Weekly conservative. (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1854-1860, 1855-06-09
For the Memphis Appeal.
Letter OF Capt. j. III. II. Taylor, of
M5SssissiDDa,

| Meeting:
DEAR SIR The resolution of ccnsorious in
CURRY, passed at the late Lamar meeting, against
| the integity of my democracy, which | first saw
in q recent issue Of the Memphis Appeal, and
which subsequently, appeared in the Empire
Democrat" of this place. demands at my hands
a candid and willing response through the same
public medium, which the resolution sought to
herald the doubts of my apostacy. do not,
my dear sir shrink from the pleasing task-tor
it has always been u ruling principle with me
TO speak boldly upon every subject touching my
sell-leavng to the timid and time serving that
prudential reserve which always promotes the
concealed purposes of individual desire, and
which often proves revolving to the better sense,
when accident exposes them. No such fate,ny
dear sir, in this instance, happily possesses me-
and with my usual candor, | shall proceed to
crafty my friends and the public with full
and clear exposition Of their doubts and desires
in the premises
The preamble resolution passed by the Hon
orable body, over which you presided reads
! thus
Whereas. certain suspicious are abroad that
the editor of the Empire Democrat belongs to the
order of Know Nothings and if so is unworthy
to be conductor of the organ Of Democracy and
further that it behooves us to have an unhich-
ing leader in the coming contest; therefore
"Resoired, That the editor Of the Empire Dem
ocrat be requested to state fully and unequivo-
Cally whether he is or ever has been member
OF any secret oath-bound political society, pre-
yious to the meeting Of the County Convcn-
| ton"
The above was offered by b. Mcke Esq,
The Indirect, though presume not intended.
charSS against my honor az man. conveyed by
,4ni ,a1i tln
: amblc. is as iiifTb g. the notice Of digtNfed
gentleman, as 1t is adrue in point Of fact /
shall then fully asid pncquiyocallv'' inform
my most charitable criticisars of Lamar andits
neighborilood, that but for my own self respect
should ding from me such " ithy and dishon-
oring suspicion, and denounce it with all the
scorn and rcbule am capable Of utteriur. Nv
nature is not moulded to act the double part.
nor can ! conceive an attitude more base than
the one | should have occupied. if, being a
| Know Nothing, ] had acted as President of the
county convention. The thought would dishon-
or my character--the act be strain upon cv-
cry principle of manly propriety, and my CON
teSson now, if it were so, would be as m0rtiry-
ing as il should be full and equivocal." Let
the inference Of this letter, as it deyeopes itself
satisfy the world OF my views and sentiments
Of "Americanism' now, eye, since the county
meeting-and boldly as a ireeman-a democrat
and one who loves the honor and prosperity
Of our common country, do not fear The chai-
lenge Of their truth and patriotism. Ny poit-
cal views are my private property, and shall,
as have always done, ask no man or set of men
the license OF framing them, or of giving them
desired publicity. | am respinsi6le for
their peculiarly, and will continne TO lrown
down every puny effort which party overseers
or political drill sergeants may resort to.
with the hope of restraining or lettering
their expression. In regard to IAN unninch-
| ing leader" as the conductor of the 'oroan
Of Democracy" surely my dear sir such re-
quislte should be insisted upon, although stand
under the ban Of Amercanisn" and nv con-
ductorship and my democracy is to that extent
brought under the terrible ostracism of the La
mar precinct The politics of that paper were
strictly Democratic while controlled it, and
| the only ground of real objection found against
| ii was, that it stubbornly refused to advocate
small men for high places. Mark the truth well:
it needs no further comment. If | felt that nv
/ integrity as Democrat-as a State-Rights man
as an anti-Bonder-as " Republican--as a
| genuine and native-born American. was in the
slightest degree weakened by such par-e1cellelce
act of prescription, truly my dear sir, the re-
! icctions awakened by the fact, would be pain
IullN gTioSOuS, IIhG tne sOTFOWlnE prophet
of old, | should exclaim in the bitterness Of re-
morse '.woe unto mel have rebelled against
| the commandments of the Lord--mine iniouity
is published from the house-tops.' But on the
contrary feel proud and safe exemption from
such doom, while any reference is made to my
past political history, associated as it is with
the record Of Mississippi Democracy for the last
fifteen years. And too, | calmly smile in un-
| disturbed cpmposure when the test Of those
|2rincples ia sodght IoPe applied to me now
fy'' hHch have always foster
bdrn with undmnished ar
3 Iur III Wy bosom, and will ever continue to
guide my action, ond inspire my zeal while nv
pulse beats AS politician ] am not newly
sprung upon the public Neither do hope in
youthful haste to pluck garland from the
brow Of fame, with sophomore defamation.
and iuveniis speeches, half forgotten from bad
memory ] am no stripping politician. but by
hard service in the raulls, have fought without
ambition for the geod of the cause. ! have
stood by the Democratic flag when its victori-
ous folds waved in triumph in the hour of doubt
iul strife, and, too, still clung to it when nut
tIated and torn, it traled in the dust of defeat.
in the struggles Of the past. Even now Lamar
to the contrary, notwithstanding, | feel the re-
newed assurance Of my Democracy as | write.
and while [ here profess belief in the patriotic
principles of Americauism, still stand beneath
the tine-honoled ensign, and read the eternal
truths of Democracy emblazoned in living light
upon its ample folds. ] have no concoalments
to make, no private purpose to crafty no apol-
ogy to offer. As an American citizen, as Dem
ocrat, shall be free spoken and do no violence
to those cherished principles of my faith which
| have always prolessed, aud now cheerfully
maintain.
For the benefit of those whose astute compre-
henson is alone bounded by the circumscrhed
vision Of their own Importance, and whose jaun-
diced eyes look no further than their own pro.
motion, would frcshcn their recollection with
reference to the recorded evidences, of my es-
tabilshed democracy, and permit me dear sir, to
suggest the pleasure it affords me to recur to the
better days of past democratic history. when
great principles, not men were the leading ap-
pliances of party--not the corrupt and sordid
ambitions Of those whose over-reachlng thirst
for place and leadership, is a sad evidence of
the submssIyenees t the people, and record
at the dear cost Of principle Either as a pri-
vate in the ranks, or occupying place in the con.
Al fdcnce of the Democracy, | have ever been ms