Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-08
Messrs. Bonham and Toombs.

The following letter from the Hon. Milledg'
Bonham. Of South Carolina. to the committe o
Invitation to the dinner recently given to Senator
Chestnut of that State, at Camden. will attract
attention. The Larolnian seems not to appre
ciate the Georgian very highly. and handles him
with gloveloss hands Read the letter:
EpoRrIELD, Sept. Is. 1889.
Gentlemen II would give me pleasure to JON
you in doing honor 10 our fellow citizen, the Hon.
James Chestnut Jr, who well deserves the CON-
Iplment you a,o about = pay him and regret
That my engagements p!ace It entirely cut OF my
power 70 be present with yeu.
The Presidential election, in its results, exer-
Icises much influence over the legislation OF tho
country. Tho principles Of the candidates. rs
usually indicated by the party platforms, or the
party press, or BY the candidates themselves, are
those supported 6y tho successful party for the
four succeeding years. Hence is Of consequence
to determine wisely the principles and candidates
to be supported by the South in tho approaching
election. The question whether she should con
sent to support n candidate who is not ayowedly
opposed to the doctrine of squattcr sovereignty in
tho Territor ics is one Of serious import, aud am
grat6ed to believe that the weight Of your demons
ration will be against supporting any advocate OF
that heresy 80 dangerous 10 Southern Rights.
The Kansas Bill Of SO. commonly known as tho
English Bill. having been acqulescod in generally
lby the South, aud desiring did from the begin
ming that there should he division in The South
on that question, ] should probably mover again
have adverted TO my vote against il, but for the ex-
traordinaIy course which Senator Toombs has re-
Gently thought proper to pursue in reference to that
measure and the votes of GoneIal Quitman and
myself lilo deems it necessary IL seems, to defend
his vote in favor of tho Bill before tho people Of
Georgia and in doing 80, ut Lexington, on tho
18th August used the following language, las rcpor.
ted by the Augusta Dispatch of the Both August.
which languagoup to this date, il uneontradcted,
so far MS | am informed, viz:
He reviewed the Lecompton Constitution--n-
ludcd to tho votes of Qnitman and Bonham, who
had voted against it. lie would as soon draw two
names from u Grand Jury box in Ogethorpe coun-
iy, for political leaders. as to select thom lilo
knew OF no two men living with less qualifications
to instruct tho people lie defended Douglas, and
said he would vote for him sooner than for any
ian Of the Opposition. North OF South"
OF course the English Bill is meant, as General
euitman and myself both voted for the Senate
Bill
Iii difficult to discern tho object OF this fling.
II he meant to contrast himself with Quiman and
myself rs political leaders aud instructors Of the
people, with the view to impress on tho minds OF
his hearers Il proper estimate OF tho value ut tho
English Bill it was to say tho least, u mode ofar
gument towards cotemporary Of more than ques-
tonnble delcacy. Towards the dead, it will
strike all right minded perrous as most indicate
undigniicd and unbeconing his high post. Good
taste in debate, however, has never been regarded
believe, even by his admirers, the peculiar forte
Of tho Senator
AS to the free OF the contras, in his own mind
between Quitman aud himself, tho Senator's van
ity greatly decci,es him, If he supposes that ma
ny who knew them both agree with him. Gen.
Qnitman always commanded in Congress aud III
"a a. l,,
his own party but also Of his enemics. Can Us
much be said of the Georgia Senator. even ~ To
his own party? Quitman was the consistent and
chosen leader of the Southern Ri ,hts party. Does
that party ever taYo counsel OF Mr. Toombs2 OF
what party is he the honored leader, that he
should dsparagc the memory of MS true u patriot.
'Ns houest consistent and fearless leader ~ tho
South has ever had?. The Senator was a member
Of the House in 1850, and opposed tho admission
of California. Her constitution, irregularly and
without precedent, was gotten up and brought be-
fore Congress under military dictation, and her
hurried and irregular admission subsequently
"impartcd validity to the unauthorized action oi
II portion Of the inhabitants OF California, by
which an in"idious Discrimination was made against
the property of the fifteen slnycholding State
Speaking in the debate tho rights Of the s1Uh
to an equal participate IN all tho Tcrritorc ,ho
Senator said: deprive 50 Of this right, and APP
propratc this comm property to yourselves; it
- then your government. not niue. Then am
its enemy, and | viii then. if can, bring my
chldrcd md my cnnstuentsto tho altar Of liberty,
and, like nammcnr, / would swear then, TO
eternal hostility 10 your foul Elimination" And
vet, after the contamination Of this great wrong tv
the South, unlike the CurthaGenian, the Senator
reversed his position. took to swearing by the com
promise measures of so ii which the California
swndlo wns not the least Objectionable, nni, CON
sistcnt at least in this, il at IT still. Aud now
too, he is fast becoming the advocate Of Senator
Douglas for tho Presidency, who will accept tn,
nornnation Of the Democratic party on tho squat
ter sovereignty platform or not at nil. III,
Senator's moral and mental structure does no
enable him to appreciate the hfty patriotism, tn,
nnswer ing political integrity. the stern adherence
to principle which charac .eriZcd john Anthony
sQuitman--a leader!
---''tha was, to this
Hyperion 10 sai,r.
shall not initiate the Senator in yndratin;
my vote against the English Bill. ON the sronn,
that the Senator does not command my respect II
Il leader. But, will hero assure him that his cs
innate ormyself is not higher than mine Of him. =
The Grand Jurors of Oglethorpe. doubt not pos
sess tho average intelligence If their class else
where in our country though tho Georgia Senate
must place it quite low for political leadership
from his using it as disparnging standard Of tn
fitness Of Gen Quitman and myself for that dis
Junction. coWc vi tneHi, sutpJsc, "oulu repi'
sent the country with credit, and would be no il
noble leaders and instructors of the people. Tho
would perhaps, b. none the worse that they hav
not been SO long in Washington rs himself. Now
the Senator offers the chances of drawing. for on
counterparts, the best men in tho box. with tn
hazard # drawing the most Indifferent. will b
more liberal to him; he may taxa the bcx an
pick ont, if he can, the name of one more unsaf
and less fitted than himself to advise the South
her present noed.
] am. gentlemen, very respectfully yours,