Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-31
A GARD.
To tie Voters Of the First Congressional Dis

the melanC hOly intelligence OF the death OF our
worthy and talented Representative in Congress,
the Hon BRooKIEs CAMPBELL. Ny apprecia-
ton Of Jhe high and meritorious qualities OF
mine snd heart of that distinguished gentle
man would prevent me from acting with preclp-
itancy in reference to the canvass If were In.
clined to do so. Our personal intimacy ana
association were formed in the political service
of East Tennessee in the Legislature OF the
State in l844-6, since which time our personal
relations have been of the most kindly charac-
ter. And it affords me infinite qualification to
be able to state that nothing ever occurred up
to the date of his demise to mar in the slightest
degree the equanimity of our personal friend
ship-and although Ideeply regret the occasion
which makes it necessary, / take pleasure IN
adding my humble testimonial in commemoIa-
ton Of his many public end private virtues. =
NY name has been announced in several pa
pers as a candidate to FIJI the vacancy which
now exists in the Congress of the United States
from YOUR district. first declared myself on
the 4th of this month without knowing that
anv other candidate, or believing that there
would be any prominent candidate against me.
The circumstances under which | was defeated
at the regular election being so papabe, as in my
Judgment not to be misunderstood or miSnter-
preted by any person who had looked into that
result. So confident was | of this fact that be-
fore had heard of any other gentleman being
in the field, wrote to several OF my friends
that did not believe would have permanent
opposition. In this, however, | was mistaken,
as there are now three other gentlemen on the
track; Mr. ANDERSON, of jefferson, Gen. KYLE,
of Hawkins, and Col TAYLOR, of Carter.
As have Just received a short card, which is
being distributed by Col. TAYLOR, throughout
the district in which he assigns, briefly, the
grounds upon which he relies for success, and
apprehending from the guarded phraseology in
which certain intmations and admonitions to
his friends are conveyed, that he believes the
race will narrow down to contest between
him and myself | shall review, very conciselY
in the few moments in which | have to pen this
in time for the mail, his position.
He first refers to the convention of June last,
which, he says, gave him the almost unanimous
nomination of the majority party of the district,
confirmed by the hattering vote which he re-
ceived in August at the ballotbox. | differ
with him in every position he takes in his card,
and in the conclusions he draws therefrom. l
will state specifically, fellowcitizens,the facts as
| understand them in reference TO each one,
and you are fully competent to make your de-
cision.
The Rogersville Times, which was the organ
of COL TAYLOR in that contest, made an open
attack upon my positions before the canvass
opened, and consequently before our first meet
ing and notwithstanding my adversaries were
the aSsalants and war was declared by them, l
accepted the first proposition for an adjustment
that came in tangible form, and cessation of
hostilities Immediately followed, and an amica-
Bile negotiation was instituted, satisfactory TO
both parties, which was to be conducted peace
fully and respectfully on both sides, until a,de'
cision was made in the manner indicated IN the
articles of adjustment. The agreement was VI
olated and the armistice broken By this same
paper in twentyfour hours by renewal OF hos
tilities and by renewing the assault upon ME
the very next day after the agreement was en-
tered into, and before any OF its provisions were
complied with.
At this very point, according to all the rules
of reason and justice, or the laws of controyer-
sy, moral, political or religious known to the
history of the world, l was absolved from any
obligation to, and released from any participa-
ton in the negotiation. My friends entreated
me as soon as they saw this, to have nothing to
do with it. determined, however, from what
thought prudential considerations, not to take
that course but give the matter into the hands
and honorable. Delegates from portion of the
counties met. They could agree in nothing def:
mite. COL Taylor's friends went through the
forms of a nomination, and my friends went
through the forms of a remonstrance and pro-
test. iulis friends put him upon the track; and
mine nut me uC2n the track, and this is what
my competitor calls, N his card, an almost
unanimous nomination of convention OF the
majority party of the district. This decision,
he says, was confirmed by the popular will l.,
the August election.
Now, fellow-citizens, here are the facts in ref.
erence to this confirmation of the popular will
There were, as you know, three candidates in
the field, two wings and one democrat with a.
whig majority in the district of about 1900 votes,
and about $4,000 votes in the aggregate. Ny
received about 1000 of that number. !
a fraction over one third of the votes. Nv COM
pet;tor had some personal friends in the Demo.
cratic party who voted for him, 1 had personal
friends in the Democratic party who voted for |
me- and our lamented and distinguished Demo
cratic competitor had personal friends in the !
Whig party who voted for him. In addition to
this there was a concentrated effort on the part
Of my competitors friends, for ten days before
the election, to drop me and unite on him, in or
der, as they alledged, to defeat Mr.. Campbell. |
These, tellow-ctlzens, are the facts in regard to
his claim of my competitor to your support
against me, and l ask you, my fellow citizens,
70 tell how it is possible for my competitor to |
arrive at the conclusion from these facts, that |
majority of the popular will of the district was
n his favor or the popular will of the dominant
party either. Nothing could be more unreas
onable. These things, together with report and |
'umors circulated as far at it could be, through !
out the district during the three or four last |
lays of the canvass, by my enemies in this end .
u the district, to the effect that | had declined
hree days before the election, and male Tay-
or speech in cambridge, and that 500 votes had
zone over in body and declared for Col. Tay
or on the day Of the Governors speaking, &C.,
Ec:, defeated me, and nothing short of it could,
n my Judgment, have done it. These reports
lad two fold effect upon me, one to unite the
Wigs upon Col. Taylor, and to unite the dem
'crats upon Col. Campbell.
In this attitude of things, might, with ea-
!ual plausibility and far more justice, claim
hat the popular will of the district in August
vas in my favor. What prejudces may have
'eeE created against me by the assault of my
nemies, through the Rogersville Times since
ne election; am not prepared to say. A trade
Il abuse, misrepresentation and denunciation
las been kept up against me and my friends
yer since dared to offer myself as candidate
Or seat in Congress from this district last,
pring, all of which l will reply to from the
tump If there is time oiven i, tbo Coyarnor,s