{"id":96947,"date":"2020-08-01T06:34:12","date_gmt":"2020-08-01T11:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cw-chronicles.com\/blog\/?p=96947"},"modified":"2020-08-01T06:34:58","modified_gmt":"2020-08-01T11:34:58","slug":"letter-from-hon-jefferson-davis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.cw-chronicles.com\/blog\/letter-from-hon-jefferson-davis\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from Hon. Jefferson Davis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Times<\/em>, August 1, 1860<\/p>\n

Hon. Jefferson Davis wrote the following letter in reply to an invitation to address a Breckinridge ratification meeting at Vicksburgh, Mississippi:<\/p>\n

(To William B. Sloan)<\/p>\n

Washington, D.C., July 8, 1860.<\/p>\n

My Dear Sir\u2014It gives me pleasure to acknowledge yours of the 2d inst., informing me that the Democrats of our county were to assemble on the 14th to ratify the nomination of Breckinridge and Lane; and that they particularly desired me to be present on that occasion. My health does not permit me to return home at this season; and to the many regrets connected with that fact is to be added the inability to unite with my Democratic neighbors in declaring our acceptance of the ticket which is the fair exponent of our political faith. Though we cannot but lament that in a general Convention Democratic delegates denied articles of our creed so essential as to produce division, it is a matter of congratulation that our party had enough of vitality to bear amputation, and adhering to fundamental principles, to give us good candidates on a good platform.<\/p>\n

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Believing the preservation of the Government in its vigor and purity to depend mainly on the Democracy, I hoped earnestly for its unity and harmony; but when it became manifest that the organization and consequent power of the party could only be maintained by the surrender of constitutional duties, I rejoiced that Mississippi was represented at the Convention by men who were equal to the nobler part of vindicating her equality and honor, regardless alike of empty promises and emptier threats.<\/p>\n

To admit that our property1<\/sup> is not entitled to receive from the General Government such protection as it affords to the property of other sections, is to consent to be degraded below our fellows. Such a proposition needs no argument\u2014to state it is to present its condemnation. Our party alone, of those now seeking popular support, recognizes the equality of the right of the South to the common Territories, and pledges there to give Federal protection to the property of our citizens by all the constitutional powers of the Federal arm. Can a Southern man hesitate under such circumstances as to which of the tickets he will adopt?<\/p>\n

The political sky is daily growing brighter, and permits us to look with increasing hope for the triumph of the National\u2014that is the Constitutional Democracy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n