The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-11-28
. Letter from hon. ". P. Harris.

JACKSON, Now 22, 1850
EDIToR OF THE NEws:-In your paper Of
this morning, I find what the public may sup
pose to be al authorized correction of the re-
port OF my remarks at the meeting in this
city on the 14th inst. l therefore take this
means Of saying that the correction is not
rnine-and further that the report Of the re-
marks was not seen bI me until day or two
after It appeared in print. Tina. report is very
ueagre AID in some respects wrong, bat as it
appeared to me at the time saw it that the re-
marks as reported did not conflict with the res
o!ut'ops, which were adopted I chose to al
low the report to stand. twas generally un-
derstood at the meeting that no plan or def
mite remedies should be. presented
said in the course of my remarks, that I
did not think itimproper to say that should
be unwilling to see Mississippi go out of the
Union and stand alone there; that such
movement to be efIectual should be strong;
that if not preceded By other States OF joined
by other States, it would greatly increase the
difficulties of such step. This is what l
said in substance. 1t was my meaning assur-
edIy.
The correction in your paper makes me
say, without justification, that object to
separate State action,' and the inference is
conveyed that | would oppose any measure
not first adopted by convention of a ma
jority of the slave states as the remedy for
the evils under which We suffer.
The phrase separate State action" is not
mine. II we ever so out of the Union it will
be by separate State action.' Each State
must determine for herself and make the de-
claration by which her connection with the
existing Union shall be terminated. AS sep
arate States we went into the Union, and as
separate States we must go out, if at all.
| should hesitate TO take that step without a
reasonable assurance that it would be sup
ported by other States; but have never in
tirnatcd that majority of the slave states
was a sine qua non.
You are mistaken in supposing that it is
my plan or the peoples plan to call conven-
ton of the slayehoIding States, as the only
mode Of procedure. On the contrary, speak
ing for myself it 5s my deliberate Judgment
that a convention of the people to make 9orepo-
sitiois to tic Nort}, after 20 years Of impor-
tunity, during which we as people have no
history outside Of a series Of vain and fruit
less appeals to the people Of the free State;
to let US alone; or to appoint delegates to some
anticipated and hopea for convention to de.
| bate again what has been debated without in
termssion for ten years, would be afruitless
or fatal step We have had two experiments
of appointing delegates to Southern convcn-
tions II this is to be the end Of the present
movement in Mississippi--a convention to
beg once more, and delegates to hunt up a
Southern convention, we had better pause
now.
You are also mistaken | think about the
Vows Of the people. Let it be understood
that the convention 10 be called in this State
is to parlcy and not to act-that we arc to
enter upon tedious and endless conventions
first Of Southern States, and their PROPOSE
tons to be considered by a convention o.
Northern States, and the people will come en-
masse to the capitol, and demand something
more to the purpose.
| The people Of Mississippi, at length under
stand the bearings Of this momentous ques
ton They have seen that the freS States al
ter lnanifesting every form Of animosity as IN
dividuals and as States, by speech, by act ano
by legislation, have lately giveri1TerwhelminE
proofs that we are to be treated as enemies II
the Union. They no longer desire oniof
with these States, nor do they intend to MAKE
onv more PROPOSITIONS. The grievances arr
notorious and it is for the free States to mi
t;,ta measures of paciication il they desire t.
,,rovcnt a rupture. They know what they
hove done and can as easily undo it, if the.
arc of that temper Are we to persuade Lin
coin TO resign? We might as well propos
that as to propose to the free States the repoa
., their liberty laws. think the people TAX
This ricw Of the matter.
II Is Of little moment what my opinion
are on this subject but if they are considers
, of the least Importance by you, | desire t
have them correctly stated. OF course d
not impute to you any design to misstate m
.;ars W. P. HARRIS.