The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-07-02

Kentucky P0Iitics-The Hon Chas, A
WiekBfe Brought ont as a Democrat
ic Candidate for GOvernOr-His Let
ter Defining His Position. -'
- [From the louisville Democrat June 23.1
.aAE NIt E. BARDsTowE, June 81, 1853.
.Messrs. w. F. Bullock, Robert Cochran, L. S
Trimble, Thomas p. Hughes, R. C. Palm q
GENTLEMEN-Your communication O
the 18th inst. has been received. 1t is a.
follows:
LOUISVILLE, June 13, 1868.
Hon. G. A. WIcKLIFFE-Dear Sir: The
undersigned in behalf of many in all part:
of this Commonwealth, believe it political
necessity to reorgsnize the Democratic party
in the State, in association with those in
the North who have stood by the Govern
ment and the Constitution throughout this
deplorable civil war. They constitute the
only political party of the North with whom
any party South will have any afiliation,
while a political association between the
two section of the country is indispensable
to restoration of the Union.
We can not consent to the doctrine that
the Constitution and laws are inadequate to
the present emergency; that the constitu-
tional guarantees of liberty and property can
be suspended by war.
our Constitution should be a fair weather
document, to be laid away in storm, or
fancy garment to be worn only in dry
weather. On the contrary, in times like
the present, that constitutional restraints
on the power of those in authority are
needed. .. .-.
We hold the Federal Government one
of limited powers, that can not be enlarged
by the existence of civil commot:on.
We hold the rights reserved to the States
equally sacred with those granted to the
United States. The Government has no
more right to disregard the Constitution and
laws of the States than the States have to
disregard the Constitution and laws of the
United States. -
We hold that the Administration has
committed grave errors in con6scation bills,
lawless proclamations and military orders
setting aside Constitutions and avs, and
making arrests outside of military lines
where there is no public danger to excuse
It.
1t is now. obvious that the fixed purpose
of the Administration is to arm the negroes
of the South to make war upon the whites,
and we hold it to be the duty of the people
of Kentucky to enter against such policy
q solemn and most emphatic protest.
We hold as sacred and inalienable the
right of free speech and free press; that
the Government belongs TO the people, and
not the people to the Government.
We hold this rebellion utterly unjustit-
able in its inception, and dissolution OF
the Union, the greatest of calamities. We
would use all just and constitutional means
adapted 10 the suppression OF the one and
the restoration Of the other.
Having observed your uniform and con-
sistent course since the origin of our troub- !
les, we believe you faithful representative
of our views, and urgently request that you
permit your name to be used as Demo-
cratic candidate TOR Governor at the ensu-
ing election. Yours, respectfully.
We r RUIJOCKt W. A. DUDLEY,
RORFRT COCHRAN CHAS. L. HA RRISON, |
T. s, TRIMBLE. JOSH. F. BULBITT, |
THOS. p. HUGHES, GEO. w. JOHNSTON,
p n. PALMER ROB'T NJ. SMITH,
ALFRED HERR, W.P. SIMMONS,
JAS. p. CHAMBERS, JOHN L. BRIDGES,
WIN. X. THOMAS, T. j. HALL, /
WIN. &. REASOR, SAMUEL N; HALL,
ROB'T. K. WHITE, PHIL TOMPPEKI, , JR.
T. j. CONN, -. JESSIE +; HAMMoN,
J. Hs HARNEY, r. ". CHAMPION,
WM. KAYE, W. H. BAILEY,
n. WOLFE, JACOB ABN1,
s. M. HALL, j. Ii. PRICE. D.. ..- !
JOHN HERR,
You propose to place me at this time In
very responsible position-one neither
I have on former occasion, when called by
NV fellow citizens in1 SCI, to accept nom
ination for a seat in Congress, said, in reply
Hthat there are crises in the history of all
free governments when the citizen is not at
liberty to refuse his services to the republic"
Under the influence of the same sentiment,
I do not feel at liberty to decline the honor
able. position in which you desire to place
me- ..,.
Sincerely do wish you had selected
some other citizen more suited to the con-
iict. Ny age and crippled condition dis
oualify me for an active canvass OF the State
so important at this time.
Nv fellow citizens must trust me upon
my past public life. which has neither been
short nor inactive. The public duties IN
the various offices, State and National, 10
which have been called. have been hon-
estly and faithfully discharged-neVer more
so than whilst representative In the last
Congress of the United States.
I agree with you that the powers OF the
General Government can not be enlargeu
by the existence of civil war; that ooeol-
encs to the mandates of the Constitution
and proper regard to its guarantees OF me-
liberty aud property. should be honestly oo-
served by all the departments OF Govern-
mept. in time of war as well as in time Oh
When the peace of society is broken and