Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-27
A CARD.
A CARU.
STATE OF TENNESSEE, !
SMITRyIILE. April 10. 1890.


SMITHvILLE, April 10, 1890.
Fszlo,0 Citizens of the Sixth Judicial Circuit:
I address this Circular to announce that 1
am a candidate for the Office of Attorney
General of the 9th Solicitorial District, at
the election to he holden On the 4th Thursday
in May next. have expected heretofore 10
be candidate for tie Office al the expira-
tion of the term of the present incumbent,
but it appears from the card OF Tim. ii. Will
liams that he has resigned year in advance
of the expiration of his term, and has de-
clared himself a candidate for reelection
upon the day after his resignation is to take
effect. This course is quite unexpected to
me, and | suppose il will seem strange to
every person in the District. 1t looks very
much like an effort to secure an advantage,
and whether Mr.. Williams so intended it or
not, it is calculated to operate as a surprise
upon me and others aspiring To the office,
for the reason that there is bu single Court
to be held in the District before the day Of
election (Which is very close at handy nor
are there any public gatherings of the people
where candidates could present their claims
or discuss the claims of Mr.. Williams. 1t
NAV be that Mr.. Williams did not so intend
this iljury TO others, but merely 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 1861. / am but little known to
a large number of voters in the District.
while Mr.. Williams has whatever advantage
there may be in general acquaintance: but
| claim 10 be qualified TO discharge the duties
of the Office, and shall endcavOr to see as
many of you as possible between this and
the day of election. My residence is in
Smithville, where | have practiced law for
the last three years, and | respectfully refer
all who desire TO inquire, to the citizens of
DrKalb county as TO whether am honest
and capable of filing the Office 10 the salts
faction OF the public.
Mr. Williams says in his Card that he has
discharged the duties of his Office faithfully.
But his assertion does not prove the fact, and
il is my duty to you and myself to state my
views of the case, and if L shall do 1t without
any abuse of him, no matter how startling
and overwhelming the proof may be, an old
prosecutor has no right to complain. 1t is
not necessary that l should answer the rea-
sons urged by Mr.. Williams for his re-elec-
tion-with all proper respect for him, they
appear to me futile and childish But in
regard to the profit of the office, it has been
reported that Mr.. Williams has made twelve
OF fifteen thousand dollars, and between six
and seven thousand of the same was made
the year after the last Presidential election.
But on this subject l have no knowledge. nor
is the matter important whether he has made
much or little. make against Mr.. Williams
as such Attorney General, the following dis
tiDct and specific charges, aud submit the
same for the judgment of the people: list,
l deny that MIR. Williams has executed the
Office of Attorney General in the spirit OF our
Constitution and laws, and with justice TO
the community and individuals, and to the
saiisfac ton OF the bar. I'd, lu proof of this
charge L submit the following tacts: have
since the appearance of Mr.. Williams Gard
carefully examined the records OF the De-
Kalb 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 $40 cases of misdemeanors or
small offences, and that they were disposed
OF in the following manner: 25 were dis
missed at the cost of the county, 20 were ac-
quilted, As were convicted, IS We're submit
ted, and l33 were compromised by the At
torney General entering a NOile, or dismissal
by the defendant assuming the cost. Now,
i'll regard to these l3S, with whom MIR. vii
liams compromised, l say that if they were
guilty, the morals of the community, Mr..
Williams duty as an officer, and the laws OF
the land, demanded their conviction and
punishment, aud il they were innocent il
was an abuse of his Office. and OF the name
and power of the State to Institute or main
tain against them frivolous and malicious
prosecutions, and thus compel them 10 buy
their peace 10y securing his ices and the cost,
as the cheapest mode vi escaping an unjust
law suit.
Doubtless Mr.. Williams, in his peculiar
way of kissing Everybody, has tried to make
these honest men believe be has done them
a great favor. but am OF opinion that very
few Of them will take that view OF the mat
ter. They know as well as any Judge or law
yer can tell them that il is the duty of the
Attorney General to prosecute the guilty
without favor, fear or affection, aud TO let
the innocent escape without cost or vexatioa.
Ia regard TO these matters Mr.. Williams can
not escape his responsibility. for the Court
invariably permits the Attorney General 10
take his own course about them l suppose
the records OF the other courts in the district
will show a similar Course of administration
on the part OF Mr.. Williams, and propose
to submit the question to the consideration of
every voter whether the Office has been adj
mlnIstered in accordance with the spirit Of
our laws. and the good of the people, or with
view 10 the POPULARITY and lecuniary in
terest of the incumbent. Mr.. Williams, in
bis haste 10 defeat the just expectations Of
younger members Of the profession. not only
iorgets the universally recognized doctrine
OF rotation in Office, bat violates the practice
OF all his predecessors. My information Is
that neither MIR. Brien or Gen. CuliVm asked
Tor a reelection. and that Col. Savage and
GOV. Campbcll Resigned long before The ex-
piratiUn OF their term ot otiice, and yet MIR.
Williams, who obtained the Office by contest
ing Mr.. Murray's election, thinks thai he
ought TO have il twelve years. while Others
quite as well qualified as he is TO discharge
its duties, have been satisfied with less than
six years Now the plain truth is that MIR.
Williams has held the Office long enough
be has no claims upon the people for a re-
election. II he cannot now make living At
The law without il, this only proves that he
ought never To have been elected. shall b.
ready % meet Mr.. Williams at any time and
place before The public, aud for these aud
other reasons l shall insist that be has no
claims To a SECOND term, aud II l should be
forIunats enough 10 receive IL at your hands,
no man could be more grateful for The iavoT
oE more anxious to diselarge its duties faith
fully.
am respectfully, your ob't serv't. &C.,
K Is. ANDERSON.