Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-31
Mr.. James Reilly.

EDITeRs LEDGER: Ny nomination for
the Office of County Court Clerk appears
to have displeased some who may be Of
that class which is never satisfied; and,
as is usual with them, there is no scarcity
of charges. Among the latter there are
two which / propose to disprove to the
satisfaction of every unprejudiced, inn
partial mind. First, it is said that l, if
elected, will be under the guidance and
control of Mr.. John League, who, they
aver, has done a great many wrong
things during his official career. Whether
he is guilty of the sins laid at his door is
not for me to say; be lie fully able to
take care of himself; but were he &C.
tualIy culpsble, it is not just to make me
the scspegoat for his official sins. The
assertion that be will control me in my
duties was openly denied at my instance,
in the convention, and that there may be
no Misunderstanding on that point, l
now publicly declare that be nor any
other person shall control me in my
official capacity in which the people
shall see fit to place me. shall be
guided solely by the laws LAID down for
me to follow, and those laws shall be
carried out without favor to any. Mr..
League is not relative of mine, and
must do him the justice to say that be
has never even limited TO me that he
wished or expected to interfere with the
performance OF the duties Of the Office
after bis term has expired.
The next is one of a mere serious ma
ture. and those Who so ipdustriously
retail the scandal should have fully con,
WINGED themselves of its truth before
they made it public A correspondent
Of your paper has asserted that sm q
deserter from the Confederate service.
This most emphsticslly denv. never
deserted any cause which / espoused,
nor any friend who relied on me wien
in difficulty. by war record is as clear,
Gnd probably more so, than many who
so meAnly attack me. When the IN.
plessantness brose opt / was then, "a
now, a poor man. ! left my family.
which was to be taken care OF,
with that Of many others in like
circU nstapses--as 10 how that prom
| Use was carried opt we need no,
speak--and entered tee Confederate
ranks, sharing all the privstiens snd dan,
gers OF my comrades, and received the
compliments OF my superioFs for sol.
dierly conduct, until taken prisoner al
Fort DoHelson and carried 10 Camp
Douglas, where | could al any moment
have received ny liberty by taking the
oath Of allegiance 10 ;be United States,
which / did not do, while many Others,
who were far more interested 10 aud
much more iikely to be identified BY the
success Of the : luihera esUse, did. After
seven months captivity, I was brosgh,
down the river aud exchanged, remaining
with my regiment pniil after the battle Of
Yicksburg, and Ehsn eniTeBehed before
jackson | was sent on special bssinsss.
Before that vas accomplished the feds-
rails had possession OF the town, and | was
again q prisoner, and having a lively
recollection Of the comforts Of Camp
Douglas, at fitting opportunity escaped.
/ may here remark that when / was sent
from the trenches, neither officers nor
nen had Gay idea that they we're sboui
to retreat Aud would fErtLsg ttst.
that then / had never sworn allegiance "a
either Federal or Confederate States, and
was not bound BY any tie save that Of
bonor. came to Memphis aud found
tkst pT family had been 90 extremely
well cared for thR they we're obliged to q
friend Who kuas taem los the noans q
carry them 10 relatives to escape starr 4.
ton. 10 this state Of things l thought
my allegiance was due TO that family
ghich bad been 90 badly treated, and
case ~ fssTgy and labor for their sup
poet.
Your correspondent also asserts thai
! shortly after ny appearance in Memphis