The southern press., 1852-02-28

nave SuoinltIeu. - move us reference TO the
Committee on the Judiciary.
The motion was agreed to.
Address from Hon. Jefferson Davis.
TO The People Mississippi:
| In the month of September last, when va
cancy occurred in the Democratic State ticket,
| by the withdrawal of the candidate for the
office of governor of the State, aud the De-
mocracy nominated me to supply the yacan-
| cy, resigned the Office of u. States Senator,
which then held for six years from the 4th OF
March 1851. My opponent was also an United
States Senator, having two years from the 4th
of March 1851, that being the unexpired portion
of his term. 1t was announced in various forms
that he would resign his commission of Sena-
tor before the approaching election of Novem-
Der, and in the month of October, certain
Wing Newspaper supporting his election, pub
lished statement that he had resigned the
office Of United States Senator. This, how
ever proved to be a convenient arrangement
which did in nowise interfere with the privi-
eges and perquisites of the station, and finally
did not vacate the office which he held Be-
fore that event which did annul his commits
sion of United States Senator, viz: his inaug-
uration as governor, he resumed his seat in the
Senate, and there, through the published de-
bates, sent out TO the world statements in rela-
ton to myself which he had never availed him
self of the abundant opportunities he had
possed to make in my presence. / therefore
take this mode to make that reply which
would have made in person, had my resignation
been such fiction as still to have left me in
the Senate when the statements were made.
In the daily Union of December 20, 1851, a
speech of Mr.. Foote, of Mississippi, is reported
in what appears TO be a revised form, from
which make the following extract:
ain like manner difficulties which we eneoun.
tered have been fortunately adjusted by the
compromise" Had il not been adopted. | fear
civil war would have ensucd. In fact, could
name the military leaders who were expected
by their admirDg friends to gain immortal glory
in the anticipated conflict of arms. The honor
able Senator from Carolina mr. Rhett) at.
tended public meetings, at which two distin-
guished military gentlemen Of my own State
were named as the persons best suited 10 com.
mand the armies Of the South in the war then
expected TO occur, | believe that he himself
aided in doing anticipated honor to one or both
of them MS SUCH Each one Of those persons
too, was nominated TO the presidency of the
Southern repablic. They were marked out
for military, and civil honors by hundreds of
toasts drunk on various occasions. They were
especially referred 10 by Mr.. Pickens, Of South
Carolina, in letter addressed 10 committee
in my own State, who invited him 20 attend
what is known to NIL OF US the @Quitman festi.
val" as the selected "leaders" of the South in
the contest Of arms then looked on as impend.
ing"
Mr.. Rheit VIII the gentleman allow me to
say single word IN justice 10 othersg"
Mr.. Foote. al will allow the Senator nj any
time 10 make an explanation, although he has
not always granted that privilege to myself"
Mr.. Rhett. 81 do not propose to say any.
thing more in relation to myself merely wish
10 say that think the Senator has done injustice
TO distinguished men not here. | presume he
allndes to persons in his own State he says
that was present at a meeting at which they
we're spoken Of as the military leaders Of the
South"
Mr.. Foote What said was this: that
toasts were drunk at a meeting at which the
honorable Senator was present which referred
10 them az leaders Of the South in the event OF
a civil war;. and at which they were also nomi.
mated as suitable persons to be at the head Of
Southern republic"
Mr.. Rhett al know Of no meeting at which
was present, at which they were spoken Of AZ
military leaders Of The South. I never believed
one word Of all that has been said in relation
10 The blood 10 be shed in ouch matter. Per.
haps toasts may have been given by Gen. Quit
man and Col. Davis, as fit persons for the presi
dency Of Southern confederacy bat ms 20
war and boodshed, never believed there would
be anything Of the sort"
Mr.. Foote. 81 tell the gentleman that Mr..
Pickens, whose name | never mention with anv
intention Of doing him disrespect---did write a
letter which was published In several papers of
Mississippi, which put into my scrap book and
read every day as a part Of each of some one
hundred speeches or so, in which he did desic
nate Gen. Qritman and Col Davis Ms the select.
ed lenders of the South in the contest Of arms
then expected by certain persons in South Caro-.
INA. say that, in my opinion, civil war was
confidently expected in my own State, and in
other States of the Union by certain persons"
Does the gentleman mean TO say as his re-
marks taken in connection seem TO imply, that
and those with whom acted ~ Mississippi,
confidently expected civil war; This would
be On assumption wholly unfounded and worse
than qratuitous. No one knows better than
himself that my course in the Senate relieves
me from such suspicion. | defy him TO produce
anything said by me which warrants the conclu-
sion. ! invite a comparison between his Ian.
guage and my own upon that and kindred sub.
jects. Nor can the accusation be more justfa.
bio when applied 10 those with whom acted
in the late canvass in Mississippi Their position
was distinctly defined, by the general conven.
ton which nominated their State ticket, and
must have been known TO one who was there
in the field as a candidate. In the fifteenth Of