Letter from John Camden to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; November 5, 1860

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Letter from John Camden to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; November 5, 1860

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People

Bell, John, 1796-1869 Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875 Camden, John Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Political elections Political elections--Election of 1860 United States. Constitution United States. Constitution. 12th Amendment

Organizations

Political Parties Political Parties--Democratic Party (U.S.)Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )United States--Congress United States--Congress. House United States--Congress. Senate United States--Electoral college United States--Executive Department United States--Executive Department. Office of the President United States--Executive Department. Office of the Vice President

Places

Mississippi--Copiah County. Crystal Springs Mississippi--Copiah County. Hazlehurst Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Vital Statistics

Death

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Hazlehurst Nov 5^th 1860

Gov Pettus,
Jackson,

At Crystal Springs you asked the Bell men how they could divide the spoils with the Black Republicans our common enemy, in case that party_ came over and voted for mr Bell in the House—

According to my reading of the 12^th Article of Amendments of the Constitution—we have it in our power to prevent any such fusion.—

the Consitution sayes—that before the House can proceed to ballot for President there must be a quorum—there are 33 States we the Democratic Party have the controll of 12 Southern states_ by the member of those 12 States staying a way—a
quorum cannot be had—

The Constitution goes on to say that if the House foils to elect—a President (from the states

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highest voted for as President) before the 4 K day of March

Then the Vice President acts as President (which is John C Breckenridge) the same as ^in^ Death & other availability of the President

This ends the chapter assessing the House and the President.

The Senate has nothing whatever to do with making the President—

read the Second clause of the 12 articles and you will see that that Body only elects the Vice President for the 2 [?]—in the last voted for a Vice President

This is the plain and unmistake=able language of the Constitution it admits of no Construction how the mississippian could [?] get out that the Senate makes the President—in case the house fail is a mystery to be

for no Democrat who ever sea the Constitution could have ever have arrived at such a conclusion

Again should Lincoln get the majority of the electoral college—By ^states^ [?] the Dems may present a quorum—without a quorum how is Congress to transact any business—and unless ~~less~~ the votes are opened and counted by the Vice President—(John C Breckenridge) how is it to be Constitutionally assertained that Lincoln is elected unless a quorum is present

Congress is not an organized body—

I am you fend

John Camden

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Gov. John J. Pettus
Jackson
Mississippi

Camden Election