The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-07-25

cult Of The State OF Tennessee:
About the 5th day Of last May.
through the warm personal sOlicitl-
tiOns of my many friends, OF both pO-
litical parties, | was induced TO become
a candidate for Judge OF the 4th Judi
c!al Circuit. At that time my friends,
Lewis Shepherd, of Chattanooga, >. b.
Northup, Of Pikeyillc, and Hon. j. IL.
llOyle, OF Cleveland, were all candi-
dates, but ] was advised by lawyers
and citizens hat neither Of them was
satisfactory, but | would be. Very
soon thereafter Sir. Shepherd declined
the race and he has been my friend
ever since. Ii j. proper 70 state that
Hon. -. &. Trcwlitt Informed me
through q friend that he did not want
the office and would not have IL, and
hc heartily approved OF my candidacy
and hence ] was made 10 believe mat
hc would not be a candidate, but would
be a supporter OF mine at the election.
But be afterwards chose TO become a
candidate and disregar!cI my
claims TO the Office, aud finally my
friend John w. Ramsey also became a
candidate. I'm this way the race
for the Judgship became complex ana
unpleasant. / confined in the contest
until now, hoping all tie time TINT
some of the capdidatcs would decline.
But rs vet they have not. Ny reasons
for wanting the Office were because !
have practiced my profession - years
and felt myself qualified aud needed
the office, and desired at my age Ia lie
to make Il change. My friends said
Judge Howl had held the office eight
wears and that he had held it long
enough, and that II was due 10 me as
his superior in age, ana in the profess
sion, TO have it. Hence repeated at
tempts have been made by friends to
induce Judge lioyle to decline and
thus give me a fair chance OF election,
but this he declined to DO. felt satisfied
rhat | could easily beat Judge Ircwhitt
II Judge Hoyie would only decline,
aud this was the opinion OF my friends
generally of both political parties. In
other words it was believed that J
could command more votes than Judge
liuylc could, and that the vote ! could
command, if Judge Iloyle would give
the race TO me, would certainly elect
me: but the Judge declined TO give me
the race, but seemed determined 10 run
it himself. | finally requested him by
letter to Withdraw in my favor. This he
declined, but suggested 10 me TO leave
the question to the chairmen Of the
different Democratic executive commit
tees i'm III counties OF the circuit. ! felt
,hpt hi. was unfair and ineNpcdient.
!. in common with oGg mutual friends,
ielt that defeat ID both Of US was incvi-
table If we holh ran on. Hence | sent
him q proposition in writing which |
think any man would regard entirely
far and reasonable, which i in the
words and figures, to-wit:
"CLEvELAND. Tenn, July T., 1873.
Hon. }. B. HoYL-Dear Sir: In
derstanding that it is reported by You
or your friends by your authority that
| had refused any terms Of compromise
as to which Of rs ought TO have the
race for the Judgship, which does me
injustice.
l make Ills proposition, and to
which ! request an answer on receipt
Of this. That each of Us select three
friends, and if they cannot agree, let
them select the seventh, and il they
decide that ygu ought to have the race
/ will retire from the contest, and if
they decide under all thIg rircumstan-
ces that | shall have the =, then you
will retire and let them AZ at once.
Yours truly, j. II. GAUT."
This proposition was readily reject
ed in person by Judge Hoyle.
He then made a proposition that u
convention of men to be selected 10y us
from each county in the circHit should
settle the question as to which Of Us
could make the best race. | at first
consented 70 it, and when the drafts
man was writing out the agreement
Hoyle demanded then that it should
state. that the men to be selected should
be composed Of known reliable Demo-
Gratis. But upon reflection | saw be-
fore we could get those men together
and let them consider the case that it
would necessarily be right on the heels
of the election, and give the successful
man no possible chance to prepare for
the election, and that defeat would
most likely result in that case: and |
knew that the term "known reliable
Democrats" was liable to create trouble
and confusion, and this being so, and
Judge Hoyle having otherwise declar-
ed his determination to run the race
on: and to avoid the disgrace and NOR
t]ification of defeat, have induced me to
decline the racc-and for these reasons
am no longer a candidate. ! felt that
it was due to my warm friends and
supporters, that | should give them an
honest, frank and candid statement Of
the reasons why | decline the race. !
know ! would get 4 large support, but
| under the circumstances | DO not be-
lievc | could be elected. Had | the
race fairly ! am satisfied | could be
elected. As ! stated in my circulars, |
was not The candidate Of any political
party, organization or clique, and did
not feel willing to be tie candidate of
any caucus or convention, but If elect
ed | wanted to discharge the duties inn
posed with whatever ability | possess
ed, impartially, unbiased, owing no
fayors to any one. ! cannot, however,
close without expressing my heartfelt
thanks and gratitude to my many
warm friends and supporters, and for
the kindness the people have shown
me all over the circuit, and only regret
| that circumstances are such, that ] can
| not get the Office | sought aud serve
chem IN that capacity.
j., i. GArr.
'Ju1v r. 1879. ~