Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-06-14
LETTER FROM JEFF. DAVIS.
An Important, and Hitherto Unpub.
lished Document.

iiSned document.
The following letter, published few days
since by the Hartford Press from an original
manuscript now in that ofIice-will be read
with curious interest in the light of subse-
quent history;
WARREN Co., MISS, Nov. 10, 1860
The Hon. r. b. Rhett Jr-DEAR SfG--l
had the honor 10 receive, last night yours OF
the 27th ult., and hasten to reply to the In.
quiries. .propounded. Reports of the election
leave little doubt that the event yoa antci-
pated has occurred, that electors have teen
chosen securing the election of Lincoln, ane
will answer on that stpposition.
My home is so isolated that have bad no
intercourse with those who might have aid
ed me in forming an opinion Us to the effect
produced on the mind Of our people by the
result of the recent election, and the impres.
sions which communicate are founded up
on antecedent expressions.
l. doubt not the Governor OF Mississippi
has convoked the Legislature to assemble
within the present month, to decide upon the
course which the State should adopt In the
present emergency. Whether the Legisla-
ture will direct the call Of the convention of
the State, or appoint delegates to conven-
tion eff such Southern States as may be will
ling to consult together for the adoption of a
southern plan Of action, is doubtful.
2. If convention of the State were as
sembled, the proposition to secede from the
Union independently of support from neigh
boring States, would probably fail.
8. If South Carolina should first secede,
and she alone should take such action, the
position of Mississippi would not probably
be changed by that fact A powerful obsta-
Gle to the separate action of Mississippi is the
want of q port from which follows the con-
sequence 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 90
graphically unconnected with South Caro-
lima, an alliance with her would not vary
that state of the case.
4. The propriety of separate secession by
the Southern Confederacy depends 30 much
upon collateral questions that find il diff
cult to respond to your last inquiry, for the
want of knowledge which would enable me
to estimate the value of the elements involv-
ed in the issue. Though exterior to your
State. Georgia is necessary TO connect you
with Alabama. and taus to make effectual
the cooperation of Mississippi. If Georgia
would be lost by immediate action. but could
be gained by dela,, it seems clear TO me that
you should wait. If the secession of the
Southern Confederacy should be followed nv
an attempt to coerce her back into the Union
that act of usurpation. folly and wickedness
would enlist every true Southern man for her
defence. If it were a,tempted TO blockade
her ports and destroy her trade. n like respl,
would be produced; and the commercial
world would probably be added to her allies
| II is therefore probable that neither of those
measures would be adoptei by auy Admins
tration. but that Federal ships would be sen,
to collect the duties on imports outside of tbe
bar. that the commercial nations would fee
| little interest In that and the Southerr
States would have little power to connterac,
II.
The planting States have a common inter.
est of such magnitude. that their union
sooner or later, for the protection of that In
terest is certain. United they will have am
PIC poMer ~. 'ner owu Pro'ee.'oh, anu thei'