Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-06
TO THE PUBLIC.
The CIerkshlp Of the Second Chancery
Court.

I regret exceedingly that Mr.. B. NJ.
Bradford is not content with his effort
against me in the late Convention, where
in he was distanced on the first heat, but
again has announced himself against me
for the above office, and evidently for my
satisfaction las ais other opponent was M
d~Aadteiy acquainted wi b him. has given
a long and Il lettering biographical history
of himself, from his infancy To the present
good dav. | am sure that il is no fault of
mine that l do not know him, and might
say there are many other good msn VINO
have recently come to our city whom l
do not nave the n to know.
why he should select me as his easy
victim, is only accounted tor by rejecting
that he boosted IN the late contest hat he
would beat me two to one on the first
ballot. 1t Is true that I have not had the
honor TO hold land offices with millions in
hand; nor did / have two hundred negroes
to Use BY the war; nor Was I a member
of the Senate an House of Representa-
tives; nor had l six nundreI bales of cot
ton TO burn; nor u host OF sous and sons
in-law TO sacrifice; sill my record is
known to all the old citizens of Shelby
county and does not require at my own
hands a recapiJulat on.
l DO not ike TO Dow my own trumpet,
especially when appealing for h esuffrage
of people VINO should themselves know
their Candidates. Nevertheless, l may be
permitted to say l came TO his county "a
youth, twenty years Ago., without i've
dollars in pocket, taught school in this
city, then took a position as Deputy Clerk
OF the Circuit Court at Raleigh at a salary
of SO per month, read law at night with
borrowed books, got my license in 1853,
was elected County Tax-CollectOr in 1854,
was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court,
March, 1856, 1860, and 1866. lost nearly all
one term by the war, still keeping and
preserving the records in the. meantime.
When 1 took the Office il was worth per-
hIps $500 per more. Some
may think have had a sinecure of great
profit, but TO them l would say, l have not
relied on the office to support me and my
family-still, being so familiar with the
routine of the same l felt 1 could afford TO
fill it for less pay than any other.
1t has been insOlently asserted that I
now wrongfully hold the office. In an-
sWer TO this l can say the question was
settled first by the Circuit Court, and
afterward critically revised by Peace,
Richards, Dix, Lee and Thos. r. Smith,
counsel for A. B. Newkirk, both the Cir
cult Court and by bill in the Chancery
Court. That Chancellor Smith, upon a
careful and elaborate hearing, sustained
the Circuit Court. L refer to the record
the above attorneys and Messrs. +. NJ.
YeTger and I. w. Brown, for a vindica-
ton of my rights in the premises. II is
natural, however, that malice will rankIe
in the breast of those who imagine that
they or their friends have beer injured,
but the intelligent and disinterested will
not be swayed by their exparte nisrepre-
sensations.
Asking pardon of the readers hereof for
the length of the same, l close, by saying
that to the voters Of Shelby county l shall
appeal at the ensuing election for the
office of Clerk and Master of the Second
Chancery Court.
To the members of the Bar, the Bench
and all old citizens, 1 refer for my fitness
and qualification for the Office.
NJ. D. L. STEWART.