Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-13
NASHVILLE. July IItb. 1861.

| NASHVILLE, July llth, 1861.
STIRLING r. COCKRILI., ESq.,-DEAR SIR !:
Your note of yesterday was handed to ne
| this morning, in answer to which | have to
| state that previous to the commencement OF
| the war, which is now being SO unjustly
waged against the South, il was my settled
purpose, often repeated both publicly and
| privately, not to be candidate for re-elec-
| ton TO the Office of Governor OF Tennessee.
But having most cordially and earnestly co
operated with the great ma jOIity of the peo-
pie of the State, in resisting the usurpations
and tyranny of the Federal Government, and
in making formal declaration of independ-
ence of that Government and uniting our
fortunes and our destiny with the Provisional
Government of the Confederate States of
America. which policy has resulted in max
ing Tennessee a party to this unhOly war,
inaugurated for the destruction of our dearest
rights, our liberties and our equality; and be-
lieving, as | do, that the adoption of the
Permanent Constitution of the Confederate
States and the successful prosecution OF the
war are measures OF the greatest possible
Importance TO the people Of the State, as an
earnst advocate of this pLlcy, / have hereto
fore said to many friends and now repeat to
you, that there Is no position, where it is be-
lieved that can contribute materially 10 the
success OF this great cause. in which | am not
willing to serve to the fullest extent of my
ability, during the continuance of this strug-
gle-nO position in which am not willing to
devote all that | am, and all that [ have, to
a vigorous prosecution of the war until the
Independence OF the Confederate States shall
be acknowledged And believing, from the
proceedings Of many public meetings through
out the State. the declarations of the public
press, and the many urgent solicitations verb
ally aud by letter, that it is tue wish of de-
cided majority of the people that shall be
candidate for reelection, a proper sense OF
duty, as well as gratitude to my fellOw-citi-
Zeus for the confidence reposed, and
the honor they have heretofore done me, will
not allow me to decline position, accepted
in time of peace, the duties OF which have
been rendered so highly responsible import
ant and arduous by state of war. You
may therefore rest assured that if the people
of the State see proper to again assign me TO
the duties of this office, | shall not shrink
from an honest effort 10 perform them fully
and in good faith. In assuming the position
of a candidate, L regret that cannot meet
and confer personally with my fellOw-citizens
uyon the important questions of the day, but
the many responsible duties devolving upon
the office, the proper discharge of which can
not be safely delayed require my constant
presence and attention at the Department. l
must, Therefore, content myself by referring
the people of the State to my public acts of
the past as the highest guaranty that L can
offer for the future, feeling assured that from
them my positions and opinions are known
and distinctly understood by all who desire
TO know them.
Allow me in conclusion to tender to you
my thanks for the very fdttering manner in
which you were pleased to speak of my hum
BILE efforts to discharge, with fidelity, the du-
ties which the kindness and confidence of the
people of Tennessee have heretofore devolved
upon me.
have the honor to be. very respectfully, |
Yours, &C., lSHAM G. HARRIS.