Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-10-04
TO THE VOTERS OF MISSISSIPPI,

1
fee Of State Treasurer for this State
In looking around for some one to supply
that vacancy, the partially of some OF the
people induced them to suggest my name
10 be run for the office. have acceded to
it; and now present myself before you Tor
your sutfrages.
1t is customary of late, with candidates
for important Offices, TO set forth, IN their
address to the people, an array OF all their
virtues, their peculiar excellencles, their
especial fitness for the situation they ask
at their hands; and by way OF desert,
detail the particulars Of what they have
been, as an earnest of what may be ex-
pected Of them in future. This is all
we'll enough; but as | intend to be brief,
| shall on the present occasion omit this
ingredient Of fashionable hand-blll, be-
leving that residence Of nearly twenty
years in Mississippi, more than fifteen of
which | have spent in Jackson, has rem
dered me sufficiently known to the older
citizens of the State, to enable them unhes-
itatngly todetermine either for or against
me; and here respectfully ask those
who have more recently become citizens
amongst us, and who desire to exercise
their right of franchise at the coming
election, to refer to my acquaintance,
(who may be found in every county,)
for such intelligence as TO my capacity and
integrity as may satisfy them of the pro-
priety Of lending me their support. !
must however be allowed to make one re-
mark in my own behalf, which think
should have some weight, and one too,
which am proud TO be able to make and
publish; that is, that on all occasions
when | have been a candidate for office,
| have been favored with large majority
Of the votes of my own and most Of the
adjacent counties. Although confess |
am somewhat vain Of this, yet | think |
should be ungrateful i'll did not take plea
sure in thanking those who best know me,
for these repeated proofs of their unre-
served confidence.
| am aware that honesty and capabllity
are important considerations in the be-
stowal of the office which | would fill,
and by that test would have no objection
to be Judged by you; though in recon-
mendng myself for the office intend
no disparagement to my opponents; for
| am happy in the belief that there are
more than "five Just persons" in Mis-
sssippi who would be willing to hold the
office-she would be ''poor indeed, "a
bankrupt in intelligence and morality, if
she should not be able to count more than
that number of individuals within her
limits who have the capacity and honesty,
faithfully to exercise the functions ofthe
most responsible office in her gift, known
| to her constitution.
Some OF my opponents have (and as |
think rather gratuitously) had the kind
ness to inform you that they are not seek
ing a political office. need not, there
fore, reiterate this important piece Of in
formation; but as they still give the
outlines Of their political tenets, or rather
their personal predictions; to which they
seem to attach some importance, it may
perhaps be well enough for me to say
that | too have set of political opinions,
which | think would compare with those
Of any man who loves his country
Opinions of which | am not ashamed
opinions formed after a patient and i'm
partial investigation of the subject of
government, its philosophy, its utility,
its Importance to the welI-being of socie-
ty and the happiness of individuals; and
here is a synopsis of them; | believe
that our republican constitution strictly
adhered to, and the will of the people,
under that instrument, faithfully repre-
sented in the state AID national legisla-
lures, constitutes the best government
that ever existed, | believe further, that
most |of our political grievances origlna-
ted by weak or corrupt men being placed
in high and responsible offices, where they
can usurp power in such manner that they
cannot easily be detected or punished. Ru-
lers seek their own ACKNOWLEDGMENT, if
they are bad men, at the expense of the
people-the people seek their own happi-
ness, and can have no motive to do wrong,
and will always pursue that course, unless
mistaken in the means, and will correct an
error as soon as it proves itself to be so.
If believing that the peoples will, un.
der the restrictions contained in the consti-
Ttution, should be the claw of the land, con-
sttutes political heretic--no matter by
what name you call it, am one; for it is
my DELIBERATE opinion.
shall come to close by making SOL
emn pledge that i'll should be elected, my
utmost efforts shall be used to subServe the
public interest, and shall take pleasure
in accommodating, with alacrity, every in
div:dual who may have business with the
Office and a. last, though not unimportant