Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1860-08-15
- 1tVoY-N'IUIIlt
THOMAS H. WATTS.


Dear Sir Your letter Of the 9th
instant, was gccei' ed ten days since, ard
it is due to you A. well IS myself, to
state the causes " licu haze Go,t AZ my
answer to this late day, to explain wua.,
otherwise, might lie imf9ri to me as a
discourtesy. Such a S,olcmerr is due
to numerous other gent seq, VINO, II
the last month or six We IS, 49,, al
dressed letters Of inquir, to Il, r. IN
different quarters of the cou It's as 10
my views and opinions IN ths more
prominent questions at ISSUE III the
pending canvass, aud aaid layc %receiv.
ed no answer.
To the inquiries in all such letters,
tLese ~~s but ono reply ~ i conceived,
which sosld, 0ous stensly fad properly,
be made under the circumstances Of my
position which was to refer the writers
to my past course; to tue views and
opinions | have heretofore held and ex.
pressed on the subjects or questions en-
braced in their letters. But it appeared
TO me that a reply, containing nothing
more than snch a general reference,
without pointing out the particular votes,
speeches and other evidences of what |
have said Or done in connection with
the questions made the subjects of in.
quiry or stating where they were to be
found, would be %ungracious, to say the
least Of it. To make such references in
my answers would far exceed the ordi-
nary limits of a letter, and | concluded
that it would be more convenient aud
satisfactory to both parties, to accom-
pany my answers with a printed cnllec.
tiOn Of such of my speeches and letters
as have a direct bearing upon the sub.
jscts of controversy (; or Of such copious
extracts therefrom, as 10 leave nothing
to be supplied by further quotations
frori them preparation Of such q
cr,an.atc, m,,,ediaiely commenced
by M,tAber Of the Cgnlral Union
OomMi lie, Of Tennessee. Il il now
and | TRANSMIT, herewith, a
copy If it, printed ia tic National
1t was issued from the press
week later than was anticipated BY me,
and hence, my answer TO your letter, as
well as to others, has been delayed a
week beyond the time | had proposed
to answer them.
For the reasons which impel me to
any further answer 70 the inqui.
ries in your letter. I refer you to the
FIRST and secGaa pages Of the "Natioral
Union" You win obsrts that The
there taken is, that it wonld he
inconsistent with the declared views Of
the Convention which placed me in the
position | now occupy bUf re the public,
to make any new declaration Of princi-
pies. Bus l do not choose 10 shelter
myself under the nominating authority
of the convention against any repcoach
| may incur in con equeuce If the
course | have thought it my duty to
pursue in rcla,ior to tr.s subject. Md
| been a mcuuber Of the COW nt,on /
would have resisted the adoption Of any
platform, or any declaration Of pfiuci
pies, not embraced or implied 10 The
three fundamental propositions or objects
intended to he maiat sbed and secured
by the National Union party, aud which
constitute the basis Of its organiza,icu /:
The Constitution, the Union, aud the
Enforcement OF the Laws The great
aim Of the National Union party is to
restore peace, with justice to both SEQ
lions Of the Union not to perpetuate
strife.
Whatever may be the policy or de-.
signs Of others n rth and South, who.
n their letters have insisted upon their
right, as a matter If principle, to call
upnn me TO declare ms views and opin.
ions. up0n any or al Of the questions
which have become the subject Of con.
ltrOversy 10 the present canvass, and con,