Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-08-14
LETTER FROM A. H. CHAPPELL,
Member Of Congress from Georgia, TO a
,Ohig committee Of that State.
WASHINGTON, June 18th, 1874.


Gentlemen: have had the honor to
receive your letter Of the Goth hltimo, in
forming me of your appointment TO re-
present the county Of Bib in a conyen-
ton of delegates from the several coun.
ties composing the third Congressional
District soon 10 be holden at Forsyth, for
the purpose of nominating candidate in
behalf of the wing party of the district
. for the next Congressional election. You
inform me, further, that you desire TO pre-
fer my name 10 tho convention before all
others, but that you deem it due, as well
10 myself as to the party whose confidence
have ever had, 10 state "that my late
address to the people Of Georgia, together
4 with my votes on one or more important
public questions, have created some differ
ence of opinion as TO my views in relation
Ito the leading measures Of whig policy, and
my feelings towards the wing candidate
for the Presidency" and, therefore, in
order TO be enabled better and more salts
factorily to discharge the trust reposed in
you as delegates, you ask to be placed in
possession Of my views in answer TO the
Following questions;
"Whether, or not, am favorable
"lst. To a tariff raised for purposes
of revenue, and affording an incidental
protection 10 the different branches of
American industry.
"2d. To National Bank, affording a
sound currency of uniform value.
"3d. To distribution Of the proceeds
of the sales Of the public lands among the
States ON Just and liberal terms.
"4th. TO restriction Of the Veto
Power.
"5th To limitation of the Presiden-
.tial service to one term
18th. To the election Of Henry Clay
Ito the Presidency"
Before entering upon reply to your
letter: gentlemen, ! cannot refrain from
depressing my thanks for the kind and
considerate feelings towards me, person
| ally and politically, which you manifest.
Under any circumstances, such manifes-
tations would have produced deep i'm
preston; under those which actually ex.
ist, they are peculiarly grateful; and the
time will never come, assure you, when
they will cease TO be remembered and
properly appreciated by me.
You are doubtless aware, gentlemen,
and therefore need not now be informed
by me, TINT your letter is, by no means,
the first or The strongest evidence | have
received of the dissatisfaction which has,
for considerable time, prevailed among |
my wing friends in regard to my course |
in Congress. 1t is only one among mul.
titude of proofs Of that kind, which have
been reaching me for months past. In |
deed, the very opening Of the session was
signalized to me by finding myself in OPP
position to the entire wing party in the
House on a great question, and by the
subsequent discovery that this opposition
was deemed worthy of severe censure by
portion of the party at home, and by |
nearly all WIS viewed as matter of serious
regret ] confess to you, gentlemen,
was deeply struck with the very peculiar
character Of this censure. Knowing, as
| did, that my friends generally were, in
clined TO differ with me on the question of
the constitutional validity Of my election,
l should have felt little surprise if many
among them had thought and said was
censurable for taking seat to which, in
their opinion, had no title whatever. But
the censure against me went not upon that
ground. Not at all. l was arraigned, not
for the crime of taking an oath and seat
as Representative in Congress, when | |
had no title as such, but for the crime of
refusing 10 deny, by my vote, my title TO
The seat which Ind thus taken and occu-
pied under the sanciity Of an oath. It'll
was extremely apparent that If lhad dis |