Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-05

CHARLES MINOR,
JOSEPH A. MEEK,
The sincerity of the gentlemen
whose names are appended to the
above is not doubted; but the people
feel there is something wrong, and
that it is impossible so much smoke
could exist without fire. But there's
the report. It makes a fiascO of what
everybody expected would be a vic
tory for the Conservatives. After the
reception of the above, the following
Message, announcing his refusal to go
to the United States Sena te, was re-
ceived from the Governor:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ]
STATE OF ARKANSAS,
LITTLE Rock, March 4, lsILJ J
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen Of the
House of ReDFeSelltGtiUeS-On the 10th
LOf January, 1871, il was ascertained
that 7 was elected by the General As
sembly United States Senator, by a
vote OF ninety-f0ur to nine on joint
ballot. l not only received the united
support Of my own party, but many
Of the opposition members voted for
me. This large and almost unani-
NOUS vote, to myself and the outside
world, could not be construed other
wise than as an Endorsement of my
official action, and l may here state
that ! feel highly cOmplimented by 1t.
AT the time Of my election by the
! General Assembly, the Republican
members Of the Legislature seemed
| to be thoroughly united, and l had
reason to hope that the Lieutenant
| Governor would pursue such a course
as would commend himself to the
/ confidence Of the Republican mem-
bers. By subsequent events l have
been forced to the unwilling cOnvic-
tiOn that many of the members who
then supported me were actuated
more by a desire to place person in
the executive chair who would carry
out a policy adverse to the wishes Of a
large majority Of the Republican par
tv, than to have me represent the
State in the United States Senate. In
other words, many of the members
who supported me deemed the con-
troll Of the State Government Of more
importance TO the cOnsummatiOn OF
their wishes than representation In
the Senate of the United States.
At the time referred to both branch
es of the General Assembly were
under the control of the Republican
partv. But since that time a coalition
seems to have been formed by few
Republicans. under the leadership of
the Lieutenant Governor, and the en-
tire Conservative element of both
houses. I can but regard the cOall-
ton as being anti Republican and
having for its object the overthrow OF
the present State government, on the
one part, and the qualification OF prl-
vate malice and revenge, on the other.
With this conviction, L cannot by any
act of mine be instrumental in placing
in the Executive chair the leader OF
this coalition.
Were / to consult the prOmptings OF
selfish ambition, rather than the
perpetUatiOn Of the principles of the
party which has hOnOred me with its
confidence and that saved the State TO
the Union, IWOUld accept the position
10 which L was elected by your votes.
Feeling that such q course would not
only be a betrayal of the confidence
repOsed in me, but a desertiOn Of prin-
ciples, a sense Of duty impels me TO
decline the position rendered.
When I remember that to establish
these great principles the best blood
Of the nation has been shed, and hum
dreds Of thousands Of patriots have
laid down their lives upon the altar Of
their country, 1 can well afford to lay
aside nay personal aspirations to aid
in the perpetuatiOn Of the principles
in the support Of which so many lives
have been sacrificed, and such vast
treasure expended. In pursuing this
course, / may give Ottense to some
whose personal ambition may have
been thWarted; but am more than
recOmpensed in this respect by the
belief that the men who stood by the
flag in the hours Of its greatest peril,
and those who have since aided in
bringing order out Of the chaos in
which the State was found at the close
/ Of the war, and who desire the restOr-
| alton Of peace and security for life and
property, viii heartily approve and
indOrse my action,
It must now be apparent to the
! most casual observer that the object
I lDL mAlNl AAAC AD0lANADA vas ADA AAANA
cannot be accomplished, and it is
/ therefore hoped that the COmmUnica-
tiOn Of my declinatiOn viii allay the
| public mind, and permit the attention
! Of the General Assembly to be turned
toward the objects Of legislation re-
commended in my message at the be-
ginning of the session, and which are
/ much needed by the people.
AZ 49,. 49,
pass without thanking those friends
who voted for me for the expression
II confidence and the high cOmpli-
ment pstd me by their votes, and l
can assure thea that / highly appre-
ciate their action, sna shall ever re-
member il with pride and pleasure,
] am, very respectfully, your oDeaien' lls
servant, LOWELL LILA AO-''