The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-09-02
HON. JOHN s. MILLSON.
LETTER 70, HON. oHAs. f. coL11l

x
~ Messrs. Editors Express The many
friends of Hon. John s.. Millson residing in
this city, have been kindly favored by Mr..
Collier with the following copy OF a letter
recently received by him. Although not in
tended for publication, the views set forth and
,ethe sentiments expressed therein, should be
q generally and widely known Throughout
the Second Congressional district, a large num-
& berfofvoters desire to homer the author of
this letter with their suffrages at bhe approach-
ling election, and it is obuti right and proper
that all should know his views oh subject of
stsr more than ordinary Importance at this
70 particular crisis of the States affairs The
&. letter is as follows tx BUS thrsa d
as eip # eHa NoRFoIR. Aug. %, 1865.
- Hon. Charles r. 0oazieY, Petersburg, Va.
Ny DEAR SIR-Your letter Of the Oath
inst, in which | was much pleased to recog-
naze the kind and friendly feelings you have
so often manifested towards me- induced re-
newed consideration of subject on which
Z had several times before made known my de-
termination. But this further reflection has
rather served to confirm the views l had al
ready expressed, in conversation and in letters,
never, however, published and of which you
were probably uninformed. Is ~
~ You urge me to announce myself forth
Z with candidate for Congress" This have
not consented to do; and trust you willAnot
odisapprove my resolution when 1 explain to
you the reasons that induce it, AZ = lna \
In ordinary times, one may perhaps be par
doned for rendering his services to the people,
and believing that he can be useful to them in
any public station. But the very delicate re-
lation now held by our State to the Union
nd oud fo1l
( questions likely to present themselves for So
luton in the federal counsels, may well in
spire even the most gifted of our statesmen
a with dstrust of their ability to discharge the
duties, that will be laid upon Them and a SIM
cere reluctance to assume them. A war of
unexanpled severity, carried on for four years
between citizens Of States SO long associated
under. the same constitution Of governments
has Just been ended. But our people have
not yet been fully reinstated IN. the civil and
political rights and privileges which, hope
and believe, continued tranquility will Soon
restore The military government has not
yet been withdrawn, and, in many parts of
the country, 1t is even the only one by which
as yet order and quiet can be maintained. y
sa These considerations alone are enough to
show that the position OF a Southern repre-
sentative in Congress cannot now be a desira-
I, BILE one. 10 be a candidate for it implies
desire to hold it; and he who can feel such
desire would, as it seems to me, evince either
some lack of sensibility, or a want of appre-
ciation of the actual condition of things. How
can any one desire to assume responsibilities
So grave and niomentous, in becoming part in
the adjustment of new and complex questions,
upon which the welfare and safetyof the peo-
pie may depend b? How can any one desire
10 be candidate at an election held under
that abnormal rule called martial law, of
which, as of the great African river, no man
has yet certainly found the source, but which,
bursting all bounds and spreading over the
whole land, leaves no one ignorant of it's ter
rible energy9neri .4aAJ h't. 80 49,,
~ Still it is necessary that some one should be
chosen to discharge the duties that belong to
5tbe Office Of representative from Southern
! State at this time. OF the many things which
b the condition of the country demands to be
done, perhaps the first in order, as in import
ance will be the restoration of true and last
ing peace between the people so lately in
tanned by war. This is at once the dictate of
dxty and of interest with both the parties to
this calamitous contest. Nor, when We are
instructed by what history teaches us of the
effect produced by time and altered circum-
stances upon national and sectional quarrels,
will it be found so difficult as the passions Of
sornemay now prompt them to suppose. TIE
Statesmen of England and Scotland who
safs ron