Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-07
JAMES COLEMAN
NASHVILLE, July q, 1870.

NASH I'LL 0oLy -H ~
Colonel James Coleman, Memphis, Ten
Dear CoLoneE-Upon my return from
Court in a ~neigbboring county, i find
yours of the 2lst inst. awaiting me, In
which, on behalf of yourself and others
| of nv friends in West Tennessee, you
directly ask if / will permit the use of my
name as a candidate TOR Governor of Ten
nessae, at the ensuing November cleo
ton, saying my friends desired 1t, and
that the time has arrived for action, and
also asking my views in full in regard
thereto, etc. In response, permit me most
respectfully to say, that l have not said
I would be a candidate for Governor, nor
authorized any one to say so. Neither
have 1 written letters nor visited any
part of the State with the view of manu-
featuring public opinion to be welded
for my preferment, but have, in
the auiet walks of life, pursued
"the even enc of my way" content
with performing my duty to clients, to
my wife and children, and feeling, amidst
the furore for Office, which has seized as
an epidemic many Of our best men, that
at a time like the present "the post of
honor is the private station"
1 ] am not unobservant, however, OF that
| political panorama which Is constantly
shifting scenes as 1t moves in peaceful
bat revolutionary strides upon our State
and national arenas Neither am l list
less as to the effect upon the social ana
political rights of our people, produced
BY that restless innovating wave which
in other countries has so often and so
surely swept away the foundations of
| liberty, but have watched the insidious
movements with a ceaseless vigilance,
inspired by an interest; be-
cause If this country, with all its mlstor-
tunes and prescriptions is not my
- - -. 800 ta1on1 for I hnra M
| country. Whatever may be our hope for
good results in the end, we can but feel,
when we observe the present surround
ing, grave a-pprehensions as to 1.-THE be-
ginning of the end"
/ have seen with no little feeling
of qualification the unmistakable evil
dences of that Partially for me of
which you speak In many. OF the
newspapers, and by many of the best
citizens of the State-but none so crafty
ing as that shown by my late comrades
in arms-for who can feel for a soldier as
| can his fellows7 whose heart warns for
his misfortunes SO quickly, or whose eyes
readily beam with the light of joy for
his success, as those of his tellow-solder?
II would be affectation in me TO say l am
insensible to the honors which Justly be-
long to the chief executive of my native
State-a State containing within her
borders a million of inhabitants, most of
them intelligent, courageous, and patri-
otic-possessing material of
incalcuabIe value, which needs be WELD
+ ed with energy u prudence Tor future
development, and withsl a historic re-
nown, and moral grandeur, that challen-
| ges the admiration and exeites the gener-
| Gus rivalry Of her sisters. To be her
| Governor, is q high measure of distinc-
ton for even the proudest and ablest Of
her children. She has many true and
tried from whom to select, far ADLER than
/ am to WELD her bright but broken
sceptre. The names of W or three, as
YOU are aware, hRve:already been men
toned in connection Herewith, who
woulc OCCUPY the executive chair of u
State with honor, dignity, and ability.
Seeing the too partial demonstrations in
favor of my becoming a candidate for
| Governor through various journals OF the
State as well as through more private
channels, / took occasion, some time
since. to have personal interviews with
each of those with whose names mine
has been mentioned by the public in con-
nection with the candidacy for Governor,
and made known to them my indtsposi-
ton to enter the political arena at a time
like this and wrangle with my late fell
l~ow-soldiers for any Office. j likewise
others who approached me upon b sub
liect. the political disabilities" which
national legislation has placed upon me
in common with many of my fellow-citi-
zens, neither the Justice nor legality of
which legislation am l prepared 90 admit.
| Many Of the best legal minds Of the
| country hold that the terms Of the third
section of the fourteenth amendment TO
the Constitution of the United States.
which seeks to place under DISABILITIES"
certain persons, do moi attach for any act
committed prior to its passage, neither
can they operate unless the party held
the Office designated by its terms, at the
time Of taking up arms in defense Of the
South, and that even II he did 50 hold such
Office at the time, as by the terms Of that
amendment would place him under dis
Abilities the pardon Of the President Of
the United States wherever oxercised-
especially IL exercised before the inccrpor-
alton of that amendment In the Consfitu-
tion-operated as an entire conformation OF
such supposed ~offense, and relieved the
prescription Of said amendment. Now, /
held no Office otshe time of the outbreak
of hostflitles between the States but had,
before that Tina, been honored with the
confidence Of my countrymen as q men,
Der OF the Tennessee Legislature, and as
800 MA o..