Year: 1867

JEFFERSON DAVIS.


AN IMPORTANT AND HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED LET


TER-THE PROGRAMME OF SECESSION.


The Hartford Press prints the following letter
from an original manuscript now in that


WARREN COUNTY, Miss Nov TO- The
Hon II. b. Rhett, Jr.-Dear Sir:-t had the
honor to receive. last night yours of the 9th
alto, and hasten TO reply TO the inquiries pro
pounded. Reports of the election leave little
doubt that the event you anticipated has oc-
the election of Lincoln, and 1 Will answer on


My home is SO isolated that have had no in
tercourse 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, and the Impressions which 1
communicate are founded upon antecedent ex-
pressions.


voked the Legislature to assemble within the
present month, to decide upon the course which
the state should adopt in the present emergency.
Whether the Legislature will direct the call of
a convention of the State, or appoint delegates
to q convention of such Southern States as may
be willing to consult together for the adoption
of Southern plan of action, is doubtful.


2. IL Convention of the state were assem-
independently of support from neighboring
States, would probably fail


3. If South Carolina should first secede, and
she alone should take such action, the position
OF Missi. would probably be changed by that
fact. A powerful obstacle to the separate action
of Missi. is the want of port, from which fol-
lows the consequence that, her trade being still
conducted through the ports of the Union, her
revenue would be diverted from her own sup
port to that of foreign Government, and being
geographically unconnected With South Caro-
lima, an alliance with her would not vary that
state of case. Isle.


4. The propriety of separate secession by So.
Ca. depends so much upon collateral questions
that find IL difficult to respond to your last
inquiry for the want of knowledge which would
enable me to 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 Missi. IfGeOrgia would be lost by
immediate action, but could be gained by delay,
it seems clear to me that you should wait. II
the secession of So Ca. should be followed by
an attempt TO coerce her back into the Union,
that act of usurpatfon, folly, and wlckednesS
would enlist every true Southern man for her
defense. Ifit were attempted to blockade her
ports and destroy her trade q like result would
S snH me to con aies weri1 w
probable 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 CONNER
cial nations would feel little interest in that
and the Southern States would have little power


The planting States have common interest
of such magnitude that their union, sooner or
later, for the protection of that Interest is GER
tain. United they Will have ample power for
their own protection, and their exports will
make for them allies Of ali commercial and
manufacturing powers.


tion. and will be slower and less unan lmous
than tho in which there is less OF the North
ern element in the body polite; but interests
control the policy of States, and finally all the
planting communities must reach the same
conclusion. My opinion is therefore, as IL has
been, In favor of seeking to bring those States
into co. cooperation before asking for a popular
decision upon new policy and relation TO the
nations of the earth.


If So Ca. should resolve to secede before that
CO operation can be obtained, to go out leaving
Georgia and Alabama, Louisiana in the Union,
and without any reason to suppose they will
follow her; there appears to me to be no ad-
vantage in waiting until the Govt. has passed
into hostile hands and men have become faml-
liariZed to that Injurious and offensive perver-
sion of the General Government from the ends
for which IL was established. L have written
with the freedom and carelessness of private
correspondence, and regret that 1 could not
give more precise Information. Very respect
fully, yrs, etc., JEFFN DAVIS.