American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-07-27
TO the Voters OF the Fourth Congress.
SIGNAL District,

TO the Voters of the Fourth Congress.
SIGNAL District,
Composed Of the Counties of Washington,
Holmes. Madison, Yazoo, Isaguena, Var
rem, Kinds Rankin, Scott Ne,cton, Clarke,
Jasper, Smith and LouderdaLe.
FEL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the late mes
sage of President Lincoln to the Congress of
the United States, and in view of the report
ed responses Of that body to his suggestions
and recommendations, have been compelled
to forego determination which | supposed
my limited means and large family, depend
tent on my professional Iabors, had made I'M
alterabe, never again to seek political office.
have some counses to offer my country in
This perilces crisis Of its fortunes, the adop-
ton of which, | feel assured, will render its
future safe. To give me title to offer
these to you, have deemed it proper 10 an
nounce myself candidate for your suflrages
/ in the ensuing Congressional election. |
have taken counsel only of my own heart in
this movement, and am alone responsible for
the opinions | utter. Judge them upon
/ their intrinsic weight. Admitting fuly tie
right of every citizen possessed of the Con-
stitusional qualifications for the office, to
solicit it of you, only ask, respectfully, yet
modestly, to maintain my own. | submit it
to your candid and just Judgment, but Will
it to 20 caucus, on smaller or larger scale.
1t is yours to vote, mine to submit.
(
ence to the present condition of oar beloved
State and Confederacy. and to the perma-
nent future of both. The next Congress
will have to lay the foundations Of the fu-
ture policy of our Government. The wis
dom OF our present Congress- now shortly to
assemble, may bear US safely through the
present danger. / have implicit conTideHce
in those who now represent you, knowing
them well. | expect to sustain all they will
enact in this session, as cordially do all
they have already enacted. But they will
scarcely legislate further than the present
emergency requires, and it seems to me
wise to pledge theIn In advance a full con-
currence in what their wisdom may mature
in legislation. ! fully, as citizen, give
them mine now, and ask you with me to
sustain them with your confidence.
/ make summary here of the points l
deem cardinal in our general future policy
I do not give my reasons noW-I reserve
them for my interviews with you in your
homes, which l shall seek, as far as my
means allow, before the election, or in ad-
dresses to you in public, if you seem to de-
sire it. 1t is for you, in the present state of
our country, to indicate, in your own way,
your preference as to the mode in which
this canvass shall be conducted. l only de-
sire that you shall clearly understand my
views, for seek your good in common with
my own, and shall appreciate daily, | trust,
the honor of your support, or yield sincerely
to your better choice.
am in favor of supporting our Confeder-
ate Government by duties on imposts, leav-
ing trade and commerce free as may consist
with economical administration. For war
purposes, prefer loans on Confederate faith,
and credit to direct taxation. and weaid only
resort to the latter if the former fail to fur
nish arms, provisions and men for the war.
l would favor short loans, providing in their
creation fixed fund for redemption when
due.
e Iwould enforce by law rigid accounta-
bility of all officers entrusted with the as
l sessment, collection and disbursement Of
5 public money-securing, by adequate salary
the services alike of all classes of our citizens
D who are capable, honest and faithful, but not
! making public offices objects for the greedy,
} would secure the independence of the
: judiciary, as the best bulwark of personal
; security and private right, by long terms o
/ Office, and salary adequate to secure ths
! most learned and capable Judges. | would
! secure, by the strongest guards, tie persona
: liberty of the citizen, and the inviolability
= Of the writ Of habeas corpus. | would give
t full effect to the Constitutional provision
!. which subordinates the military to the civil
! authority.
5 In the matter of naturalization, I would
e confer citizenship freely on emigrants, o
i certain good character, from every frendl,
t nation, but would give no suffrage, or eiyi
n or judicial Office to any foreigner from AM
b people now actively denying the right an,
:, justice of our Confederate cause, or seeking
a by any positive means, the destruction Q
: our slavery institution as now exisfin.
5 among US wish to build slave republi1
e on foundations beyond the reach of open o
. secret foes. Abraham lad slaves born il