Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-27
oup PLATFORM.

oh;sed'c;tizen we shall vote for no man,
yhether Governor or Magistrate, who,
according to Congressional construction,
- lahorine under political disabilities.
WHY? Because there is no sense IN
electing man to any position VINO WIN
he excluded from taking the position 10
which he has been elected. Whatever
NAV he our ideas about the justice OF
tbe law. still we respect the law as the
Io,r We will not lend our support to
any man who is disqualified by Congress
Puldski Citizen.
You can do as you please about it, but
we think you take very sensible view
of the condition Of things, and are U.
K ON the situation. What's the use OF
voting for a man whois disqualified
It is by the skin Of his teeth that one
who has no disabilities can squeeze in
through the serried ranks of Radicals
who crowd at the door of the capitol to
keen him back. As for the law, 1t rs IN
iquitous as though born of Beelzebub;
but they have the power to enforce IT.
Lawless wretches as they are, they Will
make virtue as well as necessity OF de-
Tending this law. But the duty OF every
one who is not Radical has been clearly
and distinctly pointed out by the Con-
rressional Democratic Committee, who
advised that not vote should be thrown
away. Those who know themselves to
he resting under disabilities should
relieve their friends at once from any
dilemma dividing them between the obi
cations of friendship and duty. They
should rather initiate the unselfsh ex-
annie of the noble Jones, who stepped
back as soon as he became aware that
the Disability bill, as it was called, had
failed to pass Congress. He modestly
attributes its failure to more pressing
business, but we are frank to say that 1t
sprung from meaner motive and was
projected in a mightiness of revenge
and littleness of spirit, which are the
preponderating pulses of the Radical
heart. We publish the letter OF Mr.
Jones as a glorious exemplar, to be adj
mired at least, if not followed, by those
who are in similar situation. His nice
sense of honor and Of duty eminently
points to him as one who would grandly
fill the station when there shall be no
longer doubt of his entire eligibility, and
we predict that his fellow-citizens, cogni-
can't of his worth, will not permit him
long to abide in obscurity. Here is his
letter:
To the Citizens of Giles. Marshall. Maury and
Williamson. a@itI t@
When yielded to the solicitation of
many friends to announce myself can
didate for Chancellor, / had every reason
able assurance that my disabilities would
he removed. Owing to the pressure OF
public business bill which had been in
PRODUCED into Congress for that purpose,
failed to pass the House of Representa-
tiyes. feel that it is due to the public,
as we'll as myself, that | should withdraw
from canvass for an Office to which II
elected doubts might be entertained
whether / could legally discharge Its
duties. know that in the estimation of
many friends, for whose opinion have
a very high regard, / am not under the
disabilities imposed By the l4th Amend
ment, haring been pardoned by the Pres,
ident before its adoption, but should
not be willing to accept the otice I'M
der circumstances which might lead
10 n controversy detrimental to the
nublic interests in this district Al
though prescribed, denied the rights
of citizenship end denied the privilege
of holding its offices of honor or profit,
still | have no other country but this,
can 90 to no other, and can cherish no
other feeling than that of the deepest IN
terest in its welfare and prosperity. 10
those generous and warm friends whom i
met at every place in this Chancery Dis
trict. and who gave me such fatterlng
assurances of support and success,
shall ever feel under the most grateful
obligations, and cherish theremembrance
of their friendship as foHdly as if they
had bestowed upon me their spftrages
and elected me to office. | feel that a
high public duty impels me to the course
| have taken, and ] trust the reasons
which | have assigned viii DO deemed
satisfactory;
Very respectfully,
THOMAS NJ. JOKES.