Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-01

RAN1ns
The indianapolis, Indiana, Herald. has
been furnished with the following letter
written by Mr.. Davis in. the freedom Of
intimate personal relations, to the Hon. W.
J. Brown, at that time prominent Demo-
cratic leader in his State.
Those familiar with the political opinions
of Mr.. Davis, prior to the so-called rebellion,
will reEaeEber that while he was = strict
construetionist" and, in common psrlancs. .
srates- Right Democrat he sever held 10
the more extreme views Of South Carolina
politicians.
The publication OF private letter frcm
Davis at this time is justified on the plea Of
the circumstances of the tines" and as
proper material fqr the history Of Its author,
who, having cIoatd his public career, awaits
the judgment Ofthe nation, and finally the
more impartial opinion ofthe less prsjudiced
world:
NAsDisGToS, DISTRICT CoLUsmEA-
9TH May, 1858.
My DEAR SIN: received the Ssntinel
Containing your defense Of me against the
false accusations Of disunionists, and before
had returned to you the thanks TO which you
are entitled, | received, this day, the St.
Joseph Valley Register, marked BY ven, 10
call my attention to an article in snswer TO
your defense; just in all things save it teo
complimentary terms.
wish had the Letter quoted from, that
- l.. ~. a. -
is gsrbied to answer purpose. In q part
Of the letter not published, I put such
damper on the attempt TO fix on me the
desire to break up our Union, and presented
other points in form so little acceptable 20
the tnfsendly inquiries, that the publication
of the letter had to be drawn out Of them.
At the risk of being weariscme, but en-
corraged BY your marked friendship, win
give you statement Of the case. The meet
ing of October, 1919, was a convention Of
delegates equally representing the Wing
and Democratic parties of Mississippi. The
resolutions were decisive as 10 tbe equality
of right OF the South with the North to the
territories acquired from Mexico, and pro-
posed convention Of the Southern States.
was not member, but, on invitation, adj
dressed the convention. The succeeding
Legislature instructed me, as a Senator, 10
assert this equality, and under existing cir
cumstanees, to resist, by all constitutional
means, the admission of California lls
State. At called session Of tho Leeisla-
ture in 1880, self-constituted committee
called on me, by letter, for my views. They
were men who had enacted or approved the
resolutions of the convention OF ls49, and
instructed me, as members Of the Legisla.
ture in the regular session, in the early pari
of the year 1850. To them / replied that
adhered to the policy they had indicated,
and instructed me, in their official capacity,
to pursue.
Ipointed out the mode in which their
own policy could, in my opinion, be ex-
ecuted without bloodshed, or disastrous con
vulsion, but in terms of bitter scorn, alluded
to such as would insult me with desire h
destroy the Union, for which my whole If,
proved me to be devotee.
Pardon The egotism, IN consideration of
the occasion, when say 70 you that my r..
Their and my uncles fought through the reva-
luton Of 1776, giving their youth, their
blood, and their little patrimcny, 10 the cois
s.itutional freedom which claim as my in
heritasce. Three Of my brothers fought in
the war of 1872; two Of them were COM
rades Of the Hero Of the Hermitage, and re-
ceived his commentator for gallanfry u
New Orleans. At sixteen years Of age
was given TO the service Of my country; Cor
twelve years Of my life have borne ia arms
and served il zealously, II not well. A.
feel the infrmities which suffering mere than
age has brought upon me, if would be Bit
ter reflection, Indeed, IL was forced to CON
clude~ that my countrymei would hold aE
this light, when weighed igainst the empty
panegyric which a time-serving politician
can bestow upon the Union, for which BE-
never made a sacrifice.
In the Senate / announced that IL any re-.
spectacle man would call me disunionisf +
would answer him IN :nonosyllablss. On
many occasions, in public speeches made Ia
Mississippi, have said, II any man would
come forward and charge me with desire
TO destroy the Union, ] would cram the lie
down his throat. But / have often asserted
the right, for which the kettles Of the Reso-
luton we're fought-the right Of = people to
change their government whenever Il was
found to be oppressive, and subveEsiyc OF Che
objects for which governments ara insiitnted
and have contended nor the Independence
and sovereignty Of the States, part OF the
creed Of which Jefferson was the apostle.
Madison the expounder, and -Jackson the
consistent defender.
have written freely, and more than
designed. Accept my thanks for your friend
ly advocacy. Present me in terms Of kind
remembrance to your family, and believe nae
very sincerely yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
NoTE-No party in Mississippi ever sd
vocated disunioa. They differed as 20 The
mode Of securing their rights IN the Union
and on the pou9 Of State 20 seeede
neither advocating the exercise Of the power
J. D.