Letter from H. H. Miller to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 20, 1860

Documents
Letter from H. H. Miller to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 20, 1860

Document Network
Document Metadata

Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Miller, Horace H.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Sims, Ferdinand

Events

Conventions Conventions--Texas. Convention (1861)Political elections Secession

Organizations

Courts Mississippi. Legislature

Occupations

Physicians Texas. Governor

Places

Austin (Tex.)Galveston (Tex.)Gonzales County (Tex.)Jackson (Miss.)Texas Vicksburg (Miss.)

Page 1

[seal]

Vicksburg, December 20, 1860

Hon J. J. Pettus
Jackson

Dear Sir

My commission, with the accompa-nying documents, was duly received; and I had made my preparations to leave for Austin today. But on yesterday I met D^r Ferdinand Sims, of Galveston, who gave me such informa=tion as to the state of affairs in Texas, as induced me to postpone my departure until I could have an opportunity of communicating with you. The D^r, I may observe, is fully identified in sentiment with us, and his statements may be relied on. He infroms me that the call for the assembling of the Legislature, published by the member from Gonzales County, for the 17^th Inst, did not receive general acquiescence, and consequently the project was abandoned, and what is termed in Texas "the austin programme" was adopted in lieu of it. The Governor having peremptorily refused to assemble the Legislature for the purpose of calling a convention, it was determined to adopt this plan: viz: That the chief Justices

Page 2

of the County Courts should issue writs of election in their respective counties for the election of delegates to assemble in convention at Austin on the 28^th of January next, to determine what course Texas should pursue in the present emergency. The election to occur on the 8^th of January. In the event of the chief Justice being opposed to the movement then any associate Justice to have the power to order the election. This programme, D^r Sims infroms me, has obtained general favor, and he thinks there is no doubt that the convention will as=semble on that day; and that its proceedings will express the popular will, and determine the future course, of the people of Texas. He advises me to delay my visit until the convention meets, as he thinks nothing could be accomplished prior to that time. He also infroms me that the public sentiment of Texas is much stronger for Secession than it appears to be in this state. But there is a party who favor the seperate independence of the state. This party he believes to be in the minority; but still it will be necessary to combat it vigorously in the convention; and he thinks my presence at that time, as the Representative

of our state, would be eminently beneficial.

You know the position occupied by the Executive of Texas, and communication with him alone would be worse than useless. It would probably never reach the public,—unless you think it would be becoming to publish an address to the People of the state explaining the object of my mission, after my audience with the Executive. Whether this course would be considered as intrusive or not I refer to you.

I herewith enclose you the order for the election for delegates to the convention, which I extract from the "Galveston News" of the 15^th Inst.—which was handed ^me^ by D^r Sims.

I shall await your views; but will be ready to start at any time you may designate.

Our election is progressing quietly; but I fear we will encounter defeat in this county.

I am, Sir:

In Haste
Very Respectfully
Your obt servt
H. H. Miller