Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-08-24
From the Ficks5urg Wing
VIcKsBURG, August 10. 1889

VIcKsBURG, August 10. 1889
GExrLEnEx-l have been hOnnred b.
the receipt of vonr letter OF the 2S.h "i
June, transmitting 10 me- copy OF the
proceedings of the Wings OF Madison
county. mt "A public m citing held by them
.sfor the purpose of recommending a can
dida,e TO succeed the Hon. r. j. Walker
| in the Senate of the United ) at,.s-"
Nv own nomin~t ton for that Office ct
HIGH honor and trust was entirely uneN-
pected, and at once gratified and perpiex-
ed me. | am not insensIble To that am
billion which seeks tho good opinion OF
others, and Is gratified BY its exhibition,
even when colored by kind partlaiI'y
and friendly prejudice. That the wings
of Madison deem me worthy of occupy
ing a seat in The highest delibe satIve bo-
/ DIV on earth. has not failed to awaken the
most grateful emotions. But was per-
| picked as 10 the course proper Ia pursue
had never INDUCED the vantiy ct sup
posing that nv services c9u'd o. o. SUI
| ficient importance tn require my continu-
ance in political life any longer than nav
inclina,ions prompted According Y al
| ter mature reflection. long since deter
mined TO abandon at the earliest oPporfu-
nifty, all participation, except aS a Pri-
waite CITIZEN, in political affairs; IN the
contests of which, even nv limited OBJ
servation had discovered iInbecliIty tCu
| frppus diy pass for capacity. hypocrisy
TOR candor, and cold hearted <eltshnesS
| for ardent and disintereS'ed PATRIOTISM
| Political science has become for the mot
part. the science of deception Not on Y
| are the dictates Of reason and expert
ence set at naught. but facts them S'-lVes
defied Physical truths 40 less than NOR
nj, which have for ages been considered
IimpngnabIe, fall like beleaguered CITIES
before the cunning devices of mOjern
political warfare. The mausoieum oi
history affords no protection for the re-
mains of the past. Political snrcery
evokes from them foul spirits which new
CIR aciuated or controlled their existence
land the events of former age are
compelled TO bear false witness before
he present. What happened yesterday
is denied today. and plain. modest truth
is stared out of countenance BY auda-
cious mendacitv. The conclusion there
fore, is not TO be wondered at, that IA
these dark and corrupt times. private
happiness and public service are incom-
pa'ible.
!, Both inclination and private interest
forbade me to abandon my cherished
and rapidly maturing plans of future
life. and admonished me of the rashneSs
of again plunging among the wild break
ers of public opinion where the barque
that moves straight forward, Is almost
sure 10 be swamped. while the tacking
and veering craft by adapting itself Il
each sudden change of wind and wave
gains the port in safety. On the other
hand. | could not forget the obligations
which bind me To our beloved Statc-Ob
legations that shall never call upon me
III vain. when they point out mode BY
: which | can liquidate anv portion o! the
, heavy claim Mississippi justly holds a
gaInst ME. Neither was | regardless ol
the gratitude due to the wings for the
bold. untiring. and successful warfare
which they have waged agains. the par
ty In power; party under the b'nrful
influence of whose destructive theorie,
and corrupt practices the prosperity ol
this great nation has wIthe red and died
Above all, ! remembered with pride and
exultation that the wings of MIs>issi ppi
had preserved the honor of the State.
when the opposite party. Esau like. was
bargaining it away for a mess Of poiIti-
cal pottage. They. and they alone are
: entitled TO the immortal praise Of hav-
ing warded off the first traitorous blow
aimed at the elective franchise II was
beneath their stern response that The SER
vile tools of the President shrunk abash-
] ed. and it was upon their mandate they
, surrendered the rich jewel they had
stolen.
i Me the wings have already honored
far beyond my humble deserts, and in
retiring from political contests. did moi
doabt that | should be succeeded by fho-s
/ who would with equal zeal and ampler
capacity, fight the great battle of princi-
ple-
hesita'ed, therefore, on receiving
your communication, not from any ques-
ton Of my duty in sacrificing private
. and personal considerations to the sue.
cess of the good cause, but from fears
lest the partialifies of my friends in Ma,
olson had betrayed them into an injudi-
cious selection. From the subsequent
!. action of the wings IN other parts Of the