Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-07-18
CARD FROM HON. JNO. F. HOUSE

CARD FROM HON. sJNO. f. HOUSE.
To the people of the sixth Congressional
District, composed of the. counties of
Davidson, Chatham, Dickson, Hum
phreys, Houston, Stewart and Nontgom-
cry:
| have received many solicitations
from friends in all the counties of this
district to become a candidatefor Con-
gress, and the people of some of the
counties IN primary meetings have
done me the distinguished honor of
expressing preference for me for that
position. To these unsolicited ex-
pressiOns of kindness and partiality, /
have refrained from making any public
response, as l desired to avoid even
the appearance of attempting to fore
stall or embarrass a free and untram-
meled utterance by the people of the
entire district as to their choice of
candidate to represent them in the
Congress of the United States.
The committee for the district, as
you are aware, have called conven-
ton to assemble in GAINESVILLE on the
Ind day of September, to nominate
candidate. Their action meets my en-
tire APPRECIATION The public Offices
of the country belong to no man, or set
of men-they are created for the pub
lie good, and belong to the people.
The incumbents of those offices are
the agents of the people, and l recog-
nize their right to select their own
agents in their own way.
A convention may as we'll represent
the will of the people as any other
method that can be resorted to, and has
the advantage of greater convenience
over the modes that have been sug-
gested to settle. conflicting aspira-
lions.
The disastrous campaign of 1872 ad
monishes US that We cannot hope for
success with division in our ranks
and a multiplicity of candidates in the
field. If we desire success let us have
the manhood and patriotism to forget
past dissensions, and thus adopt the
only means by which it can be achiev-
ed. United, we are invincible-divi-
ded among ourselves, we have been,
and can again be defeated.
If we do not desire success. let Ms
stack our arms, furl our banners. sur
render Internationally to the enemy
and give them our parole of honor tC
fight them no more. IF tbs matter o.
indifference to our people as to who
shall control our State government, OF
represent them 10 the National council:
they can fold their arms and permit
their strength to be frittered away il
personal contests. IF the Democratic
or Conservative party has no higher
object in view than to suffer itself tt
be used as a convenient springboarG
from which political chieftains may
throw themselves into power, it is no
worth preserving, and the sooner it re
tires from the scene of action the
better.
But if it has principles to defend
if it means to make itself a power il
shaping the destinies of the country
if it means to confront and disput,
the march of the dominant party il
its inroads upon the government which
our fathers left us-it must put on it
whole arm0r, discipline its forces, clos,
up its ranks and suppress all mutinies
Let the people come to the front
take their own affairs into their owl
hands-perfect a thorough organiza
ton, and compel obedience to thei
behests.
Let all candidates who think thei
own personal aspirations of more i'm
portance than the success of thei
party, be given to understand that tn
people are in earnest and do not meal
to tolerate any experiments upon thei
success, .or to have their strength di
vided in mere personal uuarrels, am
they will have harmony and sweep tn
State by an overwhelming majority il
November.
If the Convention, called to meet OF
the End of September, should do m
the honor of making me its nominee
| shall accept the nomination, and t,
the extent of my humble ability labo
to have that nomination ratified at tn
polls. But if they should in their wis
dom select another, | shall not onl,
submit to their better Judgment in tn
premises, but give to their nomine,
my honest and earnest support.
JOHN Z. HOUSE.