Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-04
ONE OF JEFF. DAVIS LETTERS.

An ILLINOIS paper puDllsheSthe loioW
| ing letter, which it states was captured
during the war
WARREN COUNTY, MISS, Nov. 1850.
Hon. r. B. Rhett, Jr.
DEAR SIR had the honor to receive,
last night, yours of the 9th ult., and
haste to reply to the inquiries pro
pounded. Reports of the election leave
little doubt that the event you antici-
pated has occurred-thst electors have
been chosen securing the election OF
Lincoln, and l will answer on that sup
position.
My home is so isolated that l have
had no intercourse with those who might
have aided me in forming an opinion as
to the effect produced on the mind of
our people by the result of the recent
election, aud the impressions which |
communicate are founded upon antece-
dent expressions.
! l. l doubt not that the Governor Of
Mississippi has convoked the Legisla-
ture to assemble within the present
month, to decide upon the course which
the State should adopt in the ipresent
emergency. Whether the Legislature
will direct the call of Convention of
the State, or appoint delegates to Con-
vention OF such States as may be willing
to consult together for the adoption of a
Southern plan of action, is doubtful.
g. If a Convention of the State were
assembled, the proposition to secede
from the Union, independently Of sup
port from neighboring States, would
probably fail.
3. If South Carolina should first Sc
cede, and she alone should take such sc-
ton, the position of Mississippi would
not probably be changed by the fact. A
powerful obstacle to the separate action
Of Mississippi is the want of port, from
which follows the consequence that her
trade, being still conducted through the
ports of the Union, her revenue would
be diverted from her own support to
that of foreign government; and being
geographically unconnected with South
Carolina, an alliance with her would not
vary that state of case.
4. The propriety of separate secession
by South Carolina depends so much upon
collateral questions that / find it difficult
to respond to your last inquiry, for the
want of knowledge which woIld enable
me 70 estimate the value of the elements
involved in the issue. Though exterior
to your State, Georgia is necessary to
connect you with Alabama, and thus to
make effectual the co operation of Mis-
sissippi. II Georgia would be lost by
immediate action, but could be gained
by delay, ii seems TO me that you should
pdik. II the secession of South Caro-
lima should be followed by an attempt to
coerce her back into the Union, that act
of usurpation, folly and wickedness
would enlist every true Southern man
for her defense If it were attempted to
blockade her ports and destroy her trade,
a like result would be produced, and tho
commercial world would probably be
added to her allies 1t is therefore prob
able that neither of these measures
would be adopted by any administration,
but that Federal ships would be sent to
collect the duties on imports outside of
the bar; that the commercial nations
would feel little interest in that; aud the
Southern States would have little power
to counteract 1t.
The planting States have a common
interest OF such magnitude, that their
union sooner or later, for the protection
of that interest, is certain. United they
will have ample power for their own pro-
lection, and their efforts will make for
them allies of all commercial and manu-
featuring powers.
The new States have heterogeneous
nopulation, and will be slower and less
unanimous than those in which there is
less of the Northern element in the body
nolitic. but interest controls the policy
Of States, and finally all the planting
communities must reach the same con-
clusion. Ny opinion is, therefore, as it
has been. in favor Of seeking to bring
those States into cooperation before ask
ing for a popular decision upon new
noiicy and relation 10 the nations Of the
earth.
If South Carolina should resolve TO
secede before that cooperation can be
obtained, 20 90 out, leaving Georgia, and
Alabama, aud Louisiana in the Union,
and without any reason to suppose they
will follow her, there appears to me 70
be no advantage in waiting until the
Government has passed into hostile
hands and men have become familiarized
10 that injurious and offensive perversion
Of the General Government from the
ends for which it was established Ihave
written with the freedom and careless
ness Of private correspondence, and re
rret thar could not give more precise
information.
Very respectfully, yours, etc,
JEFFERsoE DAVIS