Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-08
A Card.
sMTHyHLE Tennessee,

ADrii 9th. 1865
FsHolo Citizens Of lie Slya Judicial Circuit ~ adj
dress you this circular to announce that am can
didate for the Office Of Attorney General Of the
9th socitoral district the election to be held on
the 9TH Thursday in Nay next. | have expected
heretofore TO be candidate for the Office at the
expiration of the term of the present incumbent,
but it appears from the card Of Tim. Il. Williams,
that he has resigned year in advance of the expi-
ration Of his term, and has declared himself can
ddatefor reelection upon the day after his resigna-
ton takes effect This course is quite xpected to
me, and suppose 1t wills strange to every per-
son in the district It looks very much like an ef
fort to secure an advantage, and whether Mr..
Williams so intended it not it is calculated to
operate a surprise upon me and and others as
pring to the office for the reason that there is but
single Court to be held in the district before the
day of election, which is very close at hand, nor
are there any public gathering of the people where
candidates could present their claims discuss the
claims of Mr.. Williams.
1t may be that Mr. Williams did not so intend this
injury to Others butmerely wished to take chance
for this Office now, and in case he should fail, to be
In condition to try his hand for some other Office in
the general elections Of 1851 am butlittle known
&c a large number of voters IN the district, while
Mr. Williams has whatever advantage there may be in
general acquaintance I5elam to be qualified TO
discharge the duties Of the office, and shall endeayor
to see as many of you rs possible between this and
the day of election. My residence lsan SmIthVllle
where have practiced law for the iast three years.
respectfully refer All WHO ueSIfC 10
the citizens of DeBalb county, to whether / am
honest and capable Of filling this Office to the salts
faction Of the public. Mr.. Williams says in his
card that he has discharged the duties of the Office
faithfully. But his assertion does not prove the
fact and it is my duty to you and myself to state
my view of the case, and if l shall do it without
any abuse Of him. matter now startling and over
4 whelming the proof may be, an old prosecutor has
no right to complain.
1t is not necessary that 1 should answer the req
l. 70, L, H. T.eI.
all proper respect for him. they appear to futile
and childish. But, in regard to the office, it has
J been reported that Mr.. Williams has made twelve
| OF fifteen thousand dollars, and between six and
seven thousand dollars of the same was made the
year after the last Presidential election but on this
subject have no knowledge, nor is the matter i'm
I pOrtant whether he has made much little. l
I make against Mr.. Williams, such Attorney Gene
raj the following distinct and specific charges, and
] submit the same for the judgement Of the people
LIST. / deny that Mr.. Williams has executed the
office of Attorney in the spirit of our Constitution
and laws, and with justice to the community and
individuals, and to the satisfaction of the bar
I'd. In proof of this charge l submit the follow
ing facts
| / have, since the appearance of Mr.. Williams
card, carefully examined the records Of the DeKalb
County Court from the beginning of Mr.. Williams
term of Office to the present time; and from that it
appears that Mr.. Williams has prosecuted 800 cases
of misdemeanors, or small offences, and that they
were ulSpOSeu OF Llle IOlONliB were
dismissed at the cost of the County, % acqut-
ted; As were convicted; IS were submitted, and 1873
were compromised by the Attorney General enter
ing g1OUe dismissal, by the defendant assuming
the cost. Now, in regard to these l33 with whom
Mr. Williams compromised. | say that If they were
guilty the morals Of TIE community, Mr.. Williams
duty officer, and the laws of the land de-
manded their conviction and punishment. And if
they were innocent it an abuse of his Office
and of the name and power Of the State to inst-
D nArfa
cious prosecutions and thus compel them to buy
their peace by securinghs fees and the COST the
cheapest mode Of escaping an unJIst lawsuit
Doubtless, Mr.. Williams in his peculiar way of
kissing everybody has tried to make the honest men,
believe he has done them a great favor but am of
opinion that very few of them will take that view
of the matter They know as well any judge or
lawyer tell them, that it is the duty of the At
! tOrney-General to prosecute the guilty without
favor fear, affection and to let the innocent
cape without cost or YeXatiOn. In regard to these
matters, Mr. Williams cannot escape this response
bity, for the Court invariably permits the Attorney
General to take his own course about them / sup
pose the records Of the other courts in the district
will show similar course of administration on the
I part of Mr.. Williams, and l propose to submit the
| question to the consideration Of every voter,
whether the Office has been administered in accor-
dance with the spirit Of law and the good Of the
people, or with view to the popularity and pecu-
mary interest of the incumbent
Mr. Williams in his haste to defeat the Just expec-
tatons of younger members of the profession, not
only fOrgets the universally recognised doctrine of
rotation in office but violates the practice of all his
| predecessors. My information is that neither Mr.
Brien nor Cen CuiOm asked for a reelection and
that Col Savage and Gov. Campbell resigned long
| before the expiration of their term of Office and
yet Mr. Williams, who obtained the office by con-
testing Mr.. Murrays election, thinks that he ought
| to have it twelve years, while others quite well
qualified he is discharge its duties, have
SAT- stip1 witt 81 he MIA
truth is that Mr. Williams has held the Office long
enough he has no claim upon the people for re-
election. If he cannot now make 4 living at the
law without it, this only proves that he ought never
to have been elected.
shall be ready to meet Mr. Williams, at any time
and place before the public and for these and other
reasons shall insist that he has claims to a
Ond term; and if l should be fortunate enough to
receive it at your hands, no man could be more
grateful for the favor. anxious to discharge
its duties faithfully.
1 am respectfully your obedient servant,
X. B. ANDERSON.