The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21
JEFF. DAVIS CAPTURED COR.
RESPONDENCE.
LETTERS FROM BUCHANAN AND
BEAUREGARD.


which were among the batch of CORES
pondence belonging to JEFF. DAVIS, which
were captured by our troops near Jackson,
some days since. The following is Mr..
BUoHANAN's letter. The letter is publish
I'd Just as written. The italics are Mr..
BUOHANANS:
Private and Confidential
WHEATLAND, March 16, 1850
Ny DEAR SIR: | was in town this af-
ternOon, and, receiving your letter there,
I gave it hasty answer, provoked there
to by the conduct of Cameron.
So far from having in any degree recoil-
ed from the Missouri Compromise, | have
prepared a letter to sustain it, written
with all the little ability of which | am
master. You may ask why has it not
been published? The answer is very easy.
From a careful examination of the pro-
ceedings in Congress, it is clear Mn non
| Intervention Is ali that ,oM be requiredLg
tie SOuut. Webster's speech is to be the
base OF the comprOmise-it is lauded to
the echo by distinguished Southern men
| and what is it? Non-intervention, and
mOn-anterrention simply because tie VII
mot P2'oriso IS not required TO DregeM
tie curse Of St0pe3'9 from being an73ic5ed
| on tie Territories. Under these crcum-
stances it would be madness in me to pub
fish my letter, and take higher ground for
the South than they have taken tor them
| selves. This would be to out-Herod
| HerOd, and to be more Southern than the
South. 1t could DO no good but might
| do much mischief.
The truth is, the South have got them
selves into condition on this question
from which it appears to me now they
cannot eXtrcate themselves NY propo-
sition OF the Missouri Compromise was at
once abandoned by them, and the cry was
nOn-interventiOn. They fought the battle
at the last Presidential election with this
device upon their banners. The Democ-
racy OF Pennsylvania are now everywhere
rallying to non-intervention. They sup
pose in doing this they are standing by the
South IN the manner most acceptable to
their Southern brethren. Our Democrat
&c Journals are praising the speech Of
Webster because all the appearances are
that 1t is satisfactory to the South. 1t is
now too late to change front with any hope
OF success. You may retreat with honor
upon the principle that you can carry
your slaves to California, and hold them
there under the Constitution, and refer the
question 20 the Supreme Court of the
United States. | am sorry both for your
sakes and my own that such is the condi-
ton in which you are placed
l sag for @y Otcp sake, because | can
| ,ial1 hr / box
| liberately taken in favor of the Missouri
Compromise; and shall be assailed by
fanatics and Freesoilers as long as I live,
for having gone further in support Of the
rights of the South than Southern Sena-
tors and Representatives. am committed
for the Missouri Compromise, and that
cO0snaitt0l stall stt,pd
Should there be any unexpected change
in the aspect of affairs at Washington,
which would hold out the hope that the
publication of my Missouri Compromise
letter would do any good, it shall vet he
published.
Twas about to write more. but this letter
is long enough.
| 1t may be, and doubtless was the fact,
! that IN 1919 or 1920 my name was placed
buttons to which that scamp, General Cam
eron, refers. was then young man,
had great veneration for the Chairman
of the Committee as my legal preceptor,
and probably was under the influence of
the excitement then universal in Pennsyl-
vania first went to Congress in Deem
| Der, 1921, and throughout my whole pub
lie career, have been uniform in maintain
| ing the just constitutional rights OF the
| South. | have made more speeches on
| the subject, both on the floor of the Sen
ate and at home, than probably any other
| man now living One of them | now ell
| close to you marked, which fell into my
hands lost evening whilst I was looking
for other matters
wish you would read my speech
through on the veto power 1t is the only
one ever made which fully pleases myself.
From your friend. very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN
To Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
?. S.-Why did not the Southern gen.
tlemen agree upon common basis of sell
Element. Please to let me hear from you
soon. am invited very specially to
wedding in Washington, and possibly
may be there tor one day on the 9th of
April. Would to Heaven that Gen. Tay-
lor might come out in favor OF the Missou-
ri Compromise! should glory in sus-
tanning him.
Of Beauregard's letter, the Journol
says:
eft relates mainly to the policy of send
ing two small armies by different routes to
put down the Mormon rebellion, and ex-
hibits a good deal more of the pedantry of
his profession, and good deal less Of the
ability he has been credited with, than so
formal document might have been ex-
pected to do. The conclusion of it alludes
to the lack of protection of the people OF
Texas, and the Partially shown to New
England, which he illustrates in the fol-
lowing remarks: Are not the lives OF
Texan farmers as worthy of the ten
der care and protection of Congress
as those of New-England abolition,
freedom shrieking, nutmeg-peddlers
Only suppose that one of the latter
could be murdered by an Indian or
apirate on their barren, rocky shores, what
a hubbub and fuss would it not create
fro,,, oro on1 &c +bo TTnion tO the other