The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-08-01
EVANSVILLE, July 81, 1856.
GENTLEMEN:-

EVANSVILLE, July 81, 1856.
GENTLEMEN
Your communication of the 9th inst,
signed by one hundred of my ellow-citizens,
of this city and county, honoring me with the
request to have my name placed before the
people as a candidate to represent Vanderburg
county in the next Legislature, has been re-
ceiyed and under consideration for two or
three days.
My past life is before you, and the fact that
have not only not sought Office, but have
avoided ii, is known to many of you. l should
be heartily glad still, to escape the strife of the
political arena, whether that strife should lead
to defeat or success and NAV add, that duties
already assumed, which at present fully occupy
my time and which are just. now the more
pressing from loss of time by recent sickness
and present weakness make it impossible that
should devote much time to political can
vass.
But your communication which comes from
men Of all parties, fatters me by putting my
selection upon the ground of your confidence
in my devotion to our common interests and
my consequent ability to concentrate the nee
essary vote.
Opposed to this is the fact that party for
years past dominantin this county by no small
majority has conventional nominee already
in the field for. the same office.
1t has not escaped my notice, that in your
in 10
servatism of my principles,yo have not enqui-
red into my present views on national politics,
whilst, although you know that acted with
the Wings, whilst that party had an organiza-
ton, it is impossible that very many of you
should have any knowledge as to my present
political principles. and on that subject you
have right to be informed.
Born in foreign land, brought to the then
far West by my parents when six years of
age, having since passed through all the pri-
vations and every phase of Western life, and
spent several of the best years of my life in
devotion to public Improvements and devel-
oping the resources of the county virtually
without compensation, l may be pardoned,
though no Office seeker, if l did not fraternize
with the Know Nothing movement, which
seemed to me to threaten myself and and tens
Of thousands of others in like case innocent
of any offence, to some extent with virtual
disfranchisement not warranted by the Con-
stitution Attic same time thought it both
ungracious and impolitic for foreigners to
criminate and denounce native Americans, to
whose liberal national policy they the foreign
born were indebted for an asylum from the
despotic and over peopled governments of the
old world, under the flag and the free Coasti-
tuition of this great Republic. 1 trusted to
time and more moderate counsels, and held
my peace. Until lately, and since the coun-
try has become organized in parties, under the
leadership Of the three candidates for the
Presidency, 1 have stood aloof from all par
ties. Now overlooking minor issues, depre-
eating the unfortunate and disastrous agita-
ton eff the subject of slavery, by the present
Administration in contravention of the pledge
of tbs leaders of the party on going into pow
er, and finding neither repentance nor promise
of am sndment in the Cincinnati Platform, but
rather cause for fear in the Cuban question SO
unfortunately opened at Ostend.
Fearing too that the platform of the Ere
mont party is too narrow for the whole ceun-
try to stand ON, and having determined to
stand on no platform on which both the North
and the South cannot find ample room and
verge enough, l find by such lights as pos
sess, but one leadership which | can follow,
that is the leadership of Mr.. Fillmore.
l firmly believe that in his return to power.
the country will have the strongest possible
guaranty for its future peace and prosperity.
If gentlemen, with this knowledge of my
present views on national policy, with what
you know of my past life, you and my fellow
citizens at large, shall see fit to honor me with
seat in the next Legislature, shall with
such humble abilities as / have be at your or
their service. Very Respectfully,
JOHN INGLE, JR.
III. W. FOSTER. JOHN J.. CHANDLER.
THos. COLLINS and others.