The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-09-26
Fhons tie Eally Springs Herald.
Letter from Col. p. 0. Glenn.

Nfssrssrppr Crrr, September !, 1860.
, Hon. W. s. FEATHERsroN, Holly Springs;
} Mr. DEAR SIR: In . heated political ca
, yass it is not often that permit myself 70
astonished at any thing. Yet / must COME
. that your letter Of the goth ultimo did eau
me some surprise. In it you state that In
. debate at Chulahoma Col Sam. Matthew
, made the following statement:
aThat on nv way to the Charleston Col
vention, as a delegate from Mississippi ha
declared to Hon. Charles Scott, Of Memph:
that was going there to break up the Coz
vention, or to break up the Democratic part,
and the said Scott so informed him." (Mi
thews.)
There must be a mistake among these pal
ties which | cannot unrayel. They mus
confound me with somebody else. II, no"
ever, they are in earnest, and do really mea
me, they are--to use respectful language
mistaken.
In the first piece, did not see Mr.. Charlie
Scott on my way to the Charleston Conven
ton. / did not 60 through Memphis, bu
went the Southern route. l cannot eau q
mind having seen Mr.. Scott at all, alter my
appointment as delegate. In fact, to the bes
of my memory, have not seen MT CnarIes
Scott since July, or perhaps November 1893
! or, if saw him, | do not remember speaking
to him at all as to public matters; IN one
word, cannot say that | have exchanged a
syllable on politics with him in the last four
| yearsi As to Sam. Matthews, do not re-
member seeing him for ten years.
Before leaving for Charleston, l presume
there is no doubt that conversed frequently
in private with gentlemen OF the Opposition;
and whenever | do converse | DO so frankly
and fearlessly. If any of them should now
seek to make a public use OF remarks thus
made, am glad to say that it is the first time
in twenty years experience that have known
the privacy of gentlemen violated Tor selfish
and public purposes.
might stop here; but the recent connec-
ton ofny name with this canyass-aconnec-
ton which private engagements reluctantly
forced me to decline-may justify, if not re-
quire me to say more.
Then, sir, aver that ! went to Charleston
with no such purposes as are attributed to me.
No man at Charleston left the Convention
more reluctantly than l did, and no man
struggled harder to avert the issue which
compelled secession of Southern delegates.
To this my associate delegates, and all Mis-
present win bear ready witness 1t
was the darkest hour of my political life, when
on that occasion reckless, corrupt and aban-
doned majority compelled me, as an honest
and a true man, to rise in my place, and be-
lore the world to denounce those who were at
the same time disgracing and destroying the
name of Democracy. $50
But candor requires that / should make one
statement: That did go to Charleston with
determination formed and expressed that
would not be swindled, and that the morals
Of Mr.. Douglass Illinois contest should not
be planted BY his followers in the National
Convention In 1856 we had made plat
form and gone before the people. Since that
lime, in order to meet the exigencies of this
desperate political buccaneer, meaning had
been given to the platform wholly at war with
that given to it in the South, and one fatal to
he rights of the South. This newt born here
~ was spread over the whole North, and there
he platform was said to mean one thing and
It the South another and q wholly different
hing. at Charleston, as one man, was re-
olyed that no door should be left open to
,lay over again this false and treacherous game.
went there for fair-dealing, q straight-for-
yard platform, and an honest man on tia
air fight and no swindling. Hence was re-
olyed not to tolerate the Cincinnati platform !
dry So" for it was under its phrases that |
nsn were seeking TO betray the rights of the
'outh; nor would tolerate Douglas, who was
ot only false to his own antecedents. but to |
IS solemn and oft-repeated pledges in the |
enate IN all the connections Of the subject L |
BOXED upon him then as I do now, as a pro- |
gate and unscrupulous politician, who was |
eeking to bully and dragon the South out of |
1e last vestige of her equal rights in the light
the law and IN the light the Constitution. |
compelled to yield to abolitionism. l preferred |
J, yield to regular chiefain in their ranks. |
nd not to renegade quasi Democrat, who L
ad eounselled with Seward and Wilson. ca
alled with Greeley, Blair and Colfax, and |
no, on his Bonded knee. had cried mercy at
leir hands, that he might be useful to them
their warfare upon the slave power In I
Re future God help the Southern man who
n yield aid and comfort IN this canvass to
Us apostate to all his obligations as Demo-
at and public man.
II this could not be done-if the assembled
emocracy were unable to agree upon plat
nm which admitted of no equivocation--f
ley would not speak save with forked
'ngue TO the nation-I for one was resolved
quit the Convention. If could not pro-
ct the party faith, could at least preserve |
y private honor. Knowingly or willingly j
as never party to any political deception,
% at charleston l was simply resolved not
begin the game Of deceit.
In so doing, was only acting within the
tier and the spirit of the instructions which
ississippi had given to her delegates in her
late Convention, and It is worthy Of remark
ct the principle which had been laid down
7 Mississippi for our rule and government,
ID also been endorsed by Louisiana, Texas,
rkansas, Missouri. Kentucky, Tennessee,
eorgia. Alabama, Florida. North and South
.rolina. and is now held by nearly all the
aiding and trusty Democratic statesmen in
e Union. 238 - M
was unable 10 attend the Convention at
aitimore, but exceedingly do I rejoice at what
as done there. Oar men-both first and
cond-are glorious representatives of q grea.
I'd gallant party-our platform, the only trae
merican principle, the equality Of the Safes
nder the Constitution and in the Union, and
b the rights of each and ALA
anding refutation, and giving the daily -lie to
q falsehood which the unctuous demsgogue
Illinois, in his peripatetic hunt after the
residency. is aiming at as when he charges
) with requiring slave code at the hands of
le Federal Government.
In my humble judgment, there never was
contest which more imperatively called for
le exertion of every State. Rights Democrat;
I'd, though circumstances forced me to de-
inc the Official position assigned to me, yet
assure you that, wherever there is blow to
J struck, or foe to be met my poor exer-
1ns, II desired, shall not be wanting to the
uss Of my lifelong devotion, State Rights
smocracy and the constitutional equality of
the States Of the Union. - Il
am, dear sir. with high respect; your friend
d obedisnt servant, ID. G. GLENN. Il