Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-02-16
COMM MUMIGATION MS.
Enn THE AnyERTIsER.

lion directed to the communication Oh Coi. L. W :
plcKESs, and also to scurrous attack upon ale by
some one, over the signature Of " "CAssIUs"
In the statement made by COL PIcKESs and my
self relative to the conversation held between us in
March last, there is discrepancy, except as to the
passage / think he added, might have the effect
of keeping others off" 1t will be observed from the
construction of the sentence that was not altogether
confident of the language, and as it had been used
by others, it was designedly qualified Col. PIcKESs
publishes through the Advertiser. and also in hand
bill form, letter from me to him, to the effect that
never regarded him pledged not to be candidate
for Congress Nor did /. 1t is not unsual for gen.
tlemen to requr, or give pledges upon matters Of
election. simple iatima,ion is generally altogether
sutcien, to induce belief, and ifby chance wrong
construction given, there is high moral obligation
to correct it instantly. IN matters OF contract
-htlcman's word is his bond, and in social inter-
cours N intimation is equal to pledge.
Now, the entire truth as to my letter 10 Col p is
simply this. By private letter from Edgeficld Vii
lage, was informed that Col. PrcKENs would, in the
Advertiser of that week, publish card withdraw
ing from the canvass. AS my relations with him
had previously been altogether Of friendly charac
ter, and knowing that these relations were threaten
ed with disturbance by the continuance Of his
nomination after his defeat for the U. S. Senate,
together with the fact that was really dcsirous Of
continuing our intercourse the same footing which
We stood before any nomination whatever was made.
Ill of ,ft.
his withdrawal, in n Roment of generosity penned
that letter. Could have believed that Col. PIcKESs
would have construed an intended kindness into
acqutal Of the obligations imposed by his prcSi-
Gus intimations, should certainly have been more
guarded in my language. ] ask that it may be re-
membcrcd that my letter to Col. PIcKESs was written
after his withdrawal, and was occasioned by it. To-
wards Col. PIcKESs personally, entertain no scri
Gus unkndness the extent Of my dissatisfaction be
ing that he is now (perhaps unconsciously) lending
his name to those who desire to defeat my election,
though his own defcatis certainly involved. In con-
cluding this part ofmy communication, and as evil
dcncc that Col. PIcKENs left upon the minds Of
others the same impression that he did upon me,
PROFOUND this question: Did not Col. PicKEss, i'll
the early part of January say by letter to an ecctor
in an adjoining District that he could not " with
any propriety" be candidate for the lower House
Of Congress, as he had so recently come ont of
canvass for the is Senate?
/ now turn with regret to the assault of CAssIUs,"
and while defend myself against his mputations,
shall; endeavor TO preserve that moderation, dignity
and decency which is due to myself and the District
which is my birthplace and my home. A Newspa-
per is not the place ior wrnngng, and trust my
fellow .citizens will remember that it has not been
commenced by me.
"CAssIus" seems to regard asa " violation OF good
mani rs" the publication of letter addressed to ME
upon public matter signed by ten gentlemen,
shown to many othc,s ard their signatures to it
asked and refused the contents Of which letter were
known as far as Meeting Street, and report put
into circulation that Twas about to withdraw, even
before had received it. This is simply absurd. But
he goes on to say that this letter. signed BY ten Of
my "prrsonal fricndsn was "meant to be solely
-private.n Hows7aid 'iSsssisrus" know wha. was
"meant?" Was he in the 'conclave with which the
letter originated Orwas he too one of my "pcr-
sonal friends ~
am also charged with "rctailing private convcr-
sationa, pertaining to public clection,h and after
being deliberately dupcd and Systematically deceived
am, torsooth, to remain silent, lest some "CAssUs'
nav regard it an infraction Of wholesome rcguls-
ton of society,"" "CAsslrs' next assumes that no
conversation occurred between Col. PIcKESs and
myself, .s,nply bccusc it ia an mpossbility." Col.
PrcKEHs himself admits The conversation.
"CAssrrs" next says that Col. PrckEss name
was never mentioned, either publicly or privately,
in connection with any candidacy for the Senate,
until after Mr.. RnErr resigned" Now let it be re-
memhercd that upon the death OF Mr.. CALHOUN
Col. ELMoRE was appointed by the GOAernor tha;
after Ills death Mr. BARNwELL was next appointed
to serve until the meeting Of the Legislature Mr.
RnETT was then elected. Was not Col. PICKEss
not spoken of on each occasion7 Mr.. RnETr was
elected only to fill out the unexpired term of Mr.
CALHOUN. and every body knew that the regular
election for the term of six years would be held at
the session Of the Legislature Of 1852. Had MIR.
RHErT been elecled for the whole term, then pos
sbly CAsslrs'" rule Of common law" might
obtain.
But, in the face of all this, and the notorious fact
that Col. PcKESs has, for the last eight years, been
standing candidate for either Senator or Governor
"CAssrUsn says conversation relative to his being
candidate could not have occurred, because il
was an inpossiblity." "CAsslus" proceeds to say.
that have wronged Col. PIckEys, the gentleman
to whom my letter was addressed, and the people
Of the Fourth District. Every allusion to Col PICK
EMS in M letter was made in respectful, and not
unknd, language. Six of the ten gentlemen who
signed the letter to me, informed in person by
me, that intended publishing my reply, and no
objection was made The remaining four were out
Of the vnge. How ! have wronscd the people who
seek to represent is beyond my comprehension,
and certainly was moi my intention. When or where
have raised the cry Of persecution, or treated"
or I" travelled with Circuses," should be pleased
to learn. "CAssIus'" " assertion, that " eight Co.
operationists prefer COL PIcKESs though he was
Seccssionist," is false. i refer to the gentlemen
themselves. For some Of them could answer.
CAssIUs'' next assumes that my letter is an at
tempt to dig at the buried remains of Secession
and Cooperation" because Of my opinion that the
opposition to me is chiefly political lie is pleased
to term this expression Of opinion "a low appeals
while he makes the honorable effort to prejudice me
with those who are my political friends by tcrming
NV withdrawal tha CO. t1,n Co ham