The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-08
From tho Msmphis AUolanehS.
Letter from Ex-GoV. Matthews.

MARSHALL Co, MISS, July %, 1860.
EDTToRs AVALANCHE :--I see IN some OF
the papers favorable to the election Of Mr.
Douglas, the charge Of inconsistency urged
against me upon the ground that at the time
OF Mr.. DIS visit to Memphis I should have
joined IN the demonstration Of his friends to
nonor him and that I then approved his course.
Even II this were true think the charge
Nouid not be considered very serious on the
PIr. Of the Appeal and Bulletin, the former Of
| nnac1 n mas made some slight change on the
4uelas question, and # understand the po.
I'.'on @ ~ my good friend Mcmahon, (for whom
the very same change in position which he
hnts have made. had hoped that In the
early part OF the canvass, at least a suirit of
iorpeaTance would be manifested by the friends
OF each OF the Democratic candidates AZ n
permanent division Of the party must result
from different policy; and as far a am
concerned, shall treat my brother Demo-
Gratis, who no doubt honestly differ with me
with that kindness and forbearance which will
enable us yet to unite upon our nominees.
men who have the confidence and respect Of
every true Democrat. G Fl
Even the coarse and vulgar assault of the
| Appeals correspondent cannot drive me from
this course. Among the friends Of Mr.. Dou0-
las in and around Memphis know true men.
| for whom entertain the highest regard. per-
sonaIly and politically. think their admira-
ton of the talents and past services Of their
avorite has prevented them from duly appre-
ciating the dangerous principles which he now
entertains, but be this as it may, l shall re-
member that they are friends and DemoGatz,
and though | consider it duty which owe
my party and the country to expose what 1
think the heresies Of Mr.. Douglas shall
neither mpugn his motives or those Of his
friends, believing as do that reason and ar
gument are more ehectual weapons Of political
warfare than abuse or denunciation.
l will give you a brief history Of the cir
cumstances which subjected me to the charge
above alluded to i was waited upon m
Memphis by one of the prominent Democrats
of the city who presented me an invitation
from the Captain Of q river packet, requesting
me to take trip up the river to meet Mr.
Douglas, who had been declared the victor IN
the Illinois contest told my friend that
was unwilling to 60, as it might be construed
into an approval Of his lMr. D.'s) course and
principles to both Of which was opposeds
but it was insisted that no such construction
could be put upon friendly personal meet
ing as men Of all parties were going up TO
meet him. | was anxious to know Mr. Doug
las true position. | had never seen his Free
port speech, but had seen his quotation from
Col. Davis speech, which he said fully ex-
pressed the sentiments of that speech. As .
private citizen | cared but little for unjust
criticism. went with the crowd A meet
ing was organized on board the boat, deter
mined to have nothing to do with it and re-
tired from the cabin. After several speeches
II nd fnr
for to make speech; l responded in few
giving my reasons for not participa-
ting in the meeting; that differed with Mr..
Douglas on his Lecompton policy and funda-
on his views of Territorial Sove-
reignty. After we met Mr.. Douglas express
sed to me his regret that differed with him.;
a friendly comparison of views resulted in
short argument on the duty of Congress to
give protection to shareholders in the Terrific
rles, the very issue was made between us
then which divides US now on that question.
The next day, in filling Col Wright's ap-
pointment at Corinth, gave the position Of
Mr.. ID. as / understood him, to-wit: That the
owner Of slaves had the same right TO take
his slaves to the Territories as any other kind
Of property; that the Government was bound
TO give him the same protection, but that
when the Federal Government created Ter
ritorial Government it transferred its legsla-
i've powers to the local Legislature; and after
his transfer of power, could not legislate to
protect any kind of property-that then it
)ecame the duty of the Territorial Legisla-
ure to protect the slave-owner in his property;
'ut that if this duty was not performed by
he local Government there was no power to
ompel them to do it, and that our only rem
dy in the event of such failure was an appeal
o the Courts in the same manner as if Con-
ress had failed to give protection before such
ocal Government was established. pro-
'Ounded this question to him Whether or
lot he believed a Territorial Government
ould, by legislation, abolish slavery He
aid they could not constitutionally do il,
,ut that there is no power to compel such
Government to pass laws to protect it. gave
hese as the views of Mr.. D., as will be at
ested by the large audience who heard me;
md stated further the position of Mr.. D. to
which objected-but as he had promised to
write letter which should satisfy the South
,rn Democracy, | requested suspension Of
opinion until that letter appeared ! made
his statement of Mr.. Douglas views as his
riend-one who differed with him with ex-
RENE regret, although condemned his course
IN tho Lecompton issue, and his Territorial
Tiews. l admired the man and then hoped
hat he would again unite with the Demo-
ratio party. These hopes were of short du-
alton. His Harper's Magazine article, so far
rom fulfilling my hopes and expectations, was
promulgation of the doctrine of Sauatter
Sovereignty in its most odious form. Heevens
vent beyond this in borrowing from Seward
md Lincoln the most ridiculous of their posi-
ions, that slavery was the creation Of local
aw, and that whenever a slave was taken be-
Tond the limits of slave State, or where no
ocal law establishing slavery existed, such
lave became free-thus repudiating the Oft
epeated decisions of our highest judicial tri-
'unals. Then how conld / be expected to
upport him, when, in my remarks at Cor
nth, on the same day of his visit to Memphis,
declared that could vote for no man who
efused to give equal protection to all kinds Of
Toperty and further stated that if delegate
o the Charleston Convention, should oppose
he nomination Of Douglas and give my vote
or Pierce or Davis. / should have let these
Of my past position passed
but that / am satisfied that those
Who assail me, do so more for the purpose Of
Djuring the Democratic party than desire to
n]ure me personally.
With high esteem, am your friend and
'bedient servant.
J. W. MATTHEWS.