Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-29
4 osrd--Hon. Joha ?. House.

Card--Hon. John r. House.
10 Gs Yates Of ,Sumnsr. Robertson, cleatham
+ Montgomery. isteoa1t, Dresser, A9nPhrsys csd
Eiesasan Coxntiss-z 20 TSz-sT zscs = +
FELLOW CITlzEsss A few weeks since I an
bounced myself as a candidate for Congre=s
10 the counties then comprising the Eighth
Congressional District. in obedience to- Wha'
believed to be general desire for me to do
50. When penned that card, it was thou ghl
that would have no opposition. and if the
district had remained the same as when
was elected, am satisfied that should have
had noae. But, recently, as yeu are aware,
the State has been re-distrieted, and find
myself in a district com posed in part OF
other counties than those which / have the
honor to represent in the Provisional Con-
gress. According TO old party divisions, the
district has now Democratic majority of
nearly three thousand. DR.. THOMAS MENEEs
has announced himself as candidate for
Congress in this district. He has been con-
nected prominently with the Democratic
party, and has been known to the people of
the district, hitherto, as party leader. 1t
is known to those of you who know me at
all, that 1 have heretofore been connected
with the old Wing or Opposition party. No
man of ordinary intelligence can fail tc see
that race between DR.. MESEEs and myself
would have direct tendency to draw old
party lines, and to revive old party feelings
and prejudices. Ii is true, have served the
people but very short time in Congress, but
would not be instrumental, directly or in
directly, in raking from the astes of the
past, he dying embers Of party strife, for
forty seals in Congress. The general idea,
first becoming conviction with the people,
shat old party lines should be obliterated,
coupled with the fact that my term of ser
vice had been SO very brief, induced me to
believe that should have no opposition in
endeavOred to discharge my duty faithfully
during the short time 1 have had the honor
of seat in Congress. have heard no COM
plant of my course as q representative from
any quarter. SIS p
know that DR.. MENEEs deprecates, in the
card announcing himself, the idea of reviv-
ing old party feelings, and says there ought
to be unity and harmony among the people.
i cannot see how race between him and
myself would have tendency to keep down
party spirit or to produce harmony among
the people. But can see how such a race
would have direct tendency to revive party
prejudice, and to kindie the flames of discord
among our people. Hence 1 have determin-
ed not to be party to any such contest.
1t shall never be said of me, that whilst our
young R-public was struggling for existence
whilst our gallant soiuiers upon the field
were off-ring up their lives in Its defence
L was engaged in a contest calculated to
arouse old party feelings and to engender
discoFd among the people at home. When
ran for Congress in the August election, my
and myself both belonged to the
anne old party. ] made the proposition to
him that We should make no speechss; be as
sented 10 1t aud we made no canvass. Our
merits were submitted to the PEG
pie uniDfuenced ny any parry feeling what
ever. The people went to the ballot box
quietly and voted between US I have no
reason to complain of the result, aud TAX
bis occasion to return to those who support
ed me my profound thanks for the honor
conferred upon me. But, 1 have not me.
man since Mr.. MENEEs' card Appeared who
did not deprecate race between us on tbs
ground that II acould excite old party feelings
Many have urged me to run anyhow saying
that had already announced myself-had
served but few weeks in Congress, and that
the responsibility Of inaugurating the con
test could not be fixed on me- But kaosO
such contest would do harm, and although
rbe responsibility might not attach to me, !
yet the mischief would be done notwitbstand-
ing. Hence I Withdraw my name. and in
doing so have thought it due to you that
should frankly state the reasons that impell-
ed me to take the step. JOHN F. House.
CLARKsvILLE, Oct. "a, 1861.