The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-02-04
To the People OF Fulton and
Hickman Counties.
HIcKMAH KY Feh ] 19r1


i Mr. EDIToR-.Sir: In your paper Of
the 2Sth ultimo. preceived two calls
on me to become candidate to represent
the counties of Hickman and Fulton in
the next Legislature of Kentucky. Lest
my friends whose esteem and partiality
for me impelled them thus to bring nv
name prominently before the public in
connection with that honorable Office.
might conclude that | am indifferent
touching their earnest solicitude for nv
I interest and adva ncement in this behalf
now therefore without wishing to be re
| garded az inconsiderately hasty in reply
ing to their friendly calls, have this to
say: That though it would in some
measure initiate against my private in,
terest to accept of their generous invita-
ton, thus kindly extended; yet, never
| theless, am in the hands of nag friends,
| (whom l trust-should | make the race
for the Office in question:, will be COM
posed of the major part of the constitu-
ency of the two counties to be represent
ed in the next General Assembly OF this
proud old Commonwealth. As we have
noble examples of men who from patri
otic motives abandoned their private
and pecuniary interests in response to
the calls of their country-for instance
Cincinnatus his plow-Frauklin his
printing press, and our revered Washing
ton his position in the cause of his King;
then with such iliustrious examples :
these before us, why should or any
other good citizen refuse to respond to
the demands of their countrymen when
made in the interest of their county and
Commonwealth. In all candor | will
then say, am willing to make any rea-
sonable sacrifice for the good of the
people whom | may be elected to repre-
sent in manner and form aforesaid. As
to whom l am and what l am, | can but
refer those who are unacquainted with
me to my past record of sixteen years
standing in my own county, save and
except an absence of about three years
which was lost in struggling in common
with host of brave aud gallant spirits /
to uphold the cause of my native South.
To that record hunbly appeal. BY
that record | am willing to be judged, |
and by IL either stand or fall. Ia thus /
yielding to the wishes of my friends, /
trust that am not intruding upon the I
patriotic inciinations of any gentleman I
in either county whose laudable ambition
may be prompting him to aspire TO the
position which through the solicitations
of my friends, have consented TO accept
May | not advance step farther and
say, that in as much as my county, in
accordance with the long established i.
usage between the two to be represented,
is justly entitled to this term to the Rep
that Hickman county will
(as she generously acted 10 1862 pre-
sent no candidate for the office, aud that
Fulton will be 4 unit on some man com
petent, qualified, and acceptable to the
people OF both counties While | should
feel deeply grateful aud highly honored
in being thought worthy by those who
have an indisputable right to be heard
on this question, in occupying such an
position, yet if one can be
found in my county, (and / doubt not
there are some such,) whom the people
would more delight in honoring, | would
most cheerfully decline that honor aud
orego the pleasure il would afford me in
acting as their Represe atatige in the
iext Legislature. Ii such individual
: found | will at once withdraw fIom
he conflict and leave the field to my
more fortunate rival and yield him my
most cordial co operation and support.
Believing AZ | do that all good lovers of
heir country should be partial to meas
Tres and not to men, and foster aud ia
ror alone those projects, plans aud prin-
,iples that viii contribute the greatest
good to the greatest number. This |
conceive to be the mighty key stone that
,pands the arch which upholds and sus-
aims that proud old Democratic Temple,
hat amid the smoke of intestine wsr and
The ranking bitterness of sectional strife
has almost for decade of years been OBJ
.cured and hidden in the political hori-
ION But now that the storm of battle
has been hushed to silence by the genial
voice of peace aud the discordant waves
Of that seething cesspool of political in
fanny have dashed themselves asunder.
That beautiful national structure whose
foundation was laid deep and wide by the
profound mind of Jefferson begins TO
Dom up before the political world in all
It's gigantic proportions, and the sober
second thought of the people is being
all over this broad land and
The cry comes up almost from every quar-
ter reform, reform. The honest sons and
daughters of toll who have been pursued
by the relentless exactions of the tax
gatherer groaning under burdens too
yrievons longer to be borne are fast |.
awakening to sense of their duties aud
IS one man they too are rushing to the
rescue, and ere long the era of peace,
plenty and prosperity will crown the
Efforts of those who have fought the
good fight and kept the faith of their
llustrious predecessors.
Yours truly,