The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-12
COIsRESPoNDENCE,

WASHINGTON, u. c., May IS, 1873.
EDS. tLARIoE-In your issue of the 18th
inst. Won were pleased to call in question
the correctness of certain statements made
by nae iu brief speech on the floor OF Con
gre~s on she first day OF March last, as to
the opinions entertained and expressed by
Hon. jefferson Davis at Il meeting held in
Jackson iu the fall OF 1860. la that speech
used the following language: ''lu the
wear 1860, in the fall of the year, when the
question of secession was being agitated all
over the South, and after South Carolina
had elected her delegates to her Conveh-
ton. and ! think il my memory is not at
fault after the Convention had assembled
and tue ordinance of secession had been
passed, the Governor of Mississippi adj
dressed letter to each of the members OF
the House Dt Representatives If the United
States Congress from the State of Mi-Sis-
-ippi. and to the Senators, OF whom Jetfe r.
SON Davis was one, requesting them 10
meet ar the city OF jackson on a certain
day t9 consider the condition of affairs, to-
wit, whether the State of Mississippi was
prepared and willing to unite with South
Carolina n soon as our convention could
De assembled and the act of secession
pass 1r whether we should delay action
unrl- -es were prepared to join in
the movement aud thereby give strength,
dignity and success to the movement,
"Neuet at the city of Jackson, and Mr..
Davis was there. | am not ashamed TO ac-
knowledge that | favored separate State ac-
ton and immediate secession and if this
constitutes rebelliOn-if there was a rebel
in the land who deserved to be hung 1 was
the man. Mr.. Davis was reluctant to take
the step of separate State action, indeed he
declared that secession by Mississippi and
South Carolina without the cooperation of
other States in his view, was not the right
and safe way, but that the Governors of the
several States should CORES pond upon the
subject, and when all hopes of an amicable
settlement had failed, and it came to this
last resort, let the States that were ready
and willing TO do SO pass each an ordinance
oi secession at given hour and moment on
the same day.' Upon this statement YOU
take issue in the following words: At is
represented by the distinguished Represen
tatlVe from the Fourth District. himself a
worthy and conspicuous actor in the trying
scenes Co which his statement refers that
meeting OF the Mississippi Representa-
tiyes and Senators was held in this city at
ter South Carolina passed her ordinance of
secession, i'm which Mr.. Davis opposed the
withdrawal of Mississippi from the Union
and Insisted upon delaying action until
nine or ten states could be induced to move
lu concert and pass ordinances OF secession
ut a given hour of the same day" The writ
ten history of the times referred to, do not
sustain this hitherto "unwritten history
On the contrary, the speeches of Mr.. Davis.
before the people and Legislature OF his own
State TO whom he always acknowledged
his accountability show that he was in lull
accord with the other trusted leaders of the
cotton States. And especially is this fact
shown by the following letter which he and
other Senators and Representatives from
the South. addressed to their constituents
ON the l4th of Decem Der, 1860, which by the
way, was issued ten days before South Caro-
Ina passed hen" ordinance Of secession and not
afterwards as stated. This letter recon-
meuds separate State secession" and so
far from limiting at "hOpes OF an amicabIe
settlement warns the people of the south
that the argument is (was) exhausted
ana that "thc honor. safety and independ-
euce of the Southern people required but
one sJCp, and that was the "Hnal alterna-
tive To which he had alluded on previous
occasion in public address at the capital
on his State.
Not willing that this question should
rest upon my affirmation on the one side
and your denial on the other l addressed
letter 70 Mr. Davis and another to Govern
or A. Go Brown, accom- panied with copy OF
my remarks asking them to give their re
collection upon the subject. Herewith L
enclose their answers aud ask that you
publish them together with this commuul-
cation rs an act of justice to me. GU seem
70 Law some stress upon the statement in my
remarks IL think If my memory IS not at
fault, after the Convention of South Caro-
Ina had assembled and the ordinance OF Sc
cession was passed" etc. In the first place
dl1 not state the fact positively, as you
declare above, but only as matter OF re-
collection about which | was in doubt.
But had | so stated, il was wholly imma
terial to the real issue, viz: What were Mr..
Davis opinions in the fall OF 1850 as TO sep
Srate State action.
Now, my dear sir, although you volun-
teered this attack upon me. l ana slow to be-
lteYe you intended to do me injustice, and
now confidently look to your magnanimity
to repair the wrong done me.
Very respectfully,
Or, SINGLETON.