Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-07-29


invited to attend.
To tie Editors Of the Marshall Comfy
Democrat
SIRs:--I see in your paper of the
22d inst, tina: my name has been announc.
ed as candidate for Representative. lam
obliged to the friends who announced it,
whoever they may be--for the compliment:
but l desire to avoid being placed in a false
position, and by your leave 1 will endea-
vor to avoid it by a few words to the reo-
Pile through your paper.
have no desire for Office and am no Of
fee seeker. l have no longings for polti-
cal place. power or fame, for reasons good
to me; therefore will not become self
nominated Or self-announced candidate for
any Office. If my services are desired by
the people, and they so express themselves
without compromising me. l will render
the services; but l do not recognize even
their right to compromise me.
have been urgently solicited by
friends of all parties to become candidate.
l was often requested to become a candid
ate for Congress. / entirely refused. and
would accept of such nomination only on
condition that the matter was settled in eau
Gus outside of a convention, and the NOM
nation, when made, made unanimous in
the first instance.
The use of my name before the late Con-
gressional convention here. was wholly un-
authorized by me. and against my express
ed wishes and desire, and without my
knowledge at the time. l am grateful to
the friends who voted for me, as it was
purely voluntary on their part.
My views are these: if the people think
my abilities are such that they should re.
quire me to exercise them in Office for their
benefit. and see fit to place me there, l
have no right to decline; while. if they do
not call upon me unsolicited on my part. l
have no right to force myself upon them.
Therefore, if ever become public ser.
want in any civil capacity, must be an
nounced. nominated and elected, If at all,
by those who desire my services. without
solicitation from me. Nor will suffer,
even then. to have my name go into con-
vention in scramble with self seeking can
didates, for even nomination, and have it
banded about, carrying charges. true OF
false, and then receive nomination by q
bare majority.
The people or their delegates should set
tie these matters among themselves, by
conference, before they proceed to the final
act of nomination. They should talk mat
ters over, have an understanding. settle up
on some one person whom they desire to
present, and when the convention proceeds
to the final act o nominating, let it be as
near unanimous as possible on the first
vote. II elevates the candidate, creates
and keeps up harmony, clothes the party
with dignity, commands the respect ofeven
the dissatisfied and the inimical, stops the
mouth of SANDER, sends forth the candid
ate endowed by full expression of the
public opinion Of his party, stops men from
saying that he is either demagogue or an
interloper, and compels them to say that
The people of his party have confidence in
him.
Although il will be a pecuniary loss to
attend session of the Legislature, and to
me, no particular qualification of pride
except SO far IS it expresses the confidence
of my fellow-c citizens, yet, if am nomina-
ted and elected. l will consent to serve and
will endeavor to discharge my duties for
the benefit Of the whole people of the dis
trict and of the State, to the best of my
abilities. The Senate having confirmed
the election of two years ago, there will be
no U. S. Senator'S elected by the coming
Legislature.
! know of NJ political questions that
need occupy the time. Our laws need re-
vision if laws ever did. Every dead mans
estate becomes insolvent, no matter how
much it is worth; Taxes are oppressive,
Road and School laws impracticable; men
are elected to offices and the acceptance is
forced upon them by penalties for refusal,
and no one receives a reasonable compen
sation for services demanded. Important
trusts are placed in the hands of officers
and they are not guarded by sufficient Sc
curities.
It is high time that some legislating was
done for the people and the State of Indi-
ana, as there has beer enough for "Bun-
comb" 1t requires some practical knowl-
edge of business to do it, and it behooves
the people to act pradently, if they would
subserve their own interests. If they wish
me to act for them. they will now know my
views; and if they claim my services. they
should give me the equivalent Of at least,
expressing their wishes with some unanim-
ity and cordially, and not make target of
me for enemies to shoot at against my will,
nor require me to assume position as a
candidate for their benefit, in such a man.
ner as to cause me to be viewed under a
false estimate.
1t is hardly necessary for me to say
more. Begging your indulgence for the
space have occupied in your columns,