The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-03-29

CONGRESSIONAL C0NMTTTEE (


CONGRESSIONAL C0MAEzTTEE
We publish below q communities
ton from Col. j.. A. Mckinney. In
which4 with courtesy, moderation audi
mildness, he states the authority
from which he and the Committee
over which he presides received their
appointed expresses his opinion as
TO the right Of that authority to make
the appointment. and explains his
action as Chairman Of the Commit
tee. The tone of the Colonel's let
ter is manly, dienifed and conciIia-
tory. such IS can give offence to
none. We have heretofore expFess-
ed our views upon this subject. and
tried to prove that by long estab-
Iished precedent the appointing pow
er ID Vested in the Chairman Of the
State Executive Committee. The
matter is not one. however, about
which there need be any dissensiOn
or dispute. The gentlemen compos-
ing both committees are all good
men and true members Of the party,
who will faithfully and earnestly
work for its success, whether they do
so as members OF an Executive Com
mittee or as private citizens. We
sincerely regret that any misunder-
standing about the matter should
have arisen at all, but we hope and
believe IL will nSt In any degree
weaken the zeal or impair the indus
try Of any Of the gentlemen for the
good OF their and our common p- rty
BlEssRs. EDIToRs: A communication
IN your paper of the 10th inst, in rela-
zion TO the Congressional Executive Com
mittce calls for the following expIana-
tion, which trust will be satisfactory
to all concerned The Executive Com
mittee at the head of your columnt Is no
new committee. With the exception
of the two last names il is the committee
regularly appointed two years ago by
Col Jas F. Rice, Chairman of the State
Executive Committee, at Nashville. /
copied the names for publication from
the office file of the NORRIsFowE GA
zEITE of 1874 The name as 10 Sullivan
county was filled BY leading mem bers Of
the party in that county, the name OF
the member for the new county Of Uni
col was furnished by leading members
of the party In that vicinity: that the
names appeared simultaneously in the
six Democratic papers Of the District "
is due to the courtesy of the gentlemen
conducting these papers in response to
either q written or verbal request pre-
ferred by myself as Chairman Of the
Committee.
Your correspondent is mistaken,
think, as to the universal usage" in
the appointment of such committees.
The universal usage is this: The Chair
man Of the State Convention which nom
mates a candidate for Governor, soon
after the adjournment of said Conven-
tion, appoints State Executive Com
mittee of one member from each Con
gressfOnal District; the Chairman of tins
Committee appoints the Congressional
Executive Committees for the several
Congressional Districts of the State. AT
ter the first Convention held after the
restoration of the franchise. 1T which
Governor Brown was nominated, such
Committee was appointed for this Dis
trict, and il / am not mistaken, Col
Geo. -R. Mcclellan was appointed Chair
man Of the same. -Four years ago such q
Committee was appointed with Col.
Wm. Greene, of Hawkins, as Chairman.
Il short time before the calling of tho
Convention, Col Greene being an aspfs
rant for the nomination, very properly
resigned his position and Maj. VIM N.
Clarkson was appointed in his place by
Col. Burch, Chairman Of the State Elk
ecutive Committee, and Mai. Clarkson
as Chairman of the Committee appoint-
ed by Col. Burch called the Convention
at Greeneyille which nominated Hon.
VIM. Mcfarland. The President of
that Convention appointed committee
as I supposed for that campaign only,
with Capt. e. G.. Reeves as Chairman.
To the zeal and efficiency with which
several gentlemen of that committee
worked bear cheerful and willing per
sonal testimony. 1t is also proper to
state that have received testimony of
the appreciation Of the services OF MEM
bers Of the other committee for COOP
Grating with them in the work
As Capt. Reeves had changed his place
OF residence aud L saw no action taken
by any one else deemed it my duty as
Chairman to take the course did in
publishing the name of the Committee
II is Of little Importance who does the
work so il Is done; yet il is best 20 ad-
here 20 regular rule and precedent. aln
confident that no gentleman upon the
committee sought the position. The
work of the committee, till they are su-
pereeded by the appointment. of a new
committee, rs merely routine work. The
calling of a Congressional Convention,
and the Senatorial Conventions If desir-
ell, and the calling of County Conven-
tions or meetings to appoint delegates to
the State and other conventions. AZ
the next Congressional Convention soon
70 meet, the wishes of the District as to
the manner of appointing the commit
tee can be ascertained, till then / deem
IL best TO adhere to party rule and pre-
cedents- Deprecating any division or
feeling in the matter, where there is
work for alI, and deeming this explana-
tiOn of my action in the premises due no
all concerned especially To other mem
bers of the committee, and to the gen
ilemen of the press who so courteoasly
responded TO my request to hoist the
names of the committee / am very
truly, J. A. MCKINNEY,
Chmin. ES. Com.
Rogersyille, Tenn. March II, 1876
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FOrmality Complied With.
In Augusta, ne provision has been.
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