State-asking
whether Colonel Tarpley had not made in their
presence the admissions that paper had originally
charged. These gentlemen, in a spirit of yencr.
ous forbearance to Colonel Tarpley, and from q
admissions, addressed him a note requesting him
to publish Mr.. Calhoun's letter. This call Colone
Tarpley of course had to obey. This letter of Mr.
calhoun. 30 far from being in reply to one from
Colonel Tarpley inquiring as to what course the
South should pursue, Gas Colonel Tarpley hac
stated in his denial) was in reply to one from him
inquiring as to what course the Mississippi Con.
venton should pursue. 1t established the truth Of
every one of the charges above enumerated, ano
which the Mississippian on Colonel Tarpley's au
thority, and Colonel Tarpley himself, had denieo
90 fully. 1t laid down the course that had been
pursued by Mississippi; and it declared that the
call for Southern Convention should be addressed
to those who in the alternative of submission OF
dissolying the partnership 1.-THE Union] would pre-
fer the latter.
The letter of Mr.. Calhoun placed Colonel Tarpley
in a most unenyiable position-ior it proved pre-
ciseiy what had been charged, and what he hac
denied, with this additional Notifying circum
stance, that as that letter was in his own posses
sion, even If his memory was deficient, he should
have reported it before giving 30 strenuous a de
NAL he had given. We have no wish to re-
vive unpleasant "reminiscences for Colonel Tarp
ley; but justice to the cause of General Scott ap
pears to demand that the unreliability of Coone
Tarpley's memory should be alluded to; especially
when we find that the Democratic papers in othe
States are laying such stress on the revelation
of this self commissioned ambassador to Genera
Franklin Pierce.