The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-07
WAsHrNGroN, d. c.. Nav 2. 1853.

State.
WAsHINGToN, d. c., May 7, 1853.
Ny DEAR SIR: l received the Senti-
net containing your defence of me
against the false accusations of dis
| Cnionists, and before had returned to
you the thanks to which you are en-
titled, 1 received this day the st. Joseph
Valley Register, marked by you, to call
my attention to an article in answer to
your defence, just in all things save its
| too complimentary terms.
wish had the letter quoted from.
that you might publish the whole of
that which is garfield to answer pur-
| pose. In a part Of the letter not pub
lished, put such damper on the at
tempt to fix on me the desire to break
up our Union, and presented other
points in a form so little acceptable to
the unfriendly inquiries, that the pub.
lication Of the letter had to be drawn out
of them.
At the risk of being wearisome, but
encouraged by your marked friendship,
will give you statement of the case
The meeting of October, 1S49, was a con-
vention OF delegates equally represent
| ing the Wing and Democratic parties of
Mississippi. The resolutions were de-
cisive as to the equality of right of the
South with the North to the territories
acquired from Mexico, and proposed q
convention of the southern states. I
was not member, but, on invitation.
addressed the convention. The sue.
ceeding Legislature instructed me. as n
senator, to assert this equality, and,
under existing circumstances. to resist
by all constitutional means, the admis.
sion of California as a State. At a called
session of the Legislature in 1850, a self
constituted committee called on me. by
letter. for my views. They were men
who had enacted or approved the reso-
lutions OF the convention of 1S49, and
instructed me, as member of the Leg
islature in the regular session, in the
early part of the year 1850. To them /
| replied that adhered to the policy thew
had indicated, and Instructed me. In
their oinciai capacity, to pursue.
Ipointed out the mode in which their
own policy could, in my opinion. be ex-
ecuted without bloodshed or disastrous
CONFUSION, but in terms of bitter scorn
alluded to such as would insult me with
desire to destroy the Union for which
my whole life proved me to be a
devotee.
Pardon the egotism In consideration
of the occasion, when say to YOU that
my father and my uncles fought through
the revolution Of 1776, giving their youth.
their blood, and their little patrimony'
to the constitutional Freedom which
claim as my inheritance. Three of nv
brothers fought in the war Of 1912; two
OF them were comrades of the Hero M
the Hermitage, and received his com.
mendation for gallantry at New Orleans
At sixteen years of age 1 was given tn
the service OF my country; for twelve
years of my life have borne ito srn,s
and served 1t zealously, ifnot we'll Az
l feel the infirmities which snffarino
more than age has brought upon me II |
would be bitter reflection. Indeed. If
was forced to conclude that my country
men would hold all this light, when
weighed against the empty panegyric
which time-serving politician can hes
Tow upon the Union for which he never
made sacrifice.
respectable man would call me- dis.
unionist would answer him i'm mono.
syllables. On many occasions. in public |
speeches made in Mississippi, 1 have |
SAID, II any man would come forward
anu cnarge me with desire to destroy |
the Union, l would cram the lie down
MS throat. But 1 have often asserted
the right, for which the battles of the
revolution were fought-the right of a
people to change their government
whenever it was found to be oppressive.
and subversive, of the objects for which
governments are instituted-and have
commended 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 consistent defender.
l have written freely, and more Thar
designed: Accept my thanks for vomr
friendly advocacy. Present me in terms