Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-07-15
lam no longer candidate for Con.
gress.
Very respectfully,
Yours, &c.
FRAKLIN SMITH
RAYMOND, July 9th. 1913.

FeifOU Citizens:
You are aware ofth circumstances I'm.
der which announced myself candidate
for Congress. did so to oppose what I
conceived to be dictation. With the Ore.
sent convention have been in no manner
connected. / have aided at no meeting.
consulted no delegate, taken no steps either
for or against ii; but 10 the frequent in.
quiries which have been made of me rs f.
my course | have uniformly replied that it
was my ardent hope that the coming con.
venton would take warning from the past.
and consulting no mans ambition, preseu,
such names as the people could consciep.
iiouSly vote for;-that if such a ticket
should be presented, by whomsoever made,
| would instantly decline. But that if a
ticket should be presented, such as the
people ought not to vote for, throwing the re-
sponslbility of dividing the party On those
who had it in their power to harmonize Its
action, would continue my name before
the people, and let them decide at the BAL.
lot-box, ~ho should go to Congress. But
| cannot withhold from you the expression
of the pain which my position hts occa.
stoned me. 1t has been more than intima-
ted 10 me by those whose judgment am
bound to respect, that this construction was
placed upon my course-that had deter.
mined to be n candidate for Congress in
any event. l am wronged in this. So
hel Up me God! My dissatisfaction has been
The dissatisfaction of the people them.
selves. They have called on those, who
undertake to organize The democratic par.
ty, to present to them candidates such as
democrats can support, with due regard
to consistency and principle. l have
sought nothing more-l have designed no.
thing more. But cannot permit, for a
moment, that doubt should rest upon nv
motives You are my neighbors and ac-
quaintances you can best say whether
have ever sacrificed principle to conse.
quences, or faltcred as partizan from the
hope of office. AS citizen of Madison
and a member of the democratic party,
therefore, | commit 10 your hands my po
Iitcal prospects. Withdraw my name tel.
low citizens, uithdrdw IL uncondihonallu
from The canrass, If you think by so doing
yOu rjN in the least promote the harmony
and success of the real democracy of Mis-.
sissippi. Or, if it be your pleasure, sub
nit my claims to the convention, with the
pledge in my behalf, that | will abide the
result of its deliberations, be that result
,rhat ii may. You 60 10 Jackson, | know,
with the good of the cause alone at heart
with the determination to make one
more effort at union and harmony. From
your position and personal cognizance Of
the elements of which the convention may
be composed, you will be enabled TO Judge
what is due 10 the party, and from the par.
~ to its members. Whatever course you
may adopt, so far as my name is concern.
ed, will endorse and make good, assuring
you in conclusion, that it is my sincere
hope that you may find it possible 10 heal
all wounds and dispel all clouds, and that
the proud old banner of democracy may be
triumphanty unfurled amidst the cheers Of
reunited and reconcied party--a party
which needs only union to be always in
vincibIe.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't.
FRANKLIN SMITH.
To A. T. Moore, D. M. Fulton, J. E,