Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-04-24
CLARKsv1LLE. April 10. 1857.

d o. vi. DfE-
Gentlemen On yesterday 1 had the
honor of receiving from your hands your
letter of the 18th inst, informing me that
the Convention of the American party, |
which met here ON the 14th, had nominal
ted me candidate for Congress in this
Congressional District.
At the time this high and unsolicited
honor was conferred upon me, was not
in Tennessee, and had been absent one
month in toe State of Arkansas. l sincere
ly regret was not present. and especially,
that the nomination did not fall on one of
the three gentlemen whose just claims to
the Office had been canvassed before the
people of the District IF had been
here at the time, I am confident sincere
word of reconciliation, and brotherly kind
ness dropped at the proper time, like oil
upon the troubled waters, would have
tranquilized the opposing sentiments of
the Convention.
In all the political conflicts through
which Tennessee has passed since 1886, l
have borne my full share. I have hest
tated not to bare my right arm in the bat
tie and my bosom to the shafts of malig-
nant opposition,-
"If dangers path was dangerous known
That dangers self was lure alone,"-
nor would l turn my back upon it now, if I
believed l was called upon to lead forlorn
hope; I would do it or die in the ditch
Such, however, is not our position in this
District. Our party is strong and never
stronger than now. The Democratic
party, not content with defeating us in
November last, have stung us to resent
ment and aroused our giant powers by
slandering our motives, traducing our pur-
poses, and by heaping prosecutions upon
our heads. They seem to have forgotten
that "the blood of the martyrs sows the
seed of church"
After the Presidential election, we bowed
without a murmur to the voice of the pe0-
pie, however expressed. They seem to
have mistaken our quiet for paralysis and
our slumber for death They will find we
are but refreshed by our repose and like
Acteus, have gathered strength by our
fall
With the Wing and American parties, 1
shared in all their triumphs and wept with
them when our principles were trodden
down: personally, defeat brought me but
little anguish; if l suffered it, mourned
more for the triumph of error over truth
than / did over my own fall. If any thorn
has been left in my heart 10 did not rankle
there; but if it had, this fattering compli-
ment bestowed upon me, in my absence, by
4 convention of the 9Th congressional dis
trict, by my old friends and neighbors--
those who have known me longest and best
in all the walks Of life, whether as a Law.
yer, Politician, or private citiEen-has ex-
tfacted it and given it to the winds forever,
and has filled my heart with feeling Of
gratitude to this people, that shall abide
with me to the latest hour of my existence
And yet painful duty-the most painful
l have ever been called upon to perform
compels me to decline this nomination SC
enthusiastically bestowed. / was taker
wholly by surprise; 1 had no foreshadow
ing of such a result, and within the las
; twenty days, have entered into business
engagements that will require my close ant
undivided attention during the whole o
this spring and approaching summer.
take the step with less reluctance from thu
conviction that there are many others
younger men than myself and more able Il
bear the labors of a canvass, who can carr!
our banner in triumph through the Dis
b trict. No man will contribute more to tina
triumph than l will, or, at least, yield I