The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-07-31
A CARD.
To the People of the Seventh Congress,
ional District of Georgia.

FELLOW CITIZENS:
1t is by no means pleasant task
to speak or write Of ones self, but
there has been SO much said and pub
lished relative to my candidacy for
Congress in this District, that justice
to myself and friends demands that
my position and views on the subject
should be made known, over my own
signature.
1t has been said and published,
that l would be candidate in any
event, regardless of the action Of a
convention. This assertion is not
only without foundation, but does me
great injustice. | am no disorgani-
ger. 1t is well known to most of you,
that from the very inception of the
hated scheme of Reconstruction up
to this hour, have industriously
exercised whatever of talent or inhu-
ence possessed in opposing Radi-
caIism in all its forms, and in aiding
others to obtain office. In every po-
Iitical campaign since the war, |
have unAinchingly allied myself with
the fastest friends of good govern
ment, and did what was in my power
to maintain Democratic principles
and give success to-Democratic can
tdidates. This WAS not done to adj
vance my own personal interest, for
most of the time / wah disabled by
law from holding any Office and a
portion of the time l was not even
allowed to vote. This line of con-
duct on my part ought to have shield
ed me from the imputation of being
disorganizer, and it ought to have
been something of guaranty that |
was still ready to speak and work for
the legitimate nominees of my party.
| If you so will it, l stand ready to do
this, though ! may be put aside, and
younger men who have certainly
done no more that have, should be
selected as your standard bearers
| shall be found opposing party con-
ventions only when their value and
fairness are destroyed by the man.
agement, trickery and intrigue OF
unworthy men who seek office
through the fundamentally of a
packed convention, when they can
not obtain it by fair and Legitimate
means. Some men seem to think
that all the machinery and arrange
ments of these conventions were de-
vised for the especial benefit of aspi-
rants for Office, and hence they 60
to work upon the idea,
that if they can so manipulate the Sc
lection of delegates as to obtain the
nomination, it is all right, whether
the people want them or not. Such,
fellow citizens, is not my view of the
subject. / have always thought that
were originally designed |
for the benefit of the people, and
that they ought to be organized and
for the purpose of ascer-
tanning and carrying out the popular
will. l have always thought that
they should be composed of good,
true and worthy men, who came to-
gether unshackled by obligations or
pledges, and who are determined to
survey the entire field with fairness
and candor, and put forth as candi-
dates, the worthiest, best qualified,
and most acceptable men. When
they fail to do this, there is but one
remedy left, and that is for the peo-
pie to sapudiato their action, and Sc
lect officers for themselves. 1t has
also been said and published that |
would not be candidate at all. III
by this assertion it is meant that |
have not visited the various counties
in the district for the purpose OF
..tiring ap" delegates who will sup>
port me in the convention, whether
the people want me or not, then it is
true that am not and will not be a
candidate. But if it is meant that |
do not desire the position and would
not accept it if fairly conferred, then
the assertion is not true.
would be proud of q seat in Con-
gress, if obtained 10 accordance with
the popular will and by manly and
fair dealing towards other aspirants
for the place, but it / have to obtain
il lay manipulation, wire-working,
trickery aud intrigue, and at the ex-
pense of my manhood and selt-res-
pee,, / do not desire it.
With this frank expression of my
views and feelings upon the subject,
| submit my claims, il indeed | have
any, aud ask for them your favora-
bic consideration.
Your fellow-citizen,
GEo. n. LESTER.
As en- act of justice to me, re-
quest all the papers in the district to
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