Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-16
Nv.
Hollis Version of the Cause of the Feud
Between Him and Mr.. Tt,OmDsOn.

1t has not been my purpose IN this paper
to accuse Mr.. Thompson, in regard to his
conduct in Canada, preferring to leave
this to the events of the past, under such
Interpretation as loyal and candid men
may give them. My leading purpose has
been vindicate myself from a charge as
wicked and unprovoked as ever fell from
human lips. Some seventeen years ago,
in an elaborate publication, | defended
myself triumphantly from the rebel Grim
nations of my official conduct in connec-
ton with Conover and his witnesses,
which were then beating as a storm upon
me. These conflicts, with their issues,
have passed into history, and Mr.. Thomp-
son greatly mistakes if he supposes the
Judgment of that history is to be reversed
or modified by the invectives of to-day,
however audacious and -vindictive they
may be. But it is proper that | should
give the origin OF the hatred which Mr..
Thompson has so long borne me, and
which has just found so unworthy an ex-
preston. After it had been determined
and announced in the Cabinet that
Fort Sumter should be reinforced, it
was arranged by Gen. Scott and myself
that this should be attempted by the
Star of the West, which, with all the pre-
cautions possible, was dispatched from New
York for this purpose. Mr. Thompson,
being still member of the Cabinet, with
all the obligations of honor and of loyalty
imposed by his position resting upon him,
telegraphed to Charleston that this vessel
was coming and its object. In conse-
quence, when it arrived in Charleston
harhor the rebel batteries opened upon it,
and it was driven back. Up to that time
our relations had ben friendly-certainly
so on my part-but this act separated me
from him at once and forever. Having
resigned his seat N the Cabinet and re-
turned to Mississippi, he addressed to the
people ofthat State the following language :
As ,rus ,erifng my resignation, sent a dispatch
to Judge Longstreet that the Star of the West was
coming with renforcements. - Tbessfroops 'ceye
thus pat their guard and when the Star of the
West arrived she received ,cglcome from
booming cqHRoH, and soon beat a retreat. 1 was
rejoced the vessel was not sunk, but i was the
more reioiced that the concealed trick, first con-
eeived by zen Scott and adopted by Secretary
Holt, but countermanded by the President when
too late, proved a failure.
This was his exultant cry over stab
given to his country at the very moment
he was enjoying its confidence and was
clothed with its honors In his late Gin
terview" he again frankly avows this Grim
inal act, but thinks he should be excused
from blame because others had the same
Information, and might hare communicated
Il to tie enemy-but did not, doubtless from
a sense of duty-a specimen of logic so
unique as TO be worth remembering The
tern" concealed trick imported and was in
tended TO import all possible unfairness and
dishonor on the part of Gen. Scott and my
self. Although that grand old soldier Ger
tainly needed no defense at my hands, vet
it was due to the responsible action which
we had Jointly taken that it should be
rescued from the obloquy sought to be
heaped upon it. To this end addressed a
letter to the editors of the National Intelli-
geacer, which appeared in that journal on
the 9TH of March, 1861, setting forth the
circumstances under which the Star of the
West had been dispatched, and. in
doing so, utterly demolished Mr..
Thompson's calumnious accusation, and
so set the disloyal conduct in its true light
before the country. This was the begin
ming of q relentless hostility on his part,
been carefully nursed through the long
years which have followed Mr.. Buch-
anan, after reading this letter the morning
it appeared, said to me: ''Your letter is
severe, but just" This was the judg-
ment of one who had complete personal
knowledge of all the facts on which nv
defense and the arraignment OF Mr..
Thompson's action were based. Subse-
quently addressed another as the former
and which was a rejoinder to Mr.
Thompsons reply to my first-in which
the position he occupied was characterized
in these words
''Itremains, therefore, undenied and un-
deniable, as a part of the history of the
times, that the late Secretary of the lnte-