The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-08-30

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lished by Col. r. f. LooNEY, late
candidate forCongress in the Memph-
is districts
Fearful that some whose good OPP
inion ] value may be led into error
as to the motive that prOmted my
action since the late primary election
| deem il duty which l owe to my
self as well as to my friends to offer
few words Of explanation. And
here at the outset l know l shall be
met with the old, stale cry of silence.
for the sake of psrty-for harmony.
allow no man to GO farther than /
do in manly, straightforward and
open defense of the principles of the
party 10 which l belong. But never
have admitted, and never will admit
that devotion to party requires a
sacrifice of truth and honor, or a
shameless coBcealment of great po-
litical crimes and the sooner party
that requires this of its adherents is
disbanded, the better it will be for
the peace and prosperity ofthe coun-
try,
When / submitted my claims for
Congressional honors to to he late
primary election, l supposde fair
and honest contest would be had.
There were no legal restraints thrown
around the ballOt-box, and we had to
trust to the honor and manliness of
our competitors. ! thought, in this
contest, between SO many kDightly
men of our party, where honor was
the sole umpire, we might have a
gallant race, amp the defeated candi-
dates would gracefully support their
successful rival. How far was dis
appointed in this the most careless
observer of politics could bear wit
ness. Frauds of the most Aagrant
and unSfushing character were COM,
| mitted-so patent and palpable that
| it was a matter of almost universal
comment, aud after nightfall there
was scarcely an effort at concealment
Why was there night voting Al all !?
And now, in the name of the true
men of Shelby county and the Ninth
Congressional district, l make the
charge of gross frauds and corrup-
! ticns in the late primary election,
ard if the conEeption which assem-
bles to-day will appoints committee
TO investigate the matter, ample and
abundant proof will be made. There
are delegates in the convention, who
know Of the existence of these frauds
and who will, if it become necessary,
have the mauliness and manhood to
expose them.
The adoption of the repeating sys-
tenn in the late primary will compare
favorably with any practice ever
adopted in New York or California
for making one hundred votes count
a thousand. l do not doubt that
proof can and will be made that by
these frauds the vote of the sue
ccssful candidate was more than
doubled. One man boasts that he
had voted more than thirty-two times,
unchail nged. Another boasts that
he voted ahack-load until they count
ed one hundred votes. Twill prove
that man was stationed inside the
railing at one Of the polls to say that
had Withdrawn from the canvass, in
the hearing of and unrebuked by the
Judges. But il is useless to give in
dividual instances, as their name is
legion. In fact, the whole affair will
be disgrace to any party that sus-
tains it, and it will prove blasted
honor in the hands of him who won
it. 1t smells of fraud, and had Ju-
dss Iscario: ring of thirty pieces of
silver about.
Whilst am satisfied that l was the
fairly nominated candidate by the
primary election, and whilst it is fhe
opinion of some of my most distin-
guished competitors, who surveyed
the field of operations with more in
terest perhaps than others, still I am
no longer candidate for Congress
before the convention. ! will make
no contest for nomination, not be-
cause feel bound by any pledge
made to support the nominee, for
feel that the gross failure in fair deal
ing on the one side absolves all
both candidates and delegates-from
the observance of it on the other.
Therefore, for no selfish purpose,
or personal advantage, do Imake this
communication, but I seek for the
purity Of the ballot box, for the hon.
or and integrity of the party, for the
poor and the aspiring youth of the
land, who can meyer cope with the
"rings" who spread their network
all over the body polite; and over
and above VII, speak in the name of
civil liberty and the perpetuity of
free institutions
Permit me in conclusion of this to i
me unpleasant communication to re-
turn my heartfelt thanks to the |
friends who gave me their votes in
the late election, will ever remem- |
Der with pride, with gratitude aud
pleasure the voluntary and unbopght
SURFACES, support and friendship.
Worry resDectfully. RE-. LooNEf