The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-10-10

the Hon. jefferson Davis at Corinth, Ms
sisssppi, September Il, 1860.
From The True Democrat, (D0uglas.)
At this stage Of Mr.. Dayis's speech, q gen.
tleman in the audience handed him the follow
ing note and interrogatories:
CoRrxTH, MISS, September 81, 1860.
HoN. JEFE. DAvIs-Sir: We, a portion of
your constituents, irrespective Of party, are
DESTROYS, IL consistent with your feelings, an
answer 10 the following las We conceive in the
present state Of political afairs) grave and i'm
portant Inquiries:
Question L IL Abraham Lincoln be elected
President of the United States will the South
ern States be justified in seeding from the
Union?
Question 2. IF they (the Southern States)
secede from the Union upon the Inauguration
Of abraham Lincoln, before he commits an
overt set against their constitutional rights,
win you advise resistance by force to their
secession?
And further. In the event Of decision by
any Southern State TO dissolve her connection
with her sister confederates, without judi
cially adjudged violation of the Constitution
Of the United States, viii it be treason for .
citizen Of such State TO aid the Federal author
ity in the enforcement Of the Objectionable
Federal hw2
Regarding you, one of our representatives
in the United States Senate, IS having pecu-
liar advantages in the formation Of opinions, we
desire pain and direct answers
Signed-R a. Whitmore, J. j. Gibson, John
Jobe, E. II. Hale, P III. Tucker, c. w. Nc
Cord, J. G. Reed, 81. G. Klyce. T. D. Bar
foot, D. A. Goif, John Hughes, w. Il.
Moss, T. ]. Shope, w. 7. Soard. James
ONeeI-
To which be answered, substantially, that
be supposed the first question was intended
to inquire Of him whether be considered Abra-
ham Lincoln Black Republican-for he re-
gzrded himself IS instructed by the resolutions
Of the Legislature Of Mississippi, as well as the
Democratic Convention of 1859, which de-
clared, in the event Of the election Of . Black
Republican, on the ayowed purposes Of that
organization, Mississippi would regard as a de-
claration of hostility, and would hold herself
in readiness 10 cooperate with her sister States
of the South, in whatever measures they may
deem necessary for the maintenance of then
rights as co-equals in the confederacy. EHe
here read the resolutions This does not
said the speaker, declare secession as the
remedy. nor assume for the South what RENE
iy should be adopted; yet it unquestionably
does include resort to that last alternative o
separation. To that position Of Mississippi, b
had given, and still continued to give his cor
dial assent While he thus freely gave hi
opinions and sentiments, he was not prepared
to say that they were the sentiments and opln
ions Of either Breckenridge or Lane; on tn
contrary, supposed they were not-as, in hi
opinion, no one entertaining or expressing
such sentiments could have received the nomi
nation.
To the second question he said: It was t,
him matter Of surprise that any one shoull
suppose it necessary to ask him whether b
would advise, or in any contingency consen
to the use Of, coercion upon the sovereign Stat
of Mississippi Such an inquiry could but b
an insult, Il he supposed it was made doubt
ing his answer. Such an idea could only ex
ist in the mind of one who reversed the orde
Of things and supposed the States to be tn
creatures instead Of the creators of the Fedora
Government He referred to the debates i
the convention for the formation of the Con
stitution, upon the proposition to give author
ty to the General Government to use force il
the maintenance Of its laws against resistin
State, wherein Hamilton and Madison, so oltel
holding opposite views. c0ncurTed that tn
proposition should not be entertained-de
nominating it as one not for the formation c
. Union, but for the destruction of the States
He denounced in strong language the crave
wretch that could countenance the coercion
4 sovereign State By Federal authority.
To the third interrogatory, he answered
That the neck Of the author Of such an inqui
~ vas IN danger Of hemp. That the allie
eiance of each citizen was due to the State I
his residence-that bis citizenship in the Tn
ted States resulted from his prior right as on
Of the citizens of q State, and would necesss
rilv terminate when his State ceased to be
the Union. It was, therefore, an absurdity
hold that be could be justified by any extrs
neous authority in making war upon the Ssat
Of which he was . citizen His opinion wa
thersfore, chat such an act would be treaso
against the sovereignty to whom he owed n
first allegiaBce. There could be no necessity
according p The Democratic creed, for jud
ciel decision, Is authority to State declarin
Der rights violated. Fer many years the cree
OF the pemocf1tic party had contained the q
6rmatise e the resolutions Of 1893 9. as e.
pounded N Aadison,s Reports; and he VIII
denies de right Of State 70 JUDGE IN the Ia
resort Of It's wrongs and the remedies To /
applied, repudi1tsd the Democrats ereed an
rejects every common sense idea Of Slats .,
srsiguty.