Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-23
What the HOE Jacob Thompson II as 10
say In kepIY 10 Gen. ling mAB.


The Hon. Jacob Thompson WIS visited
yesterday afternoon by a representative Of
the APPEAL, who handed him the above let
tiers and Enclosures from Gen. Clingnan, and
asked him to read them. This he did, and
evidently with care, stopping from time to
time and going back to review an occasional
paragraph. Finally laying the paper aside,
he turned TO the reporter aud remarked SIM
ply: "Clingman is a man of words"
Have you nothing more TO say2" the re-
porter asked.
Il have this to say" returned Mr.. Thomp-
sou, raising himself in his chsir and threw
ing aside some of his reserve, "this thing is
not properly an attack on me, but ii is an
attack through me on Mr.. Buchanan Of q
most uuprovoked character, utterly unwar-
ranted by the facts. His whole aim is to cast a
stain upon Buchanan's record. Why he does
this, and 80 persistently, too, cannot posi-
lively say, but l firmly believe it WIS done
for the purpose of securing influence and
probably votes from, the Republican party.
But whatever his motive, it is an unworthy
one. As for my relations with Cliugmsu,
lhsy were not at all intimate. He was no
confdant of mine. never placed any
Of my secrets in his keeping, and he
knows it. 1 may have conversed with him,
ana if go those conversations were OF
purely private nature, and he has betrayed
actually passed between rs, but a CARRIED
and centorted statement. But of this do
not care to have anything to say. 1 do not
care that for Clingman or his opinions" con-
tinued Mr.. Thompson, swapping his fingers.
81 do not wish 10 become involved in = news
paper controversy about anything at this
late time Of my life, bat l cannot refrain
from saying 10 yeu again that I regard this
m after as q most unuarranted and unproroked
assault upon Mr.. Buchanan. It has been a
long time since the circumstance to which
Clingman alludes transpired, but remember
enough of it to dispute Clinguan's state
nents. Ii my memory serves me we'll, the
exact conversation 1 had with Mr.. Buchanan
about going to North Carolina was about
| this:
"Will there be any objection to my visit
ing North Carolina?" asked him.
81 dent know" he replied. "How long
will you be gone"
about three or four days." said, and
than asked if he thought it would best for
me to resign before going.
"Why do you ask thst?" Mr.. Buchanan
inquired.
because I go there as the agent OF Mis-.
sssippi, and my aiua is to FRY and bring
about psci6cation of the trouble between
the Northern aud Southern States, and in
any event to persuade North Carolina not to
seceds until the movement, if it must come,
is general and all the Southern States Join
in it,"
aft you 90 as a paci6cator have no OBJ
lection, and see no reason why you should
resign; but if you 60 to persuade North
Carolina TO secsde from the Union, do Oh
jet most emphatically," was Mr.. Buchanan's
reply.
| Mr.. Thompson then remarked that he had
nothing further 10 say, except he had never
changed his views regarding secession; but
he bad often been misunderstood and mis-
construed. He was not in favor of any State
leaving the Union unless all did go, at one
| and the same time.