Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-26
THE THIRD DISTRICT.
Acard from Hon. E.A. sowIes

ACard from Hon. z. A sowIes.
TO fHB REPUBLICANS Oh THE THIRD ooNGREs-
sloSAL District OF vERsJST.
10 view of the circumstances attending my
candidacy for Member Of Congress, deem it
proper to make a public statement of facts
in 1876. my name began to be mentioned as
a candidate for the succession to Mr. Hen
dee. I had grave aPprehension- of the pro-
priety Of allowing its use until | ascertained
whether any -0Iher-nams xonld be
likely TO be brought forward from
Franklin county. therefore made
inquiries through friends, who saw Mr.. Bar
low, and who were assured by him that be
would NOT be candidate. then consented
to the use of my name and took counsel with
some of my friends in other counties. who
pledged me their support on condition that
would not withdraw in favor of any other
person without their assent Sometime af-
forwards articles began to appear in the pa
pers intimatng that Mr.. Barlow would be a
candidate if he could get the nomination
without serious contest. | consulted some
of the parties who had brought forward my
name, on the subject of Mr.. BarlOw's candi-
dacy, and they advised me to continue
in the field. at the same time giving very
csgent reasons why Mr.. Barlow should not
be elected to the position sought BY him.
Shortly before the State convention, in May,
some Of these friends began to approach me
with various propositions to induce me to
withdraw in favor Of Mr.. Barlow. de-
clined, preierring to await the meeting OF
the State Convention, when | advised with
men from various parts Of the District. and
their advice, very generally, was that l
could not consis slently withdraw, for the
following reasons
First, Because it would be betrayal Of
friends.
Second, Because the interests Of tue Re
publican party imperatively demanded that
| should not withdraw in these times when
the party expects every man to do his duty
in the way of securing genuine, reliable Rs
puJhcans in Congress.
Third, Because there were three csndi-
dates in the field, and one would be likely to
stand as good chance OF nomination as
another, even though he might at first be
largely in the minority Of delegates. L
thereupon declared my intention not to with
draw, though beset by the followers of Mr..
Barlow in large numbers, and representing
all political faiths. Failing in these attempts,
certain news papers in the interests of Mr..
Barlow, began to manufacture public opin-
ion against me, with the view of driving me
FROM the canvass by affirming that l had
forced my candidacy on the people that
was wanting in public enterprise; that my
near relatives were opposed To me that
could not carry a delegate from my own
county, and such like insinuations.
If my conduct in publicly resisting the
"tide of disaster" theatening to destroy our
municipal credit and bring it almost to the
verge of ruin, is snon-enterprising, then there
may be grounds for the charge of want OF
public spirit. Otherwise, invite compar-
ison in the matter of the be>towal of pub
lie and private gifIs-not spasmodically, when
political canvass is approaching, but at
various times and at regular intervals when
duty and society have demanded them In
deed, in the present canvass | have been
accused of giving improperly, and
among Others to the FREE PRES
AND TINES. This deny. l also deny that
have written single communication to
that paper Tor publication since the cam
paign has opened. | emphatical!y deny
that the language attributed to me in the
LomoiHe Nelrs "Will you see at Shat
price we can secure the services of the Hyde
park paper" was ever authorized or written
BY me or any friend of mine. l admit that
in my own county my success has been
greatly paralYzed by the unanimous nomina-
tion Of my brother to the State Senate,
which placed him and myself in an attitude
wherein We could not without detriment TO
him successfully refute rumors that he was
opposed to my nomination.
Thus have been brought before the pub
lie. and AN now in the hands of my friends
and party, ready to meet any emergency or
to make any effort Eeedful to advance their
or its hest interests, or to further the inter-
ests of the people by sieyating and protecting
that party which has stemmed the tide OF
treason and rebellion, and "borne Freedom
aloft on its wave
My apology for this address exists in the
fact that have been grossly misrepresented.
and have been denied the ordinary channels
of reaching the public by biased and par
tial press.
Z. A. SowLEs.
st. Aibans. July 18th, lo1S.