The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-04-17
JACKSON, April 4, 1861.

GENTLEMEN: The compliment conveyed by
your polite note, soliciting me to become can
didate for one of the seats in the Congress Of
the Confederate States to be chosen by the cleo
tors Of the State at large, requires respectful
acknowledgement. Coming from a source so
distinguished, and from gentlemen residing in
every portion Of the State it assures me that
1t is not merely the expression of your personal
bartiality but that it reflects IN some measure
the popular sentiment | am not unaware Of
the honor = hich IL confcrs and am deeply i'm
pressed with the responsibilities of the trust
which is proposed to be confidcd TO my hands.
In accepting the call so flatterngly male,
can only pledge myself in the event of my clec
ton, 70 repay the obligations which may be inn
posed upon me- by the tribute of my earnest
laiofs to promote the best interests of the State
and the permanently and glory of the Confede
racy of which she is a member
Duties more than ordinarily wcighty will de-
volvc upon the first Congress which will assem-
bic under the forms of the Constitution that has
already been ratified by Mississippi and five of
her sister States As co ordinate department
of the Government thus organized, it will be for
that body to provide the necessary legislation
for putting in motion its vast and complicated
machinery Its successful operation depends
much upon the sagacity and patriotism of thosc
who, in the commencement of the work, may
be called to give it shape and direction. The
Constitution of the new Confederacy is an i'm
provcmcnt upon the one after which it is mod
eled. Il leaves no room for conflicting construc
lions Of its meaning. With singular accuracy
1t prescribcs the bounds of delegated authority,
and it will be only by rigid observance of those
bounds in the administration of the Government
that the angry contentious which have marked
the history Of the Federal Union, may be avoid
81 That no nraoo<lrnt hu established nc land
mark for future generations, tending in the least
degree TO subycrt the foundations Of this system,
should be the care OF every one, however hum.
lie his agency may be in the conduct Of the
Government
Believing that between the representative and
the people there should exist perfect under
standing upon all questions affecting their inter
csts / viii avail myself between the prese: t
time and the election, Of whatever opportunity
iray be afforded me, in person or otherwise, TO
explain in detail, the principles and policy by
which will be guided, should the preference
indicated by you be approved at the ballot-box
| will be Justified, however, by the occasion
which cieits this letter, in saying that those
who may be called nto'the service of the State
should conform to the sentiment Of her people
that without dishonor, there ean be no faltering
In the career Of independence which she has de-
Gterately choscn-that the new Confedcracy
should cultivate peace with the other powers of
America, and of Europe, by a strict observance
of the rights of all and determination to main
tain its own at all hazardsLand that it should
share the advantages of the navigation and COM
fherce Of every other nation by the freest trade
compatible with the raising Of revenue sufficient
to perform the functions and discharge the obi
cations Of an economical government
Thus far the experiment OF Southern Con-
fdcracy has been attended with extraordinary
success. The great event has been marked by
none of the Commissions which have invariably
attended important governmental changes. IN
der the guidance Of the pairiOt-cheftain who
has been wisely called to preside over the desti-
mics of the infant Republic, and his able auxil
iaries, we have every reason to cherish the con-
hdent hope that the Provisional Government IN
the performance of ifs mission, will come fully
up to the just expectations Of the people and to
the highest measure Of duty. But to crown the
experiment with entire success we must feel
that we are oSg PEOPLE, menaced by dangers,
and trials and temptations on tyery hand-that
we 'haye called by different names. brethren Of
the same pTinciple-that We arr all Democrats,
that we arc all Americans"-and that IL there
be any among US who would rrtracc the step we
have taken, ''let them stard rndistarbed, as
monuments of the safety with which error Of
opinion may be tolerated where reason Is LEFT
free to combat IT,"
With profound respect
I am your Obedient servant.
f. 3ARKSDALE
To Mcssrs. c. P. Smith, Lamar, Adams, Glenn
and others.