FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   665   666   667   668   669   670   671   672   673   674   675   676   677   678   679   680   681   682   683   684   685   686   687   688   689  
690   691   692   693   694   695   696   697   698   699   700   701   702   703   704   705   706   707   708   709   710   711   712   713   714   >>   >|  
the answer to your 13th question may seem to wander from the strict terms of the question proposed. Let it be set down to a desire, on my part, to give you all the information I can, at all germain to the inquiry. The "proffer," made in my note to Mr. Calhoun, was not "unguarded;"--nor was it _singular_. The information I have furnished has been always accessible to our adversaries--even though the application for it might not have been clothed in the polite and gentlemanly terms which have so strongly recommended yours to the most respectful consideration of Your very obedient servant, JAMES G. BIRNEY. * * * * * [In the Explanatory Remarks placed at the beginning of this Correspondence, reasons were given, that were deemed sufficient, for not publishing more of the letters that passed between Mr. Elmore and myself than the two above. Since they were in type, I have received from Mr. Elmore a communication, in reply to one from me, informing him that I proposed limiting the publication to the two letters just mentioned. It is dated May 19. The following extract shows that he entertains a different opinion from mine, and thinks that justice to him requires that _another_ of his letters should be included in the Correspondence:-- "The order you propose in the publication is proper enough; the omission of business and immaterial letters being perfectly proper, as they can interest nobody. I had supposed my last letter would have formed an exception to the rule, which excluded immaterial papers. It explained, more fully than my first, my reasons for this correspondence, defined the limits to _which I had prescribed myself_, and was a proper accompaniment to _a publication_ of what _I_ had not written for publication. Allow me, Sir, to say, that it will be but bare justice to me that it should be printed with the other papers. I only suggest this for your own consideration, for--adhering to my former opinions and decision--I ask nothing and complain of nothing." It is still thought that the publication of the letter alluded to is unnecessary to the purpose of enlightening the public, as to the state, prospects, &c, of the anti-slavery cause. It contains no denial of the facts, nor impeachment of the statements, nor answer to the arguments, presented in my communication. But as Mr. Elmore is personally interested in this matter, and as it is intended to maintain the consistent libe
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   665   666   667   668   669   670   671   672   673   674   675   676   677   678   679   680   681   682   683   684   685   686   687   688   689  
690   691   692   693   694   695   696   697   698   699   700   701   702   703   704   705   706   707   708   709   710   711   712   713   714   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

publication

 

letters

 

proper

 

Elmore

 

immaterial

 

communication

 

papers

 
letter
 
question
 
consideration

justice

 

answer

 

proposed

 

Correspondence

 

reasons

 

information

 

prescribed

 

limits

 
correspondence
 

defined


formed

 

supposed

 

interest

 
omission
 

business

 

perfectly

 

propose

 

excluded

 
included
 

exception


explained

 

denial

 

slavery

 

public

 
prospects
 
impeachment
 

statements

 

intended

 

maintain

 

consistent


matter

 

interested

 

arguments

 

presented

 
personally
 

enlightening

 

purpose

 

printed

 
written
 

suggest