The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-02-12

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G0LU AlBUS lIsSIs
only position Of the party upon the subject.
Unless then, there be certain persons who|
have run e such extrcme Of consolidation as
to believe that the federal government would
make war upon the Stated that position was
endorsed by the people; that Tie Presidents
would call out the army and navy to reform
their political opinions, do not perceive
how or why civilwa was confidently ex-
pected in the gentleman own State lei
will be remembered by nany who heard me
during the canvass that 50 far as I treated
Iof civil conflict in another State, South Car
olina, It was to depreeate it, and argue forl
our policy asthat which would best serve tol
avert the calamity. But it was announced
by Senator Foote, that two gentlemen of
Mississippi were referred to, at a meeting at
which Mr. Rhett of South Carolina was
present, as the leaders Of the South ii the
event Of civil war, and as suitable persons
/ to be at the head Of Southern Republic;
/ that at meetings attended by Mr.. Rhett,
/ they had been marked out for military and
! civil honors by hundreds of toasts drunk on
various occasions; he had previously said
that he could name the military leaders
who we're expected by their adniring friends
to gain immortal glory in the anticipated
conflict of arms" Thanks to the generous
interposition of Mr.. Rhett, to shield from
injustice absent Mississippians who were as
sailed by the representative of their own
State, the names were brought out-Gen.
4 Quitman and Col Davis. This is not the
first petty fling which has been made at me
as military leader. The gentleman it
seems cannot forgive the offence of having
attracted the kind consideration of my fell
low citizens by such services as it was my
fortune to render In the war with Mexico.
l But I address myself to the assertion
made, and ask where, when and by whom,
were those toasts drunk, that selection made,
that nomination announced Having never
seen or heard Of my selection as a military
Header Of the South in an anticipated civil
war, or of my nomination as the head of a
proposed Southern Confederaey, or of one
toast connecting my name with either or
both positions, / must have proof before |
believe the occurrence to have been so fire.
! quent as is represented.
IF it has been done IN any case, Whenev-
= er learn when and by whom, it will be easy
for me to obtain the most conclusive evi.
, denec that it was without any understanding
with, or good reason to suppose the propo
: sition would be acceptable to me.
As to the letter of Mr.. Piekens, the con
tents of which do not accurately remenl
), Der, and Of which ] have no copy, I vii
: only say that having been written in answer
to an invitation to festival in honor 0
!, Gen Quitman, it is notat all surprising tina
:. he should particularly have noticed the dis
? tingushed military services of Gen. Quit
man, nor that he should have connected witt
), him many names of Mississippi as compli
iInentarY reference to the State. Dir. Pick
ems is only known to me through his publ
reputation, and the commanding talent Hhicl
has made his name familiar to us all. "
2 hayeno personal acquaintance and have ha
> no correspondence. lie might have apple
to my late colleague of the Senate to lear
: my position; the reverse is not a suppose
" bic case. The reliance upon that letter mus
= be taken as evidence that the gentleman ha
but narrow foundation for his broad assel
ton.
a In the daily Union of December %, 1851
- Mr.. Foote is reported on the goth of tha
: month, in reply to astatenent of Mr. Rhet
I las to what had occurred between those ger
= tlemen when their relations seem to has
- been closer than now, to have said:
of the gentleman had known what pecl
- liar difficulties We had to encounter in Nj
~ sissippi; if he had known what poculi;
= !, Taylor-Cass speeches were made there /
persons who possessed a particular infuenC
(Which made me leave certain duties whic
- was performing here, for the purpo
! of counteracting movements elsewhere
/ would perhaps have perceived that'circuu
\ stances had occurred which l had no rigl
- to anticipate at the time of that convers
y ton. These circumstances were of such
nature as even to justify some surprise til
lat the State was not carried by 10000 majol
'ai ty against US
:" The illusions to Taylor-Cass speeches VI
- I presume be so generally understoodto ha,
~ referred to me, that it would seem like afe
loa tation to doubt it. will apply the test
- fact to the whole statement. Those speee
-, !. Ies he says compelled him to leave duties
= was performing at Washington. The fl
: speech i made in the Presidential canvass
30 10 1S48 was at Raymond, having gone the
"a By invitation to a messing for two days
= - JOINT discussion I arrived late and foul
= Gen. Foote upon the stand erected for t
speakers IF he alluded to my speecht
ms : telegraphic speed would not serve to reco
~, lcile the statement with the fact; if it "
lls- not to me then towhom did he allude Z
Again, what was there in my speeches viii
m he had no right to anticipate He kns
'ne before the Nicholson letter was printed til
rse was not satisfied with It. He knew tia
III honored Gen. Taylor as a patriot soldier a
ald an honest man In the few counties viii
IN 2, my physical strength enabled me to visit
lna rendered justice to Gen. Taylor as q m
IT; who had rendered service to his country
Y. le acknowledged my obligations to him
lln acts Of kindness done to Mississippi Sc
20, when under his command. Thus ] Y
sFai willing to pay the debt of gratitude +
ne Ito be due to him. With al1the powel
~ possessed / urged upon those whom l |
dressed the support Of General Cas- as /
Prs democratic candidate for Tie Presidency,
an7 ways Directing to his doctrine Of squat
Sovereign but arguing that the oplnl
ate was unconnecteel with the duties which wos