The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-13
AN OLD LETTER FROM JEFFER-
SON DAVIS.

The Indianapolis Herald publishes letter
from Jefferson Davis to VIM. J. Brown, some
years ago editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel
and leading democratic politician of Indiana.
The letter is 1atcd Washington, May I, 1888,
and is remarkable for its strong professions OF
love for the Union. Mr. Davis wrote-thirteen
years ago:
'The meeting of October, 1910, was con-
vention of delegates equally representing the
whig and democratic parties OF Mississippi. The
resolutions were decisive as to the equality OF
right of the South with the North to the terri
tories acquired from Mexico, and proposed a con-
yention Of the Southern States. | was not a
member, but on invitation, addressed the con-
venton The succeeding legislature instructed
me, as a Senator, to assert this equality, and,
under existing circumstances, to resist by all
constitutional means the admission Of California
as State At called session of the legisla-
ture in 1850, sef-constituted committee call
ed on me, by letter, for my views. They were
men who had enacted or approved the resolu-
tops of the convention Of 1919, and instruct
ed me as member of the Legislature in the
regular session, in the early part OF the year
1850. To them | replied that | adhered to the
policy they had indicated, and instructed me, in
their official capacity, to pursue.
lpointed out the mode in which their own
policy could, in my opinion, be executed with
out bloodshed or disastrous convuision, but in
terms of bitter scofn alluded to such as would
insult me with desire to destroy the Union for
which my whole life proved to be devoee.
Pardon the egotism in consideration Of the
occasion; when say to you that my father and
my uncle fought through the revolution of
lI76, giving their youth, their blood and their
little patrimony, to the constitutional freedom
which [ claim as my inheritance. Three Of my
brothers fought in the war of 1912; two Of them
were comrades Of the hero Of the Hermitage,
and received his commentator for gallantry at
New Orleans. At 16 years of age vas given
to the service Of nay country; for twelve years
of M life, | have borne its arms and served it
zealousy if not well. As feel the infrnites
which suffering more than age has brought up
on me, it would be bitter reflection indeed if
was forced to conclude that my countrymen
would hold al this light when weighed against
the empty panegyric which time serving poll
tician can bestow upon the Union for which he
never made sacrifice.
'In the Senate, announced that if any re-
spectacle man would call me disunionist
would answer him in mcnosy llables. On many
occasions, In public speeches made in Mlssiss
lpri, have said, if any man would come for
ward and charge me with desire to destroy
the Union, l would cram the lie down his
throat But | have often asserted the rig ght for
which the battles of the Revolution were fought
the right Of people to change their govern
ment whenever it was found to be oppressive,
aud subversive Of the objects for which govern
ments are instituted-and have contendcd for
the independence and sovereignty Of the States,
a part of the creed Of which Jefferson was the
apostle, Madison the expounder, and jackson
the consist aHt defender, JEFF. DAVIS.
"NoTE.-No party in Mississippi ever advo-
Gated dsuuion. They differed to the mode
Of securing redress IN the Union, and on the
pover of State to secede-neither advocating
the exercise of the power. j. D."