Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-14
CONGRESSMAN AT LARGE.
Letter from J. II. KilIebrew Declining
20 Become q Candidate. L

CUNGkESSMAN AT LARGE.
Letter from J. r.. Killebrew DecifnIns
TO Become q Candidate. 4
H. From the GAINESVILLE Chronicle, July Is.
We publish to-day the letter of Mr.. ]
B. KiDebrew declining the call made upor
him TO become candidate for Congress:
from the State at large. The stand taker
is sensible, and fortified by a spirit of ps.
triotism as rare as it is admirable. Pro
fessional Office seekers are prone to place
themselves little in advance of the people
by self-laudation; Mr.. Killebrew reyerses
the order, and sil-hisz remarks are dictated
by a due regard for the people without re-
ference TO self. He clearly points out the
leading qualifications that should commend
a candidate to popular confidence, and be-
lieving that he can do more for the people
in his present position than as member of
Congress, wisely resolves to adhere TO that
position. Transformations merit is sure of
its reward at the hands Of discerning pub
Lie. r.
REPLY OF COL. KILLEBREW.
| NASHVILLE, Tenn, Jlly 8, 1S72.-
Messrs. Caldwell, McReynoIds, Alternately
| and others-Gentlemen: My attention has
been called to a card in the GAINESVILLE
Chronicle, signed by you, in which you call
upon me to announce myself as a candidate
| for Congress from the State at large. /
sincerely thank you, gentlemen, for the
| compliment which this implies, all the more
grateful because unsought, and because 1t
comes from old neighbOrs and friends whose
good will and esteem prize more highly
than l would the greatest honors heaped
upon me by strangers. But know you
will pardon me, when / say honestly that l
do not think l am the man for the place.
L have entered into labor which l think
will be Of far more value to the State than
anything | could effect in the Congress of
the United States-no less task than to
collect and make known to the world our
boundless resources, our genial climate, the
aptitudes and capacities of our soils, the
value Of our streams and timber, the wants
OF the people, ETC.; and regard this duty
as one of paramount obligation, and one
that will ultimately enure to the benefit of
every man, woman and child in the State.
have no ambition for political honors.
Were | to accept any position of honor or
trust, it would be from consciousness that
l could be useful. At present, have but
limited knowledge of my own State, her
wants and necessities, and should feel, in
taking such position as you mention, that
l would be receiving the peoples money
without rendering corresponding benefit.
l have no desire or inclination TO sit dunn
my In any deliberatiye assembly and per-
form no other service than to draw my
mileage and salary. Should l ever be hon
ored with seat in Congress, should like
to go armed and equipped with such facts
and knowledge of my State as would make
me useful and effective member. should
like TO be able to represent the condition of
our agricultural and mechanical industries,
and to suggest some means by which they
might be lifted out of the ashes and cinders
that have been heaped upon them by the
war. As the prosperity of the State de-
ponds principally upon the condition of
these pun suits, 80 bold it to be the highest
duty of our representatives, both State and
Federal, to acquaint themselves with these
subjects, and to advocate whatever may be
necessary to stimulate and encourage them.
We live in strange times, and events are
daily occurring which upset all our previ-
Gus notions of right. We see men growing
great and powerful upon the very misfor-
tunes Of the government. We see capital
that lies idle IN the vaults of our banks eat
ing up the substance of our people and
that Is needed for the successful develop
ment of our industries is distracted for cir
culation and invested in bonds, because the
bond speculation of the government upon
the labor of the country pays al higher
profit than any other investment. All this
must be corrected by the people. This is
their government. They alone are sover-
eign. Their will Is law, and their will is
made known by and through their repre-
sentatives in the State and Federal coun-
| ellis. Hence the importance of selecting
well informed and true men for such posi-
tons. A wise people can never be enslaYed
knowledge is power and wisdom is
strength. They are the chief corner stones
of all free governments. Liberty and intel
ligence are twin sisters that go hand in
hand dispensing blessings to mankind.
There are three ideas Of government in
the world: .....
/. That all the virtue and intelligence of
the State are TO be found in one man, and
he is styled the sovereign.
2. That the virtue and intelligence of the
State are vested in few families, and in
these the sovereignty resides.
3. Democratic or representative govern
ment, where the aggregate virtue and intel
igence of the State or Nation are held to
be superior to that Of any one man, or se-
lect body of men, where all have voice in
making the laws that all are bound to obey.
That is the only form of government which
unites wisdom with strength and the hap
piness of the citizen, and if faithfully ad-
ministered by honest and intelligent repre-
sentatives, will endure forever, because
founded in the hearts and affections of the
governed. There is therefore greater ne
cessity than would at first appear, for Sc
lecting men who understand and appreciate
our form of government, and who have the
nerve to administer it under these pTinci-
pies. d. ... .r
The practice Of our government is to
take care of the rich, on the supposition,
let us charitably suppose, that the rich will
take care of the poor. This is not only the
practice, but the theory of some politicians
This protection is precisely that which the
wolf gave the lamb. Tia government
takes care OF the rich, but the rich are de-
vouring the poor.
You will pardon me, know, for extend
ing this card, when tell you that in my
opinion, the people should know the political
tenets of every man whom they seek to
place in political position. am not, how
ever, and cannot become candidate for
the position you name, either before the
convention or the people. Were Il ambi-
tious of the place you propose, could not
hope to be successful in contest with the
distinguished gentleman whom your county
has signifed in convention to be its choice,
and in truth, have no intention either d.
rectIy or remotely, of throwing any impe-
diment, were able, in the Path of one who
has proven himself to be such an earnest
patriot, valiant soldier and honest man.
am gentlemen, with the highest regard,
Yours very truly, j. B. KILIEBREw.
THE origin of the popular saying: "Those
who live in glass houses shouldn't throw
stones" is interesting. At the union of
England and Scotland, Tin 1907, we beliege),
great numbers of Scotchmen flocked to