Letter from Ogilvie B. Young to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 26, 1860

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Letter from Ogilvie B. Young to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 26, 1860

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People

Bell, John, 1796-1869 Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 Hough, Harrison Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Young, Ogilvie Byron

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Conventions Conventions--Missouri. Convention (1861-1863)Crime Crime--Libel and slander Political elections

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Under Review

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Courts Courts--Circuit Courts Political Parties--American Party (U.S.)Political Parties--Democratic Party (U.S.)Political Parties--Whig Party (U.S.)

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Charleston (Mo.)Kentucky Missouri Virginia

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Abolitionists Confederate States of America--War Dissenters

Page 1

Dec 26^th 60
Charleston Mo.

My Dear Governor

Viewing with much gratification and pride the high and just grounds your state has assumed in this "impending Crisis", I am author-ized, by those immediately interested, to tender, to the state of Mississippi, the services of "the Western League of United Southrons" whose destinies I superintend and direct.

This Organization, Sir, is composed of the very Flowers and chivalry of the state—high souled, strong-armed, firy-hearted sons of Southern birth, and parentage—

"No cross-road, corner-grocery" denizens have been admitted to our Counsels—no miserable mercinary communes with us—none, save brave men "above fear and above reproach"—who know their Rights—and knowing them will dare maintain them, at every,—and at all hazards".

We hope, Sir, you will not be deterred, from giving us that confidence, which you other-wise ^would accord^ on account of the witless and cowardly Resolution, which you may have seen emina-

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-ting from this section of the State, and purporting to be a reflex of the public mind here. They are "a fraud and a cheat"—a libel and a lie upon the name of Missouri and the honor and bravery of her citizens—

The Creatures, who are the unauthoritative movers in this low levelling and degraded proceedure are a menial set of low dirty obscure County Court Lawyers, in South East Missouri, led on by one Harrison Hough, who holds and dishonors the office of Circuit Judge—I am glad to state all of these men—only five in number, have never belonged to or voted with the Democratic party—They were once Whigs then know nothings recently Bell and Everett men—^and^ now miserable ''Lincoln apologists and Abolition submissionists"—

It bows our heads in shame, and stings our Southern pride to the quick to have to acknowledge, that we have such vile miscreants and abhorred Traitors in our midst—"They are among us, but not of us". I am proud to state, that their actions and their Resolutions of submission have in every instance, been scorned, hooted hissed scouted and spit upon by the brave and dauntless spirits of South East

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Missouri.

It would be a source of unmeasured mor-tification and chagrin were these unnat-ural and unnational monsters, men of political influence on commanding talents but when, it is known abroad as it is patent here, that they are a ma-lignant junta of superanuated old men in the last caducity and senility of old age, who are badly afflicted with old womenish nerviousness and hippoc^hr^ondrical fears, their futile attempts to prejudice and asperse Missouri in the estimation of her fair Southern Sisters will prove fruitless,

It may not be out of place, by way of extenuation, to state ^most^ these old todies, all their lives disappointed aspirants for political preferment, which they have never attained, on account of their moral and intellectual unfitness, now in the wane and twilight of a lac-lustre and barren life, they are bobbing around to do some thing to render notorious an infamous and unenviable obscurity. The consideration, that they are worthless and power less to effect anything either "pro or con", alone saves them from the violence and indignation of a basely slandered and outraged community

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[note] S4 [/note]

Young

Consoling myself, that the inane and witless proceedings, of these little old men, are as powerless abroad as they are at home to excite any other sentiment than scorn and derision, I now, Sir, tender you the services of my gallant Spartan Band, assuring your Excellency, that should you ac-cept our proffer, we will hold ourselves in reddiness to respond to your call promptly, and strike, as quick, and go as far as any of our more Southron Bretheren. We are all, to a man, native Missourians, Kentuckians, and Virginians thirsting for the combat, that shall free us from an ignominious Union.

With sentiments ^of profound^ esteem and
distinguished consideration,
I am Your Excellency's Very
Humble and obdt servt

Ogilvie Byron Young

P. S. Address Genl. O. Byson Young
Charleston
Mo.

P. S. No restraint from publication as written and signed

O, B., Young