Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-30
THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DIS
! TRICT-DECLENSION OF COL. GAR.
i RETT--A CARD TO THE PUBLIC.


CARTHAGE, TENN, April Both, lS67.-A
day has been suggested for the assemblage OF
the Conservative convention in this. the
third Congressional districb Of the State
Upon that convention will dexolVe the
duty of nominating a candidate for the
fortieth Congress. NV name has been
kindly mentioned an connection with the
nomination through the pablo press aud
otherwise. My silence longer wonld be
construed as a desire on my part 10 secure
said nomination. / regard it as niy duty
TO my political friends, to other aspirants
for the position named, as well as to the
Conservative party of the district, at once,
and publicly, to decline the candidacy for
Congress. i
My declension is based alone upon pri-
vase considerations. My pecuniary inter
ests, much injured during the late war; am
seeking assiduously to restore. To abandon
them now, TO engage lin politics, would he
ruinOus to me. To do so now is sacrifice
| cannot consistently make in Justice to
my family and an aged mother dependent
upon my individual exertiou,.
My interest and zeal in thu success of
the great and fund menL,I principles Of
tive party of the country is struggling, are
not, and will not be, abated, under any
circumstances. For the triumph of those
principles shall zealously labor in the
future as ! have done in the past. What
my efforts have been, my acts, votes and
speeches sufficiently attest.
The dominancy of the few over the
many-the minority over the majority
| will labor to resist with all the inAu-
ence L may possess or be able to
WELD, when such domination is
sought to be enforced, in times of profound
peace, through military force, and for the
purpose alone of subscribing selfish and
corrupt partizan objects. Such objects. as
well as the means which have been devised
for their achievement, are incompatible
with the plainest dictates of an elevated
craftsmanship, aside from all considerations
of Justice, patriotism and constitutional
teachings.
The negro is free man-pnade so by the
war. He should be clothed with the rights
and privileges of an American citizen lust
as rapidly as he demonstrates his capacity
to the exercise of them for the welfare of
the republic This should be done, not as
a party eXpedient, but as an investment
consequent on his new status, as means of
selfprotection, and as a eorrelatiye of the
obligations of allegiance, and as a fundamen-
tai and eternal right.
And to the white man would accord the
same measure Of justice. | would at once
clothe him anew with the robes of citizen
ship, whatever may ,have been his errors of
thought and action in the past. Dis
franchisement, except for crimes of which
the accused has been duly convicted, in ac-
cordance with the constitution and laws, is
the very soul of despotism, and of despotism
Of the most nefarious character. That an
American, in the broad sunlight of the
nineteenth centHry, shonld advocate doc
trine so mOnstreus, is calculated to shake
confidence in the foundation principle of
all free goyernments-that man is capable of
sel-goeel9msnf. But the years Of intellec-
tual and moral advancement in store for
us as republic, will consign the
monstrosity as well as the Iuemo-
ries of its advocates to the shades
of loathed oblivion. 1t and they will
be assigned in the temple of history to that
region where slumber the horrors of the
French revolution and the Spanish in
QUESTION. Such are the unalterable and
Just DEGREES of destiny.
Universal amnesty and impartial suf
frage, without regard to race or color. now
and forever, are the principles which | .haye
inscribed on my political banner and Ishalr
bear the same through the coming years of
our State and national history, If life and
strength be given me, as in the late dark
night of our civil troubles, | sought with
honesty and fidelity TO uphold the starry
banner of freedom and national unity.
For the confidence and Kindness mani
tested by many in and for me in this Con-
gressiOnal district, return to them the
thanks of grateful heart.
l will be obliged to such newspapers as
deem the foregoing letter of sufficient inn
portance, and which circulate in the third
Congressional district, if they will copy the
same. A. +. GARRETT