Weekly conservative. (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1854-1860, 1855-06-23
To Hon. Aug. B. Longstreet,

President OF the stale University, OxfOrd.
SIR have just risen from the persual of
lengthy address to the public, over your sigma
ture and published in The Democratic Flag Of
the 81 instant. a sentence quoted therein from
the hatcher Curier, receives your passing COM
ment. To this, of course, have no objection;
as YOU doubtless expect your own letter and adj
dress to be as freely spoken of and criticised, as
Il Is itself free in itscritIcsm Of Others
In another place, however, Of the address, and
without apparent provocation, you publish the
following.
aAs to the insinuation of that vermonter,
that students are encouraged to declaim on POI
ltics, ii he means in public, it Is thevery effronte
~ of ialsehood, as every one who has attended
our commandments win prove. As to their
private defamation, ] let them speak what they
please encouraging nothing yes there is one
suhiectFwhich allowsthem to discuss publicly;
and that is what may have kindled Mr.. Hillyer's
ire, viz: Abotnioaisni. Being from Vermont,
this man is PRIsIA FAcIE an ab0litionist- He
admits his father to be one, understands and q
thousand to one if the father has eaten sour
grapes the sons teeth are on edge suppose
the infdel, traitor T. Parker, will next take our
University under his care"
Permit me to say, sir, that you have been most
grossly deceived into uttering what is without
word Of truth, g far Is . Z records myself. g
character presuming myself to be the subject
Of your allusicn. The position you hold as a
Christian Minister, and q gentleman, forbid my
entertaining the idea Of your having fabricated
theasssrtions you have made. They are untrue,
however, in every particular, in their length
and breadth. The State of Vermont, sir, / new
er saw, Some eleven or twelve years have
spent in the sunny South. Over nine years OF
that time / have spent in Mississippi. In an
editorial career of over seven years, and in NO
unfrequent intercourse with the people upon the
hastings, have my sentiments been fully, freely
and openly avowed; and in no portion of them
can be found aught that viii warTent or justify
in the slightest degree, the gross charge you
make. The little property have is invested in
my press, its business, in what design to be Q
homestead in this State Of my adoption, and in
slaves The record of my opinions has been O
full one, and while doubtless there is much ]
have said and written under the heat of party
excitement, which in cooler hours have regret
ted--mueh that misinformation or nisunder
standing may have prompted-yet, sir, upon
the great subject of our institutions, and the
powers and the duty Of our general government
in regard to them, there are few men in ON
State-howeyer blazoned their names with po
litieal honors, -who can possibly be less willing
to conceal all that they have said or written
My father taught me, Sir, IN my boyhood Il
love my country and my whole country Tt
my youth he set the example, as citizen 81
CONCERNING political abolitionism, and the fdnat
cism of misguided zealots; and respect to hi:
memory, as well as to myself, prompts me tc
assure you Of the utter falsity Of what you have
understood.
We differ widely, sir, in our views of public
duty AMI policy. But confidently rely upon
your character as christian minister to which
you refer in your address, and as gentleman
that difference viii not prevent yohr recalling
the gross and nnfcunded imputations you hare
thrown apon me.
have the honor to be your obt serv't.
GILES N. HILLYER.
Natchez Miss, June II, 1855.