Des Arc citizen., 1860-08-01
Letter from Col. John c. Davie.
GREENvILLE, GREEN Co, IENN'

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 DEAR SIR: You will please publish the TOT lowing. as I deem it my duty to inform my friends of my situation, and the unavoidaole cause of my not returning, accordlng'to Pro- mise. u;sod
 sunnose my friends are mostly aPPrIsed of tbe fact that my design in travelling was to imnrove. if possible, the feeble health or my wife. For that purpose intended taking her to some healthy location in the mountains ot East Tennessee, and leave. her Tn chaTse ol one of her sisters who had promised to So with us and take charge ot her during E., my ao- senca in returning to Arkansas. When we arrived at tbe place where her sister had been stavinc we learned that she had left and gone to Mississippi. Not having time to wait TOT her. we passed on and wrote for to come to the place where we designed stopping.
 rho fatignes of travelling over rough roau and chance of water had bad effect. and my ,y;fe hecsme so feeble and eblitated that we were compelled to stop repeatedly for ner strength to recruit. When we arrived at the nlace where I designed leaving her ard re- turning home, her situation was such that could not, with any feeling of humanity, ieave. I impatiently waited for her health 10 im- prove, hoping and expecting, in the meahtinhe, that her sister would arrive, so that m'she return. But my hopes were fruitless, and my situation became more and more unpleasant, knowing that the time was at hand when my friends would daily be expecting me oack. Vet felt it to be my imperative duty not to abandon my sick companion. l was utterly at a loss to know what course to pursue, ana up to the present time have been kept In tIis snsnense. My feelings could be more easily imagined than expressed. Thus you will see I have been unavoidably debarred from re- turning in time to participate Tn the speaking r1<N,,c trN appointments thing that was anxious to engage in, from the fact of knowing that IL was the desire of my friends. Moreover, hadn't given my views and opinions so definite and rxnlicit in nv circular as I would have done had supposed at that time that would be deprived of the opportunity of doing so In public discussion.
 Yet. as the duty and business of legislator is merely to reflect the wishes and policy or his constituents, it is not so important that he should give his views and opinions as that he should learn theirs. At least it is not his province to dictate, contrary to their desire, the policy and laws that they should or should not be governed by He should only will to do what his constituents want done and for that purpose it is only necessary for him to learn of them what they require of him as their representative and when he has learned their wishes and demands, it Is his duty, as their servant. to abide their mandates and use his utmost influence for the accom- plishment of such measures as he knows they desire and his interests demand. Therefore; it is decidedly more important that leglsla- tor should know the wants and interest Of hlS constituents than that he should merely tell what he will or will not do. No representa- tive should will to do what his constituents dc not want done. Should he be so egotistical as to set himself up as dictator, and require stIlc subservience to his mandates, he would be ar unfaithful and dangerous servant, and mol worthy of the suffrages of an honest commu nity. Such men should not be risked as pub lie agents, but rather those whose only desire would be to act in conformity with the known will and interest of those they represent.
 These facts being evident, the most impor tant matters for a legislator to know is wha policy is demanded, and what laws require modifying, repeating or enacting, for the mn' tual interest and prosperity of the inhabitants of the State and county.
 The mere canvassing a county and making stump speeches for few days, would but lilly qualify a man to represent the county as leg isator. He could not possibly learn, in SC short time. the good or bad effects of tht different laws of the State, and the policy best suited for the development of all the grea industrial pursuits.
 Had not believed that was pretty wei posted on these matters long before my nomi nation, certainly would not have accepted it but having lived in the State for the last eigh years and during that time been pretty close observer of the policy and laws, and the differ. ent bearings and influences they had on the in terest and prosnerity of the inhabitants, I mus have been very dull of comprehension and ap. prehension, not to have learned by this timc what policy and laws are best suited to tht interest and prosperity of my neighbors, ant the citizens of the county and State.
 My own, or personal interest, if nothing else, would have dictated the policy best suit ed to the wants of large majority of the in habitants, being identified with them in tht honorable pursuit of farming, and feeling al ardent desire for the adoption of such meas ures, and the passage and modification of suct laws as would be most likely to advance tht interest, prosperity and happiness of those with whom live. Tn }refore it could not req, sonably be supposed that my views and opin ions would conflict materially with the inter est of the citizens of the county.
 It truly would have afforded me great dea of pleasure to have met with my friends at the the different speaking appointments, and also to have discussed the different topics that arc exciting public attention; yet, if the capaci- ty and qualifications of myself or competitors as legislators, should be derived solely from what we might learn ourselves, or others learr from us, during so short canvass, we cer- tainly would be poorly qualified to represent you in your legislature.
 must say to my honorable competitors that although have been debarred from the con. hict, and they have had an open field and faiI fight-bringing their batteries to bear against me occasionally, no doubt-yet I must claim an advantage over them. As they have been in hot combat for some time, it would be req sonable to suppose they had well nigh ex- hausted their strength and ammunition, while l have been reservihg my fire, that might bring it to bear with force and effect in our next legislature, and make it tell in defence of the rights of the people of Prairie county.
 will return as soon as my wife's health will permit. She is improving fast, and 1 think shall be with you ere long.
 Your ob't serv't, JNO. c. DAVE.
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