Public Meeting.
The citizens of Adams County, adverse to the election of
judges by the people, and opposed to Nullification, are requested to
meet at the court-house, in the city of Natchez, on Thursday next, the 10th
instant, at 11 o'clock.
The necessity for calling this meeting is deeply regretted;
not the more so, that it has occurred at a period so close upon the election,
than as affecting the political standing of a gentleman who has been placed
before the people of Adams, by the spontaneous act of a large portion of its
citizens, as a candidate for one of their highest gifts. It is believed by a
large body of those of Judge Quitman's friends who sustained his nomination,
and who intended by their votes to have contributed to his election, that he is
a Nullifier in principle! That his opinions, frequently of late
expressed upon the subject of nullification, are the same as Mr. Calhoun's and
Mr. Hayne's; the ono its author, the other its first public propagator. Judge
Quitman's friends in this county believe that nullification is unsound in
theory, and contrary to the Constitution; that its tendency is anarchy, and
that the effect of its practical application to any given case is disunion! They
look to the indications in South Carolina, and despair of its permanency, while
she asserts her right and intention to nullify a law of the United States. They
look to the threats of her governor that, before the year is out, her citizens
will be in arms; to the declarations of a portion of her delegation in
Congress, who wish to go home and prepare for war. They are also well aware of
the disposition of the leaders of the party to form a great Southern league to
crusade against the Union. Under these circumstances, and at such a crisis, a
large portion of Judge Quitman's friends can not sustain him, without
sustaining nullification, and putting at issue in this state the question of
union or disunion.
It is therefore thought proper that this meeting be called,
with the view of endeavoring to produce such reconciliation as will prevent any
serious division in the ranks of those opposed to the election of judges by the
people, or, if that is found to be impracticable, to bring out another
candidate in place of Judge Quitman. It is expected and desired that Judge
Quitman will attend; and, if his opinions have been misrepresented, that his
friends may be undeceived and again united.
many Citizens.
SOURCE: John F. H. Quitman, Life and Correspondence
of John A. Quitman, Volume 1, p. 112-3
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