The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-03-11

idential chair, and all the change Of circum.
stances were suggestive Of the positions Ia
had taken in lS48, then--he abandoned
them. / offer one example by way Of Illus
tration In 1848-see Congressional Globe.
LIST session, Both Congress, page 90s-s.Mr,
Foot" in relation to the territory buried
from Mexico, said-"Again, he contended
that slavery could not exist without lerisla-
tive protection" But in 1850, see appendix
to Congressional Globe, LIST session, 3lst Con
gress, page 993, he said "Sir, would scorn
to ask or to receive aid from Congress, in
support of eur equal right to enter this ter
ritory, with our property, With orr Northern
brethren" This is the grave, constitution
al question upon which he could not change
front at my dictation, and therefore incur
red my displeasure. must have been un-
reasonable, indeed, requiring from him more
than the feats of a tumbler, if his change
was not sufficient to satisfy me.
He renews his attempt to make capital out
of what he terms my Taylor-Cass speeches
in l848; and says Of the speech / made at
Raymond, that he will venture to say there
was not a Democrat present who was not
grossly offended. I do not doubt his ability
to venture any assertion. He particularly
refers to the deceased Gov. McNutt, then a
democratic elector, as having "censured it in
the strongest language, as did every demo-
crat present whom che" heard say any thing
on the subject" We know that Governor
McNutt said nothing to him; that he would
on no occasion recognize him, holding him
to be an "assassin of character and "constitU-
tionally liar" I quote the striking ex-
preston of McNutt, which when first heard
it, thought was too harsh, but what fur
ther observation has convinced me was just.
stated in a former communication my
opinion of the effect of my speeches III the
presidential canvass of 1913, as well as that
of the course which be pursued What he
thinks of the effect of my course in that can
vass is of little imp ortancc to me; what he
may say, or think, is of less. He announces
however, that he had long ago Gin very de-
liberate manner andin writing" given me his
opinion. More than four years ago, | heard
of his having put forth several SANDERS
against me, and l sent him formal note
calling upon him to ayow or disavow them.
Among them was the statement that had
labored to secure the election of Gen. Tay-
lor, whilst pretending to support Gen. Cass.
And, that l had shown want of devotion
to the democratic cause.
To the specific matter of this inquiry, he
gave the answer to which I suppose he al
lules He denied having questioned my
motives, or made any accusation against me !;
said he had left my future vindieation
against what he chad hoped would turn out
to be mere Wing aspersions' to be attended
to by myself; had "ncver accused me of
want of devotion to the Democratic cause"
and that he chad not failed on many occa-
sions to suggest certain grounds of allowance
(toO obvious to need mention) for whatmight
seem to some a rather lukewarm support of
the Democratic candidates" UNLIMITED and
he introduced into his reply
speculations, and opinions, and expressions
of regret and dissatisfaction at my course in
the Presidential canvass of 1913. Such
was the manner and the occasion of the very
deliberate written opinion to which he re-
fers.
He has warned me that if I keep up this
controversial warfare" with him, that my
friends will have to deplore my "want of
discretion" That may be so; certainly
feel humbled by a controversy with one so
of all the obligations recognized
by honorable men; and had not his position
been such as to give force to his words be-
yond what was due to his character, should
probably have left his falsehoods to counter
act each other We're | to attempt to an
swer all he has told, and all he may tell, l
should expect to have such fate as befcl a
plain-dealing man who heard that his politi-
cal antagonist had been making false accusa-
tions against him, and went out to disprove
them. His INSCRIPTIONS opponent, laugh
ing at this occupation, said: whilst the for
mer was disproving one old lie, he would tell
a dozen new ones.
l have endeavored, as briefly as was con-
sistent with the task of proving a negative,
to expose the more prominent Of those SLAM
ders against me, which have been drawn
from their place of deposit by the approach
of that "session of the Legislature" atwhich
he says it "was known" he Fmust be re-elect-
ed to the Senate, or be defeated" I con-
graduate myself that they have been thrown
to the surface, to expire in the light, like
vermin turned up by the early spring furrow
of the farmer.
1t would have exhausted the bitterness of
an ordinary heart to supply the rancor which
he manifests towards me. Not so with his.
He has an inexhaustibIe supply of vitupcra-
ton, and turns from me to load the mass of
the democratic party of Mississippi with abu-
sive epithets, and coarsely to call them my
"faithful tribe" If gratitude had place
within his breast, he would have remember
ed the favors received from that party by
him, before he had deserted their cause in
the hour of it's need; he could not have for
gotten their too generous forgiveness Of his
former offences. If dignity, or a sense Of
duty, could come near to his heart, he would
not, in his present station, spoken thus OF
nearly one half the voters of the State.
If this be the result of an Unsuitable thirst
for office, the demoralizing consequence Of
making politics trade, l am thankful that
l have known residence not as he cyni-
cally says, renowned locality" but Q
home, which, though humble in its preten.
sions, relieves me from any necessity for pub
lie employment.
What does he mean by his term of re
proach, "seccssionist !" Heapplies it equal
ly to the members Of the Democratic Con
vention of June and January last. have
heretofore shown that at the June Conven
ton, though the right was asserted, It's exer
else was not contemplated. But my antag
onist comes forward with such construction