The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-06-21
A CARD.

W " A'' S'hFs
On the first Monday in April last, a very
large Convention assembled at the Court
House in Jonesborongh, for the purpose,
among other things, Of nominating a candi-
date to represent you in the lower branch of
the next Legislature Of your State. Ny name
was presented before that Convention, aud |
was unanimously nominated. My friend Col.
Patton had previously declared himself a
candidate for reelection in a circular and
had also expressed his determination not to
submit his claims to the Convention. l can
say in all good conscience, that | never So
licited any one to present my rame to that
Convention, but simply told those who talked
to ne about it, that If the Convention nomi-
mated me, | would accept the nomination. |
do not belong to that class Of hungry Office
seekers who would be willing 10 this dark
hour Of peril to our country, to sacrifice the
harmony and unaninily of the party to which
they belong, simply to secure a seat in the
Legislature Of our State.
! am now, and ever have been willing to
be controlled by the Radical party, and il the
true Radicals Of Washington County should
Mt any time become convinced that they have
made a bad selection in nominating me, all
they have to do is to meet together and so
express themselves, and | assure them most
positively that | will cheerfully submit to
their dictatiOn.
1t has been charged against me that I was
brought out By a JonesbOrough clique. All
| have to say in answer TO this is, that the
Convention that gave me the nomination,
representing, as it did the entire county ,kaor
it TO be false. | shall use no political trick
stering to secure my election. | WAS nearly
three years in the Federal army | entered
the ranks as a private soldier and served as
such until | came into East Tennessee aud
recruited a company nnl took 1t to Louisville
Kentucky. | had no trouble to be mustered
into the service as an officer. I did not COM
nit Viyut and deliberate perjury when | took
the following oath which all officers had to
take on being mustered into tie service Of
the United States;
l,,...................do sOlemnly swear
Tor affirm that ] have never voluntarily
borne arms against the United States since
have been a citizen thereof, that | have vol
unfairly given no aid, cOuutenanCe, counsel,
or encouragement 10 persons engaged in
armed hostility thereto; that | have neither
sought nor accepted nor attempted to e1rr-
else the functions 0f any Office whatever I'M
der any authority or pretended authority 10
hostility to the United States; that | have
not yielded n voluntary support to any pre-
tended government, authority, power or con
s%titution within the United States, hostile or
inimical thereto. And | do further swear
Tor affirm that, to the best of my knowledge
and ability, ! will support and defend the
Constitution Of the United States ag,tirst
all enemies, foreign and domestic; that will
bear true faith aud allegiance to the same,
that / take this obligation freely, without
any mental reservation or purpose Of evasion;
that ! will well and faithfully discharge the
duties Of the office on which / am about to
enter, so help me God. And / do solemnly
swear, that | will bear true allegiance to the
United States Of America, aud that ! will
serve them honestly and faithfully against al
their enemies or opposers whatsoever and
observe and obey the orders Of the President
Of the United States, aud the orders of the
officers appointed over me, according to the
Rules and Articles for the government OF the
armies Of the United States.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
day Of 1855
have in no way compromise my princi-
pies by being contaminated or connected in
any manner with the rebellion. I can with
mistaken confidence appeal to the Divine Ar
bitter for the truth Of the declaration, that ]
have been first, last and all the time, an nn-
conditional Union man, aud dc(y any living
mortal to point to one single solitary act OF
my life that will not bear me out 10 this as
s%ertion. ! have no political sins to atone for,
having never sought nor accepted any civil
Office in my life. | was one Of the first who
espoused the Radical cause in Washington
county. / did It not because | thought it
would be popular, but because / thought our
country would be safer in the hands Of lie
friends than 10 the hands o: its enemie5.-
Whether I am elected or defeated you will
still find me battling for the principles held
by the Radical party. 90 not look for auy
Of that party called conservatives to support
me; / have no Inducements to hold out to
them, other than il elected I will faithfully
discharge my duties as q representative
I I'LL solicit every Radical, white and colored
To. EOte for me, and I will in turn faithfully
pledge myself, IL elected, to uie every honOra-
BILE msaA' TO carry out the principles held