Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-11-19
From the st. Mary's Beacon.
An Open and Manly Application for
Position.

! ouE ulstlilSuiSUcu lGlOM- llliLcUs i!OH a. VI
Harris our immediate representative for two
terms in Congress in the perilouS times which
tried mems souls, and then as now one of the
most popular leaders of the Maryland Demo
cracy, has issued a circular which makes APP
plication to the Democratic members elect TO
the incoming Congress for the position Of Ser
geant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives.
The high personal character of Mr.. Harris and
his brave, clean, clear record as public man,
added to his sufferings and sacrifices in the
cause of right, justice and constitutional gov
eminent, his brave defense of the weak against
the strong and his enviable national reputation,
point him out rs a man eminently proper 10 be
honored at this time by Democratic Congress.
The open aud manly way in which he has
thought proper 10 seek office should be quoted
to his advancement. He ignores all personal
Iintercession and backstairs influence and relies
alone for his claim to party notice upon his pub
lie record. There have been and may still be
differences OF opinion as to this record, hu, no
one will deny that it is brave and honest one,
and no well-informed Democrat viii gainsay
that il is in thorough accord with the principles
| of constitutio al Democracy Oar warmest
wishes for success accompany the application OF
Mr. Harris for position-the only application
he has ever made, during a long life for party
favor, outside of a direct appeal TO the people.
The circular in question is addressed 10 each
| Democratic member Of the incoming Congress
and is in terms as follows -
| SIR II adopt this mode of addressing yon
with the view Of saying that am an applicant
| for the position OF SerEeant-at-Arms 10 the
/ House of Representatives. II is not the usua.
mode but il Is the one most agreeable 20 nay
/ self as am confident il will Re 20 you. The
annoyance of personal opportunity sh8ll not
take place in nv case. | submit any claims
may have TO your calm and just consideration,
knowing that policy looking 10 the advance
ment of the cause which all true Democrats have
at heart will override am individual claim
which any candidate can present
The place will not CRAFTY ambition agt Vii!
relieve rant, TO the verge Of " hich have been
brought by the proceedings Of the Radical Ad-
ministratious which have ruled this country for
the last fifteen years. Poverty. however. IS the
least claim that any one caa Offer, aH'i hope
il will weigh but little in my favor. | can
never be beggsr.
For about thiriy-6ye years have been a
warm, decided and sincere advocate Of the pEin-
cip!es of the Democratic party-hsvc only
swerved from it when IL WAS misied into that
mischievous line of policy which, in my jadg-
ment, worked towards the total overthrow Of
its great leading principles. Such, for in
stance as its course in the acceptance OF Greeley
ism in 1877, and its nomination of Horace
Greeley rs its candidate for the Presidency. |
could not do that thing Better grea,
deal that Grant should have been elected with
our opposition than that Greeley with his radi-
cal platform should have been elected by our
dpproUaI and support. OF course voted for
neither Grant nor Greeley.
| The Democratic party was divided in lsaO
and will not doubt the sincerity Of each dirI-
sion. For myself. took sides with the division
beaded by John c. Breckenridge in defence o!
/ the rights of the States. For ten years before
| that event the circumstances of the country led
me TO consider the question Of the right Of a
State to secede from the Union. and after ma
ture study and reflection, came 10 the conclu-
sion that the tight clearly existed. | fully
Justify the Southern States in seeding from the
Union. 1t is unnecessary here 10 give the rea-
sons that justified their conduct. | will only
remark, that so many millions of people never
before separated from Government that vas
parental in its conduct, and that men and wo-
men who displayed such wonderful courage as
the Southerners did in the late war could no;
submit TO the unjust Entertainments of the
Northern Radicals upon their most valued
rights and privileges. The war upon the South
was, in my opinion, most atrocious outrage
on the part of the Northern States displaying
cruel and Il whimsically tyrannical disposi-
ton, and il is a great regret with me that the
Democrats of the North should ever have given
their countenance and support TO such Ito say
the least of it, a stupendous act folly. When
in Congress felt it my duty to vote against
every bill for the raising of forces and every
bill for the appropriation of money to carry on
the war and had the glory of receiving the CEN
sure of the Radicals of the House for uttering
in speech the following prayer:
Good Almighty grant you may never sub
jugate the South" Ny greatest regret is that
God did not grant my prayer.
have submitted TO you the most prominent
features of my political course, and hope you
will find nothing in them to prevent you from
giving me your support on the present occasion,
and trust may be able to express the graft
tude of Yr. obdt. servt.,
| BENZ. G.. HARRIS.