Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-07-23
ADVERTISEMENT
SHERIFF. GRIFFITH'S
STATEMENT.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:

said Cox and myself off, and nominated
Capt. MCPHERSON for Revenue Collec
tor, but have concluded to give my fel
low.citizens the facts as 1 know then
to exist, and my action in the premises
l was willing to make the race and risl
my chances for the office to which l as
pire independent Of the action of any
convention but being importuned by
this same man E. S. Cox and others, tc
try and settle the matter between my.
self and other Republican candidates
In order to secure harmony in the Re.
publican ranks, i agreed and offered to
let the Republican Magistrates of this
county say which Of us should make
the race this proposition "a refused
by Mr.. Cox and Capt. Mcpherson, and
a proposition was made to me by Cox
and Mcpherson to submit our claims to
the loyal Magistrates, including those
who belong to the Conservative party,
a party distinct and different as they
claim, and as all know, from the one to
which | have ever since 1861 belonged /;
this proposition l refused, emphatical.
ly, not because Of any personal feel
ing against this class of gentlemen,
but because it vas not a difficulty be.
tween that party and myself was not
endeavoring to harmonize their ranks
it was a trouble among Republican as
plrants that l sought to settle and save
it from disintegration and defeat, and
for me to consent and agree, las the
gentlemen wished me toy to allow men
of a separate and distinct political con.
nection, and one which has a candidate
and exponent in the form of En-. S.
Mathes running for the very same Of
flee, to say whether l should run as g
Republican or not, would be treason
to my party, for what would be more
reasonable than to suppose that the
gentlemen who were brought into that
so-cdAcd convention by my opponents,
and who are outside of the Repub.
lican party, (but must have held the
balance of power in the convention)
would have cast their ballots in favor
OF the weakest man and one they could
most easily beat, and I am prepared to
prove, if it is denied, and that too by.
as good a Republican as lives in this or
any other county, and an honorably
discharged Federal soldier, that
while voting he heard one of the
gentlemen's choice, say that she was
voting for the weakest man, and the
one they could the most easily beat"
| dare the gentlemen to deny it; and
yet, | am a disorganizer, they say, in
the Republican party, and MCPHERSON
is the nominee. Voters, it is now for
you to say which of us was acting in
accordance with the Republican party.
l wanted the Republican party to say
and the gentlemen wanted to mix it
and let our opponents say, hence, 1
couldn't see it,"
Mr.. Cox says, -"we, Griffith, Nc.
Pherson and myself, came out, Griffith
by my side and the convention acted"
Yes, after l saw who ithey had logged
into it, men whose hostility to the Re-
publican party is we'll known, and has
been ever since the war, at times ex-
ceeding that of the straightout rebels.
l did come out declaring to Cox and
others that l would have nothing to do
with it. / could have selected many
from MIR. Morrow's party that would
have been preferable. yet, these gentle.
men would have denounced such as
rebels, and yet, I am asked to submit
tamely to something with which I had
nothing to do and they had everything,
/ told this same man, L. S. Cox, who
followed me to the door importuning
me to come back that / had no business
there, and would have nothing achatever
to do with it in that shape. The last
words spoken by me to Cox was that !
would have nothing to do with their
bogus affairs. / got my horse immedi-
ately thereafter and left for Clark's
Long after / had lett town
Col. t. H. Reeves, Conservative, and
who had been requested to come into
the Court House by Cox, arose after
they had ballotted once or twice and
that from what he had heard
Griffith would not abide by their action,
and that he would not ballot further
until the candidates came IN and agreed
to submit to the action Of all the Mag
istrates in the house. Griffith, Cox
and Mcpherson were called, Cox and
Mcpherson answered and went into the
Court House. Griffith was gone and
five miles from town. The
above statement of Col. Reeves was
indicated, and Cox, in the absence Of
then and there authorized them
"settle Grifith's claims" contrary to
my expressed will and wishes and
without any authority from me, and
yet these gentlemen are to make the
impression, to those who do not know
the facts, that it was q Republican, con-
vention fairly gotten up, and that /
was present and abiding by its action,
a statement at utter variance with the
truth, and they may rest assured / will
spare neither night nor day in letting
those who do not see this paper know
the facts. 1t is a little strange that
Cox is taking such a hand in this mat,
teri What does it meanp 1t at least
food for reflection! He con.
fesses that he is off, and is no doubt