The Hickman courier., 1871-04-22
LETTER FROM GOV. KING.
what he Wrote to LucIen An
dersOn.

ana ~ sQitorial, In relation to myself in
reference to letter written by me some
! years ago TO the Hon. Lucien Anderson
then member of Congress from this
distr5et
| Ihave been too long engaged in poll
tics pnd too well versed in the schemes
resoxted to in a heated political canvass,
to misunderstand the object and motive
of t5pse (I do not mean you) who are
opposed to me, in circulating report
jus Ssfere the convention assemblies al
Fraukfort It is intended to poison the
mad of the public and cause my defeat,
eld to cast shadow upon my fealty to
Jthe democratic party. l entered politi
cal life il 1S49 as whig representative
from Cumberland, and so long as that
gallant party had an existence, was true
to it in every emergency, and no man
questioned my fidelity. When that par
ty ceased to exist, united with the dem
ocratic party, aud from 1860, to the
present time, a period of eleven years,
have been as true to the democratic par
ty and its principles, as any man in its
ranks. In every contest from Consta
bic to the Presidency. have invariably
supported the democratic ticket, not only
by my vote, but by my speeches, and in
every honorable way have shown my ad-
herence and devotion to that party; and
| challenge an investigation, in the fullest
and broadest extent. And for my ad
herence and devotion to that party since
the year 1860, and during the late civil
war, was expelled from the House Of
Representatives, driven from home my
wife aud children expelled from my own
domicil; all my personal and real estate
taken possession of by others, including
my law Office, library, accounts, notes,
etc, deprived of all my slaves, an excel
lent residence, worth $4,000 totally
burned aud destroyed, twice drafted, and
altogether suffered heavy pecuniary
loss, TO say nothing of the mental ankle
ty. of myself, wife and children, nor of
the humiliating arrest, and transportation
under strong guard, as criminal.
And all this trouble, affection, loss
and humiliation grew out of my firm re
solve to cast my fortunes with the demo
cratic party. | was governed by con-
viction of judgment that it was my duty,
as a Southern man, desiring the welfare
OF the South, aud to uphold her consti-
tutional rights, to act with the democrat
ic party could have joined the op-
posite party, and thus prevented such
sacrifices as | have endured, but with my
then convictions of duty, it would have
been dishonorable, because insincere
And when the war was raging fiercely
aud danger was on every hand, men and
women being imprisoned and transpoi ted
my properly stripped from me. my resi-
denee taken away, my law Office and
books withheld, no money on hand. no
means of making living, wife and chill
dren driven from pillar 20 post, my life
threatened, my brother in law in prison,
and suffering from disease, and when this
/ district was ruled with an iron rod, and
dismay, terror and alarm, sat upon every
countenance, and hope itself had almost
faded away, l did write letter, under
the foregoing circumstances, to the Hon
l.. Anderson, for relief, who was then in
power in this district, and had and ex-
ercised great influence with his party,
not ouly in this district, but at Washing
ton. There was nothing in the letter
against democracy, nor in favor of the
republican party, but was alone for per-
sonal relief ] thought then that the
condition of myself aud family, demand
ed humiliation on my part, to be reliev-
ed from danger and distress: and / did
not hesitate. did like hundreds and
thousands of other good Southern. demo
Gratis, humble myself. for the time being,
for self preservation and the comfort OF
ny family. was then willing, under
the untoward circumstances that sur
rounded me, to write and do almost any
thing, that would have been exacted, to
make almost any sacrifce-short OF
honor-for the relief and freedom from
arrests, imprisonment and distress oil
| family. Hundreds aHd thousands OF
sound, reliable democrats, who are trust
ed by the party this day, some of whom
are now holding Office. also humbled
themselves in many ways, passed them
selves of for Union men, Induced Union
friends to vouch for them, and many
actually voted for Mr.. Lincoln, as .he
poll books show. Had / been single, l
could have and doubtless would have,
avoided the trouble and humiliation that
befell me; but with wife aud children, to
support. clothe, educate and protect,
was compelled to humble my pride, and
to. adapt myself to the circumstances sur
rounding me. Being an Attorney at
Law, with no other avocation, was ex
eeedingly anxious to obtain my law
Office and library, to sustain myself and
family.
have thus frankly and cordially stat
ed my case, and whether nominated OF
not, would do the same again, under
similar circumstances. If any gentle
man doubts my devotion to democracy
and its principles, he can Withhold his
support from me; it is his right. But il
looks strange to me, that at this particu
lar time, when this district can, for the
first time in the history of the State
obtain the Office of Governor, with all its
honors and powers and emoluments, and
Just before the Convention assemblies, thi.
stale aud worn out report, should be
brought to the surface to defeat this dis
trict, and cast the Office elsewhere-wher
It is apparent to all why and for wha
purpose the letter was written. It accom-
plished Its object, and ought to have beer
buried among the other unpleasant and
unfoitunaute transactions of the war
| have no ambition In conflict with thu
interest and integrity of the democratic
party. If that party does not feel in
clined to give me its support. upon my
eleven years of devotion to it, proven BY
my various speeches, votes and actions
L shall quietly submit and retire. On
the other hand, should the nomination
be conferred on me, no one would fee
more highly honored nor exert himsel
with more zeal and gratitude, to sus
tain the party, the district and the State
than
Your obedient servant
ynu~s n A Krra