Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-09-05
rs. s. PRENTISS' LETTER.
VIcKsBURG, August 10, 1889.

VIcKsBURG, August 10, 1889.
GENTLEMEN: 49,
have been honored by the receipt of your
letter of the 29th Of June, transmitting TO me a
copy of the proceedings of the wings Of Madi.
son county at public meeting held by them
"ior the purpose Of recommending candidate
10 succeed the Hon. X. j. Walker in the Senate
of the u. States"
Ny own nomination for that office Of high
honor and trust was entirely unexpected, and
at once gratifed and perpIexed me. am not
insensible TO that ambition which seeks the
good opinion Of others, and is gratifed by lis
exhibition, even when colored by kind PARTIAL
ty and friendly prejudice. That the wings Of
Madison deem me worthy of occupying seat
in the highest deliberative body on earth, has
not failed to awaken the most grateful emo
tons. But was perplexed as to the course
proper for me to pursue. had never indul-
ged the vanity of supposing that my services
could be of sufficient Importance to require my
continuance in political life any longer than
my inclnations prompted. Accordingly after
mature reflection, long since determined TO
abandon at the earliest opportunity, all parti-
/ cpatlon, except as private citizen, in pollti-
cal affairs; in the contests of which, even my
limited observation had discovered imbecity
too frequently pass for capacity, hypocrisy for
Candor, and coldhearted selhshness for ardent
and disnterested patriotism. Political science
has become for the most part. the science OF
deception. Not only are the dictates Of reason
and experience SET at naught, but facts them
selves defed Physical truths no less than
moral, which have for ages been considered i'm
pregnable, fall like boieaguered cities before
the cunning devices Of modern political war
I fare. The mausoleum of history affords nc
protection for the remains of the past. Politi-
cal sorcery evokes from them foul spirits which
never actuated or controlled their existence
and the events Of former age are compelled
10 bear false witness before the present. What
A happened yesterday is denied today, and plain,
modest truth is stared out of countenance by
audacious mendacty. The conclusion, there
B fore, is not to be wondered at, that in these
dark and corrupt times, private happiness and
public service are Incompatible.
Both inclination and private interest forbade
me to abandon my cherished aud rapidly ma
turing plans of future life, and admonshed me
Of the rashness of again plunging among the
wild breakers Of public opinion where the
barque that moves straight forward, is almost
sure to be swamped, while the tacking and
Yeering craft by adapting itself to 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
STANDARDIZATION that shall never call upon
me in vain, when they point out mode by
which can liquidate any portion Of the heavy
claim Mississippi justly holds against me-
Neither was | regardless Of the gratitude due
4 10 the wings for the bold, untiring, and success
full warfare which they have waged against
the party in power; a party under the banetul
influence of whose destructive theories anc
corrupt practices the prosperity OF this great
nation has withered and died. Above all, re-
membered with pride and exultation that the
\ wings of Mississippi had preserved the honor
of the State, when the opposite party, EsaW
like, was bargaining it away for mess OF po
litical pottage. They, and they alone are en-
titled to the immortal praise Of having warded
off the first traitolous blow aimed al the cleo
n tive franchise. II was beneath their stern res
VI poAse that the servile tools of the Presiden
sunk abashed, and it was upon their mandate
they surrendered the rich jewel they had stolen
Me the wings have already honored far be
You'd my humble deserts, and in retiring from
political contests, did not doubt that SHOULD
be succeeded by those who would with equa
N zeal and ampler capacity, fight the great battle
of principle
4 Ihestated, therefore, on receiving your com
munication, not from any question OF my duty
IN sacrificing private and personal consIdera
tons to the success Of the good cause, but from
n fears lest the parlialites of my friends in Mad
ison had betrayed them into an injudlclous Sc
lection. From the subsequent action OF the
wings in other parts of the State, however,
have been forced 10 the conclusion, that wheth-
er ludiciously or not, they are DESTROYS OF pla-
cling me in nomination. Being convinced OF
this fact from the proceedings Of various pub
lie meetings as well as the general expression
of the whg press, do not hesitate any longer
in placing myselfin the hands Of my political
friends, with the district understanding, thai
lnasmuch as ! accede lc' their wishes, not from
motives of personal agg randizemen,, but from
~ sincere desire 10 do nj duty to the country
~ my name shall be at once Withdrawn IRON
examination, should subs equent observation in
dicnte, as 81 very proba bly, will, some more ap
pFpprate candidate
The reasonable licel Use Of an epistle will
hardly admit OF an exit ended exposition OF po
litica doctrines, nor ind eed, do consider il The
most desirable channel or their inculcation. -
Neither do deem it re quislte for me, on the
present occasion, 10 goil ito any abored disqui