State journal & flag., 1846-12-25
Fourth Congressional District.

In the Gainesville Pilot, of the 18th inst,
We find published communication signed
"Sumter," which from its evident design to
forestall public opinion, by placing Judge
Frierson in the position OF candidate for
congress, IN Advance of nomination. and,
also, because of the evident design to dis
parage other gentlemen Of the district who
are spoken Of for congress, the present eff
cient incumbent among the number, de-
mands notice at the hands of the demo-
cratic press of the district. The article
starts out with the assumption "that
dissatisfaction with the present incumbent
prevails TO great extent throughout the
district )" and that this dissatisfaction"
opens door, whereby the Hon. Gideon
Il. Frierson" may, in consideration of "his
superior qualifications and eminent availa.
bility, enter into the congress Of the nation,
and take possession OF the seat of Hon.
William w. Payne One Of the reasons
oOt ioi'h 'oi WIS pioPoSOo h"hS''' " WI"
gressional honors is thus stated:
"The times are inauspicious to US of the South--
they OMNIBUS of evil and it is in the last degree
important that we choose those TO represen; us in
the national councils who have common feeling
with us, whose attachments, whose interests and
whose feelings are all here"
If we were disposed to treat this argu-
ment with any degree of seriousness, we
might ask-aohere are Mr.. Payne's interests
and feelings, and where are the interests
and feelings of the other gentlemen who
are spoken of for congress? The argument,
lame as it is, shows, however, disposition
to throw doubt over all others for Judge
Frierson's peculiar benefit, and will, no
doubt, be SO understood by the public.
We do not desire, however, to enter the
lists, with anonymous writer's. as the de-
fender of Mr.. Payne, further than to do
an absent, and faithful, public servant JUS
tice. That he has been faithful to his
tru:, and discharged his duty with ability.
no man can deny and for ourselves We
would very much regret to find honesty
and faithfulness in the discharge of public
duties, so poorly appreciated by The voters
of the fourth district, as the setting aside
of William w. Payne, in order to elevate
Gideon B. Frierson, would indicate. But
there is another portion Of this article
which claims our attention. Not content
with comparing the qualifications, and avail.
ability Of Messrs. Payne and Frierson,
and deciding peremptorily in favor OF the
latter" Sumter" claims that his (Frier-
son's) popularity is greater in the district
than any other mans. Col. Erwin, Col.
Sam'. Inge, and Gen. VIM. r. Smith, are
all, according to Sumter" less available,
and less popular in their own counties.
than Judge Frierson. We are not told
how long this extraordinary degree of pub.
lie favor and good viii has been bestowed
on Judge r., although we arc told he has
been q resident Of this district more than
25 years. We are, also. told of his clerk.
ship in the legislature, of his being elected
District Attorney, and subsequently Judge
OF the County court of Sumpter-all Of
which combined, in the estimation of "Sum
ter" render him " eminently and thorough
ly" qualified for the responsible station of
congressman. 1t may do very WELL for a
laudatory paragraph, TO affirm that Judge
Frerson possesses the popularity claimed
for him by " SUMTER" but the reverse of
this Issuntion Of "Sumter" is much nearer
the truth. Either Col. Payne, or Col.
lnge, we feel confidant, would command
thrice as many votes in Sumter as Judge
Frierson; and in Greene, Col Erwin, with