Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-19

To the Democratic Executive Committee OF
Tennessee:
Having twice asked the conven.
ton not to place my name up
on the electoral ticket, and haY.
ing been nominated by so large and
h2ttering q majority Of tbs convention
after my repeated aud earnest request to
be excused, / felt that / owed the peop {
Of Tennessee too much to refuse to taEe
upon myself the responsibilities and Ia.
Dor Of position to which the cdnven.
ton had assigned me, and I there
fore reluctantly accepted. But, haY.
ing Learned that my. nOmiUatiOn as
one Of The electors for the State
at large had produced some degree
OF classification, at least in one portion
of the State, l respectfully, but peremp-
toTily, decline to be candidate for eIec.
tor. 1 have, at no period Of my life, had
any political aspiration that | did not
hold subordinate to the success Of the
principles which were, in my opinion,
Important to the public welfsTe. /
therefore most cheeTfGlly retire from
the position OF elector that perfect har-
mo1y may be restored to the Demo.
cratic aud Conservative party through
out the State. Every public office is
high public trust, which, to be honestly
exercised, must be exercised with an
eye single to the public good, and he
who prostitutes such q position to
| the ends OF personal ambi-
ton, self-sggrsndizement, or private
pecunisry gain, is wholly unworthy OF
| public confidence or off ,isl position. 1
| do not decline the electOrship to avoid
| either the labor or the responsibilities OF
| the canvass, nor fer any want Of inter
auf IN ho and in1nnrtavnE or 10
which SO deeply interests the American
| people. The nominations and the plat
| form Of the st. Louis convention COM
mana the approval o. my judgment and
shall receive my active, earnest cordial
support. In taking my position as q
private in the ranks l shall not be silent.
/ shall not be idle. [ shall fight as cheer
fully, vigorously and earnestly in that
position as / would il covered with the
honor Of a conspicuous leader. Show
me where can aid the cause of cOnsti-
tutional, honest and economical govern
ment, no matter in what field or how
onerous the labor, ] shall enter up
on the work with all zeal and eneT-
gy, and with whatever Of ability l DOS
sess. The country greatly needs and
demands thorough retTenchment and
reform, and an honest administration of
the government; needs and demands
that the number Of offices and office.
holders shall be diminished to the small.
est number consistent with efficient sd-
ministration; needs and demands RELIEF
from the system OF Repotism which Is
prevailing and which holds public offi3e
to be q private perquisite, to be used
for the personal aggrsndizsmept
of the officer and for the benefit of
relatives and personal friends without
regard to the public interest; needs and
demands that public office shall be
held as eacTed trust, and administered
purely and alone IN the interest Of the
people; needs and demands integrity,
efficiency and economy ia every branch
of the public service, and to that end
greatly needs civil. service reform; needs
and demands that the constitution in all
Of its parts-as well the late amend
ments as the origiDal-sbau be respected |
as the supreme law of the land; and that |
the government be admins 5ered under
and in subordinstion 10 its letter snd
spirit, and not upon the narrow preju- !
dice and sectional hate engendered by
war, shall earnestly advocate the en-
forcement Of the constitution and laWs, |
Federal and State. believe in the pun |
ishmeut, by indictment and conviction, |
OF all laWlessness-no matter where it /
occur or who may be the offenders. |
stand ready to vindicate the constitu-
tional and legal rights of every man, no
matter what race, nationality, or color,
and without regard to previous condi.
tion or opinions; stand ready to resist |
any aud all efforts to jDtimidate or c.
cree the exercise of the elective fran
chise, believing every citizen should |
vote his honest opinions in every elGc.
tion. l am opposed to q military gov
erment In time of peace, and shall ear
nestly oppose the policy OF remsnding |
any of the States back to territorial
government. While shrink from no
responsibility which attaches to me by
reason OF past official action, it iJ evil
dent that revival of the discussion of
the merits and dement's OF the issues of
the war can only irritate and arouse the
worst passions and lead to no practical
or good results. When the Confederate
soldiers surrendered their arms eleven |
years ago, the people of the Confederate
S "a es surrendered with them in good
faith the issues in which the war had
its origin. From that day every intelli-
gent citizen OF those States has regard
ed the issues of the wsr settled fiaally
and forever, and has endeaYored to
make himself q law-abiding and good
citizen, deeply interested in the peace,
and happiness Of not only
his State, but OF all the States Of the
Union. II we would make this country
and happy, the people Of the
north and south must place themselves
upon higher plane, broader nstionsli-
" and broader brotherhood; forget the
prejudices and hates which
have heretofore prevailed, and are to.
lay, to some extent, prevailing, and re-
turn TO simpler, economical and cOnsti-
utional methods OF administration. This
every feeling of distIust |
will disappear from the Union, and all
he people of all sections will work hsr-
together, emulatiug each
)ther in the effort to achieve that bright
md glorious destiny which awaits US as
! great country and great people. Let
,very American citizen feel that law
md the flag OF the country no longer
,over aud protect one-hslf of the Union
,Dly, but cover and pr0tecs alike from
he humblest to the greatest all citi-
isns of all States, and that they are ev-
anywhere entitled TO be and are pro-
oundly respected. This ia the home and
country OF the southern as well as north.
IN citizen-we have no other country,
10 other home. II / were actuated py
10 higher considerations than self inter.
81, these interests all conspire to
naHe me struggle for and desire peace,
and happiness for the whole
ountry, because the peace, prosperity
md happiness OF ourselves and cur
state depend upon 1t. l make these
,Hblic avoWals, because there are those .
Vho profess to believe there 10 sill lurk. :
Dg hostility in the south to the govern- :
nent. II such belief is sincere, l wish :
0 aid in removing 1.-THE mere pre-. !
ense Of the hypocrite and demsgoEue, :
dOpted as means OF climbing into !
'oWer or retaining party GsceDdancy-
nd l wish to do my part Ia demol.
shing his power for evil. There can be
10 prosperity IN the country while the {
overnmeDt is administered upon the Y
sTrow platform OF sectionalism, prtIu- l
ice and hate. When true and patriotic :
nen of all sections resolve to plsca