Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-17
Hon. J. CLEMENS, Memphis.
To this Mr.. Clemens replied as follows:

HUNTSVILLE July G, 1860.
Ny DEAR HOOPER: Your letter of the 10Th ult., was
only received to-day having reached Memphis after left
there do not recoect the exact language of the let
ter of which you make complaint but l am sure it was
written in spirit of personal Kindness although it may
have expressed but anxiety and regret the course
which you and others Of my friends thought proper to
take in the pending Presidential election.
Never for one moment allowing myself to question
the purity of your ives have yet thought for
than two years past that you were gradually adopting
political opinions which could be productive OF nothing
but evil to the party in whose ranks you had bated
long and so faithfully Of nothing but disaster TO that
Republic to which your attachment, | am sure is as
strong as mine aud Of nothing but disorder and dsoa-
ton to the South which ciim to be ready 10 defend
as the most uncOmpromsng fre-eater in the land. /
certainly did believe that the annuncaton of these opn-
ions 10y you and HIM caused the defeat Of Tom Judge
in the Montgomery District last August and thinking
| have doubtless referred TO your course in terms
Of deep and serious regret. 1t is this to which
I suppose you alluded in referring to my readiness
to give you "a punch whenever the opportunity
occurs" You must pardon me, my dear Sir,
for suggesting that there is wide difference between
punching mans political principles and punching him.
GU are and have been doing my party in the State of
Alabama harm than all the Democratic editors with
in It's limits and it would have been unreasonable TO
pect to stand by and witness all this without making
,Ome effort TO paliae or correct it. You have led thou
ands of true and tried opponents of corrupt and cor
become the allies Of sposnen, and forces them to sup
press the expression Of their honest indignation at the
frauds brbing interference with State elections specu-
aons low ntrgues and sordid meanness by which this
Administration has been distinguished. You your
self in state of mental vassasge. You have given up
everything to the idea slavery protection and the
public interest and the national honor claim your care
only far they affected by this useless senseles
and mschievous dogLIa Worse STILL it has far blind
ed your that you accept holy truth, when
49, dsrr,
ry doctrine which you rejected with when coming
from Mr.. Bell.
The following is the second resolution adopted by the
Seceders at Charleston, and re-afirmed at Baltimore
ResolUed That it is the duty OF the Federal Govern
nent in all It's departments protect when necessary
the rights of persons and property in the Territories
and wherever else its constitutional authority extends"
New this is precisely the position taken by Mr. Bell
more than ten years ago. 1t restated by me in
letter to Mr.. lnge, of Euaw, Ala, in language too plain
to admit of doubt misconstructon, which letter
published weeks before the Charleston Convention
s.mbled. IL did not then attract your favorable notice.
am not OF any peculiar sanctity which ha been
thrown around it by the endorsement Of the Charleston
Seceders aud find myself wholly unable to understand
what It furnish TO you for deserving your
own party by whose chief it first enuociated and
ranging yourself under the banner of man who has
never approved it in the past aud who gives to IL now
ouy that qualified approval which is to implied from its
acceptance by the Baltimore Convention.
Mr.. Breckenridge the advocate of Squatter Sow
eregnty in its offensive shape, in "a and in &c.
In the latter year. he said IN speech AZ Tppeccanoe
''The people OF the Territories under the Kansas Ne
braska act have the full right to establish prohibit
slavery just state would which principle is as old
as Republican Government itself"
You will concede that this language is capable of but
one constructions aud IL Mr. Breckenridge has
pented its uterance he has confessed it. In
raj other speeches and letters he used words Of the
import II also stated upon authority do not ques-
fxrha tb.A.
was agated in Kentucky and that last winter he signed
petition for the pardon Of old John Brown (Ths lat
ter charge has been contradicled by authority. Ed.
REP This is curious record for the candidate of an
extreme Southern Rights party and places you in po-
son for which your best friends land claim be
Of them can offer no apology except that under the in
uence of high political excitement you have refused 10
look the truth in the face and blindy followed the lead
Of those who have aroganty assumed the guardianship
] Of Southern honor,