The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-03-10

myself to the main features of his slander. Mr..
Searles was my peronal and political friend, and
as little likely to be selected from any supposed
alliance with the whig party, as any democrat
OF my acquaintance. He was member Of the
commission house to which my business was en-
trusted, and in frequent correspondence with me.
At time when great excitement prevailed in
relation to the action of the federal government
on the subject of slavery, l wrote private let
ter to Mr.. Searles, and as my memory serves me
at the close of it, stated my belief that if the
" Wilmot Proviso" should pass President Taylor
would checkit by the executive veto Though
writing to democrat, did not doubt he would
receive this assurance, and / would not have cor
responded with any man to whom | could not
attribute such superiority of patriotism over
partizanship The only political information
In the letter was that to which have referred
and the sentence containing it was read at
public meeting. Speculation as to the character
OF the letter followed, and my nearest relative
called for the letter, and published it in the Mis-
sissippian. Nothing could be more unfounded
than his assertion as to the construction placed
npon it by those who read it, which, as it was
published, means everybody who chose. 1t re-
moved any distrust which such SANDER as he
now promulgates had created in the minds of
my democratic friends. The motive which he
ascribes to Inc to institute comparison with
himself, is worthy of him; but in attributmg
it TO me, he basely, UNANIMOUSLY lies.
He says that / was reported to have made a
speechin Natchez, on my way home from Mexi-
co, in which / openly denounced Mr.. Polk fo1
the withdrawal of certain regiments from Gen
! Taylor, in Mexico and AT dinner given TO Mr.
Crttenden, i complained most vehemently OF
that act, leaving it doubtful with those who heard
me, whether l intended to cast censure on Mr..
Polk or Gen. Scott.
l felt deeply on account of the withdrawal
OF those regiments. 1t subjected the army OF
the Rio Grande to imminent danger Of destruc-
tion and our countrys flag to the critical condi-
ton from which it was so wonderfully rescued
by the skill of Gen. Taylor and the valor of his
troops. 1t caused many sons of Mississippi to
bleed and die upon the field of battle, and many
families and friends yet mourn the gallant dead
| felt deeply, and may have spoken strongly
/ but never censured Mr.. Polk for it. am sure
of this, because, when in Mexico, wrote to my
colleague of the House of Representatives, (Ste-
phen Adams) and as friend of Mr.. Polk, asked
for the correspondence and orders which prece-
ded the departure of Gen. Scott for the seat oi
war convinced that, ifall the facts were known
the President would be relieved from the censure
which many in the army then attached to him
Mr.. Adams had no opportunity to make the cal
Il, 4, ~ n
fore visited the President with my letter; and
by authority, made a confidential communica
tion to me, which renders it impossible that
| should ever have censured Mr.. Polk for the
act.
l recollect after my return from Mexico, was
informed by Mr. C. J. Searles of certain misreF-
resentations against myself then in circulation
among them was one which implied hostility tc
Mr.. Polk, for totally different reason from that
now given by Gov. Foote. l replied, and with
my letter, sent correspondence between Mr.
Polk and myself, which showed his kind appre-
citation of me, and my thankfulness for it.
These letters were published in the Vicksbure
Sentinel of the 9Th October, l847; and if Gov.
Foote had seen and believed such report of INV
! Natchez speech as he now exhumes, these let
ters should have removed the impression But
these facts could probably find no appropriate
place either in his store room or manulactcry OF
reports concerning me, and his researches into
the old files of whig newspaper might not aid
his memory in such case.
He stated in his seat in the Senate. after had
ceased to be member of it, that had been Sc
lected as one of the two military leaders of the
South in anticipated civil war; that had been
nominated as the head of proposed Southern
confederacy; and marked out for military and
civil honors, in hundreds of toasts drunk at pnb-
flic meetings, which meetings he must have IN
tended, by the connection in which he introdu-
ced them, to characterize as disunion meetings
| replied in the mode which was open to me. and
asked achere, 1ohen, and b lchoiu those things had
been done. called for specific proof, because
| discredited his statement, and also because it
would enable sine to obtain the most conclusive
evidence that it was without any understanding
with, or good reason to suppose, the proposition
would be acceptable to me, if indeed had been
thus selected, or nominated. To this call for
proof, Gov. Foote answers, thus: g The gentle
man demands proof, and proof he shall have to
his hearts content"
Terrific was the warning to surrender, but not
quite equalled By The vigoT of the seige. First
he brings forward the letter of Mr.. Pickens.
which, in the United States Senate, he had an
nounced he had put into his scrap book and read
every day ass part of each of some one hundred