Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-03-10
WASHINGTON. Feb Is, 1856
70 the Editor Of the Journal

70 The Editor Of the Josunal
Ia your paper Of the 18th ultimo, have seen
that you have placed my name before the people
of the Sixth Congressional District of Tennessee,
as q candidate for reelection to the popular branch
of the American Congress For the very f1atteriDc
and complimentary manner in which you have
been pleased to speak ome personally as well as my
public services, tender you the assurance of my
sincere acknowledg ements.
am and ever have been democrat in senti-
meut, sympathy and practice. Because l beleya I'd
the principles professed by the democratic party
ere the only principles upon which our Govern
Inellt can be successfully administered. And / am
unconscious Of ever having done anything inten-
tionally to mar the harmony, CT endangeg the tri-
umph oG the party, or the successful establishment
cf its principles. I first announced myself as
candidate for Congress in March lS43, at q time
when there was no candidate in the District. In Il
few DAYS snoher democrat entered the field as ny
cuLapet,or. With no great desire at that time 10
b. 'ec,ed % Congress and certainly no wish 10 di-
vide @. distract lie party, declined Without al
vYg i,U,a NE or agency on nay part, convection
was called AMI assembled.
The dtlegateq 70 tlat convention could not agree
upon iis basis OF action and di7iGed-and portion
wihGrcg-tLose remaining, representing, as did
not then doubt, majority OF the democracy, as
well as majority Of The voters Of the district hon
ured me with a unanimous nomination.
Under the circumstances / did not feel at liberty
10 decline the nom nation made and rendered IN
solicited on my part. l accepted and e-entered
tLe field some two months before the election
the result was nv election in a manner most graft
fyng and highly flattering to my feelings. At each
succeeding election since that time have been re-
elected without convention or nomination, there
being at no time rival aspirant calling for or ma
king such interpositon necessary.
inflammation has reached me thatfherp are others
in the district, prompted 10y patriotism and laud
able ambition who desire to occupy the position 50
long held by ne seemingly by common consent.
And i p,ay be the wish of many in the district, in
ascordance with that sound republican principle &C
rotation in office and frequent change OF public
servants to change their Representatives. 50 /
shall inteTpnsc no obstacles 10 the contamination CT
their wishes, bnt on the contrary viii labor as
faithfully and zealousiv in private to tue
success Of their wishes when known as | have ever
done in public
In no period Of equal length in the history of
our Government has there been more important
and Interesting questions presented for the consid
Grafton Of tae people ami settlement by their rep
rs5cntatives than during the somewhat protracted
term Of my public service Entering the political
arena lust al that interesting period in history
when our State government required TO be re-
modelled under the constitution of 1885, being tho
time also when the people of Tennessee first Ovid
ed and srrayed themselves into two great antagon-
istc parties have passed through and been an &C
i've though humble participation in all the excited
and exciting contests through which We have passed
from that TO the present time
The reorganization Of our State Government
the State internal improvement and Financial
Systems The annexation of Texas-the Settle
nlent of the Oregon questionable adjustment of
the TarifF-the Independent Treasury-the Mexi-
can war and its pToSecutiOn-thea acquisition OF ex-
tensive Territories-the admission of new States
and the organization OF Territorial governments
involving the dangerous sectional question OF slsv-
cry, are few OF tie more important questions allu
ded TO- my action upon which as well as the thou
sand Of Others upon which | have been called to
act my first and paramount object has been TO
know and faithfully represent the will, the wishes
and the interest OF my constituents III such man.
ner IS hest to secure and pe!petuate the integrity
OF the Government and promote the happiness AMI
prosperity Of the people; and it is the most pleas
ing reflection of my life tina: have received 40
many unmist akeable testimonials of the approba-
ton and continued confidence Of my constituents.
l entered public life under the conviction that
in government like ours; no one should ever bel
politician 10y trade or profession. In my expert
ence in public lie and intercourse with public men,
have seen nothing 10 weaken or change, but
much TO strengthen and confirm that conviction
and il my practice has been in seeming conflict
with my convictions 1t has been in obedience to
what believed 10 be the viii and wishes Of those
whose servant | am and have Jeeu
For the las. three years my health has been gem
orally feeble at times much so as to excite the
serious apprehensions Of friends tor nv fate: and
will require relaxation sud attention to restore
After mature and anxious elaboration l have
come 10 the conclusion to withdraw from public
If. and will not be a candidate for election in Aug
ust next
In conclusion I do in the sincerity of heart
pr0foundlv impressed with gratitude, tender to NV
friends and constituents, Acknowledgements Of the
deep sense Of obligations under which their many
acts OF kindness, continued confidence and uniform
approval Of nv public course have placed me and
The assurance Of my cordialco operation with them
n everything calculated to promote their hsppiness
and prosperity and 10 perPetuate the blessings
through all time of our common Government
Ee-y truIy your and their ob't serv't
@. ". JoNEs.
WILSON CoCNTY.-Ths vote in Wilson county
IL 2