The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-29
TO the Voters Of the Fourth Congress
Gonal District.


FELLow-CrrIzENs: In political canvasses.
one is often obliged to meet issues Of other
thsn A!s oEc creation. And wi.iie oao
would prefer to waive all topics savoring of
personal consideration, whether relating
to himself or his competitors, if there
are raised against him issues which
would operate injuriously and unjustly, he
must meet them, though he be thereby
involved in discussion as unsuited to his
own taste as to the gravity Of the times
feel thus situated at present. Having
been solicited to become again candi-
date for Congress, by friends whose par
tiality led them to think I might be useful
IL rebuilding our shattered fortunes-ac-
knowic5SS;cc the obligation which arises
from a previous uniform support at the
hands Of genero Is constituency-recog-
nizing the truth hat one who has been
favored by the peo lie with repeated posi-
tions of honor, has .ot the right, upon the
occurrence of disaster, to assume indifer-
ence to the welfare ~ wishes of those who
have thus honored aid trusted him-I have
consented to become candidate for the
United States Congress. I feel myself
obliged, by the duties arising out of this
position, to ask your attention, while I en-
deavor, briefly, to correct certain misappre-
tensions which exist in some quarters.
My competitors are three-Col. Ash
more, of Greenville; Mr.. McAliley, of Ches-
ter; and Mr.. Reid, of Anderson. 1 am not
aware CT any question of future pozicy upon
which there is any difference between us.
Col. Ashmore has made several speeches
nearly all of the different Judicial Dis
tr1cts; Mr.. Reid has done the same. and
published card in addition; and Mr..
McAhley, while declining to canvass the
District in person, has also published a
card, which, it may be assumed, contains
his platform. From neither MIR. McAliIey's
nor Mr. Reld's card does there appear to
be any question Of future policy upon which
there is any difference between US. AS to
the speeches by Col. Ashmore and Mr..
Reid, while had not the privilege of being
present at any of then, owing to nv ab
sence from the State on important bust
ness, have not been able to learn (eyen
after inquiry of many persons from the
communities in which their speeches were
dehvcred,) OF any question Of future policy
upon which there is any difference. 1
think, therefore, it may be Justly assumed
that there is no political question whatever
entering into the canvass, and that the
election will turn solely upon the degree of
dcceptabdHy Of the different candidates to
the Administration and the conservative
men Of the North. The issue thus present
ed has been raised by others Let MS see
In what consist the claims of my competi
tors to this greater "accepta5aay" The
objection urged against me is, that was
member of the Confederate Congress.
How stand the antecedents of my competi-
tors! Col. Ashmore, though never a mem
Der OF the Confederate Congress, was a
member of the United States Congress at
the time South Carolina seeded, and i'm
medlatcly resigned his seat in furtherance
OF the movement. Nay, more-he held
under the Confederate Government several
prominent positions, both military and
civil, some OF them being by direct appoint
ment OF the central authorities at Rich
mond, while my position was only that
assigned me by the people. Mr.. McAliley
claims your support because he saws he
was the ''only man in the State who can
vassed and carried his District against
secession and the call OF Convention. and
in the General Assembly-was sthe only
member, in either House, who voted against
the coll of Convention" But how manv
like Mr.. McAliley opposed the earlier pro-
ceedings in the Southern movement, and
yet became amongst the most active and
efficient supporters Of that movement.
and amongst the most obnoxious to the
authorities and people of the United States?
The history of the Confederate Army fur
nishes many such examples. Gen Early,
in the Virginia Convention, persistently
QrrQSnd the of o,I.