The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-09-13

["Lct me have audiences am sent to speak,
To the Editor of the Comet
I seek your columns, believing that you
have more readers than any paper publlsh>
ed in the State, for the purpose OF entering
my humble protest against what are, IN my
opinion, erroneous conclusions OF many OF
your brother editors throughout the State
as to the meaning and effect of the card
written to the Grenada Sentinel by Gen.
Walthall under date of Goth ult. l see
nothing in his card which justified the con-
clusion, that because, torsooth, he does not
desire to inject into the present canvass any
opinion of his own from which members OF
his party may dissent, that, therefore, the
people of Mississippi can not and must not
elect him to the United States Senate. 1t
is non seguitur. His reasoning is sound
and highly patriotic. He says there
should be no division among us upon subs
jects which are wholly secondary in impor-
lance to the great battle for free ballot in
| which the Democratic party is now en-
gagged" Should Gen. Walthall pursue any
course other than the one he has adopted,
as indicated in his card heretofore men,
toned, he we would sultify himself, (Which
he is not going to do,) and forfeit that
high estate which he holds in the confidence,
love and admiration of the people of the
State, and the title to which he has won by
his pure, patriotic and unselfish course in
the past. Has he not said with reference
to the selection of successor of Bruce.
that the people of the Slate should be left
to the free expression of their choice for
United States Senator, unobstructed. and
untramelled and unframed by any attempt
on his part to educate a sentiment in his
favor.
These we're grand sentiments, yet modest
ly uttered; for he further said in this com.
nection, that he did not find in himself that
peculiar fitness for the Office that made his
election public necessity. Should he now
enter into CANVASS when it could be no
other than q personal one, his position and
attitude before the people would lose much
of its present charm, and he would stand
in no better attitude than those who are
making personal canvass, and who are
certainly intending thereby to educate a
sentiment in their own peculiar interest,
they doubtless believing that they possess
(severally and not jointly that peculiar fit
ness for the position that makes their cleo
ton public necessity. Besides, a canvass
by Gen. Walthall, might imply that he
recognized as true issues, those that are
injected into the canvass by designing poll
ticians and demagoguos, and would tend to
give credibility and importance to hobby
upon which sore heads and defeated
Office seekers from the Democratic ranks
and sleepy radicals are trying to ride
into power. Of course these issues, how
ever false they may be, if canvassed by our
leading men tend but to disintegrate and
demoralize the Democratic party; upon the
continued ascendancy of which, especially
in the South, depend her future prosperity
and glory.
1 can but express my surprise that such
excellent journals as the Yazoo Herald,
Central Star and Walthall Pioneer, each
of which are edited by able and
accomplished gentlemen, should take the
position that because a citizen sees proper
to take his name out Of the contest for sem
atorial honors-where it had been placed by
his frienas-rather than do aught towards