Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-18
ANSWER OF MR.. soMERvELL.


Editors AppedL-In a recent issue of
your paper, a kind friend, signing
himself shelby" representing his Own
and the feelings and sentiments of nu-
merouS friends throughout the Eighth
Congressional District of Tennessee,
makes the suggestion of my name, as a
proper person TO represent the District in
the Forty-Second Congress. L cannot,
and will not disguise the fact, that l am
deeply sensible of the high honor i'm
piled in the partial estimate thus placed
upon my character and my willingness
and my ability to serve the people, at q
iuncture so important to the future of the
Southern States and of the State of Ten
nessee.
We have just arrived at a period in our
history when the films Of prejudice,
which have so long obscured the vision of
the masses in the Northern States, are
being removed, and when there is good
gromise of a return to the principles and
ideas upon which our government
was founded, viz: The principle of
honesty and capacity in public officers;
rigid economy in the administration of the
Government; strict responsibility of pub
lie agents; and the doctrine that the latter
are the servants, and not the dictatOrs Of
the psopie-all OF which are joined to and
controlled by a stern and ~unbending ad-
herence and subordinatiOn to the letter
and spirit of the Constitution, as the chart
of popular freedom.
Seeing this rainbow of hope in the po-
litical horizon, has inspired some of our
best men with the ambition to be instru-
mental in the restoration of good govern
ment, and the r-e-instalIation of the glo-
rious doctrines of an era when our coun-
try was blessed, as never a people were
before favored. / confess that l am among
the number who would have felt a Pc
culiar pride in being the recipient of the
confidence of my fellow-citizens of the
Eighth Congressional District. Having
been a witness, as well as one of the vic
Tins of a tyranny and persecution, such
as are seldom visited upon a brave and
spirited people, it would afford me
a corresponding happiness to have
been placed by an over-persistent esti-
mate of my abilities, in the vanguard of
that great advancing army of patriots
vino are destined, in the ensuing cam
paigns, to sweep the country free of the
m~yrmidoUs of vulgar despotism, and re-
move from the body polite the plague
spot of political corruption, dishonesty
and usurpstion. Under Providence, the
Democratic party of the Union have been
assigned to this noble work, and, through
their selected agents, there is the highest
confidence they will achieve it.
But while wishing thus to serve in a
cause so laudable, u which holds out
such high promises of success, l am re-
minded that the cunning and fraudulent
device of our enemies have thrown around
the election franchise such restrictions as
will effectually prevent me from embar-
RAISING the party of which l am an hum
BILE but devoted member, with the burden
of any aspirations l may have to serve
them. The oath required TO be
by Representatives and Sem |
ators in Congress-not by the Con-
stitutfon, but by the usurped au-
thority of a Radical majority, contains /
provisions and restrictions which I cam
co~nscientiously subscribe to. While
do not admit or accept the requirements
of such an oath, being extra constitution
if not unconstitutional; and while 1
most earnestly protest against it, as be-
ing IN usurpation of power TO perpetu-
ate the existence of an odious and de-
based faction; yet / mo but perceive
hat VIZ are compelled to submit to its
pretended authority in returning mem
Oers to the next Congress; and that it
will be safer and better Tor our cause to
nominate gentlemen who are not obnox-
Gus to the unjust and tyrannical F~estric-
ions of this oath. Happily for us, there
ire many such who possess all the re-
luirements OF honest and capable repre-
who come within this view :
md to such he exigencies of the times
that we restrict our choice.
| shall never cease to entertain for the
many political friends who have privately
md publicly advocated my nomination.
he warmest sentiments of gratitude.
them the feslty of my af.
ections are n and will be
generously yielded. Their wishes would
70 supreme with ms in controlling nv
conduct, could / thus conform, without
violence to my conscientious con-
lotions. But for the reasons before
tated, / must regretfully decline their
friendship. The regret, how
yer, is modified by the knowledge that
hey may command the best talent, the
most ~unbounding integrity, and the high
st patriotism among other names mem
Toned for the position with which they
you'd honor me.
I am, with highest respect, yours, etc., {
r. B. S0MERYELL.
CALL ON MR.. A. O. FERGUSON FOR THE
LEGISLATURE.