Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-28
EpIroRs ESo
To the People of the 4th Congregational
Dis.ricf.

Dis.-ief.
CAMP CooKs, 22l Oet., 1861.
Fellow. Citizsns: 1t was with no view OF
personal ambition, but rather in compliance
with solicitations from various PORTIONS Of the
District that | consented in the first instance
10 declare myself q candidate for Congress.
did not imagine foT 4 moment, that | vas
forbidden by any legal disability, 10 hold the
office to which / was invited 10 aspire: and
BY. reference to the Confederate Constitution,
I hnd explicit confirmation Of ny original
opinion.
The Constitution ordains that "no person
holding any Office under the Confederate
States shall be member OF either house during
bis continuance in Office"
Now, commissioned exclusively by the Com
monwealth of Virginia, and holding no office"
or appointment " hatsoever, under the Con,
fedora 9 St .tes," l an cleirly and .utq ~Icslion.
ably eligible to a seat 10 Congress.
1t never occurred to me that q commission In
the volunteer forces of the State, involved a"y
disqualification for the civil Service. On.thc
contrary Iconceiveditto oe entirely proper, and,
Indeed, desirable, that the Interests OF tho brave
men engaged on tho field in maintaining the
honor and independence ofthe country, should
be championed in Congress By persons per-
fectly familiar with their needs and wishcs,
and peculiarly competent. by identity Of for
time and intimate association, TO represent
them with zeal and effect. Certainly, q chief
motive in determining me to announce myself
q candidate, was the desire of enjoying an OPP
p~ortunity to contribute by voice aud vote
somewhat to the comfort and Encouragement
of my fellow.soldiers. I know their priva-
tons their unsel6sh patriotism I appreciate
~and-pardon the candor of the aVowal-tcon-
slider myself better qualified to legislste in re-
spect Of their interests, than can ba any gen.
tleman, no matter what his abilities. who
views the life of a soldier from the distant re-
pose of a curtained' chamber.
Nor did I apprchend exposing myself to the
imputation of indelicacy, when. I yielded to
the request Of my old constituents, and agreed
to stand for Congress. I remembered that
within a very recent period gentlemen had
served, at one and tho sane time, as members
of the Legislature and member Of the CON.
~vention, besides being, in many cases, Attor.
neys for the. Commonwealth and Presidents Of
Railroads, and all this without mourning the
reproach Of an inordinate passion for place.
Among the delegates to the Provisional Con-
gress were several, and they not tho least
eminent and useful, who were ut once civil
ggeagaEassfpssa9tattiyyses and military ohisltains. For
and Barlow, the pride and glory of our citizen
soldiers. Yet, against these men nobody uyc7
heard a whisper Of criticism or complaint.
Familiar with these facts, ! could not antici.
pate, whatever other valid objections might bc
urged against my election, that I would 30 op
posed on tho grouad Of my connection with
L. $1,000 To- $50 I = A., o-,tr van
Congress by the State Convention, after / had
been in the military service for months, con.
veyed to me satisfactory assurance thst might
hold a seat in the Legislature and p commission
in the Army, without tie least impTopriety.
About the motive Of this clamor against tho
election of military officers to Congress-. / am
not permitted to enquire; but | cannot be
persuaded that the people intend, by an abso'
lutte exclusion of volunteers from all civil trusts,
to insure a monopoly of public honors to those
who remain at home, and to impose the pain.
full burden Of political disability 90 thu men
who have taken up arms in defence Of their
country. We claim no applause for our con-
duct 1t was our duty, plain and imperative.
But, 10 the name of the fifty thousand volun-
tecrs whom Virginia has supplied to the South,
| I protest against the idea OF making their ser.
vice in the field o cause Of political d!s!raa.
chisement.
In any event I havo no scruplcs on the mat.
ter. If it be lndelfcate for me to he at once
member Of Congress and Colonel of Volunteers,
that is an issue between me and nv corstitu.
ents. In my own mind, am satisfied have
forfeited nothing of tho confidence and good
Will of those constituents, by offering my fec
bic arm to help uphold our imPerilled lib.
critics.
With these convictions, l continue a candl-
date for Congress-on the condition. however,
that in case l find myself embarrassed by con.
fictiug engagements of duty, l may be per-
mitted to resign my seat in Congress,
Ny position in the Army I will not surren.
der until the conclusion Of peace. l sm en-.
listed for the IA Respectfully,
ROGER A. PRYoR.