Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-09-27
Murfreesboro, Sept.T4 1879.
JEFF. DAVIS WRITES LETTER.

MurtreeSDOro, sept. t, 1913.
JEFF. DAVIS WRITES LETTER.
He is not and will not be a Candi-
date for the u. y. Senate.
Brookhaven Miss Ledger.
The following letter was written
by Hon. Jefferson Davis, in reply to
one addressed to him by the editor
of the Ledger, asking if he would
consent to allow his name to go be-
fore the next Legislature for the of
fee of United States Senator, stat
ing that we believed it was the wish
of majority of the people of this
State to return him to the position
he held at the breaking out of the
war between the States:
BEAUVoIR p. o. Miss, Aug. 30,
1879. r. H. Henry, Esq, Editor
Brookhaven Ledger: My dear sir
TO your inquiry | may succinctly
reply that / am not candidate for
the office of the United States Sena-
tor of Mississippi, and do not desire
to be elected to the position. Your
uniform friendship and early advO-
cacy of me for that high station en-
title you to a full statement of the
reasons which control me in this
matter.
Assuming what, in view Of recent
events, is by no means probable,
that the requisite majority of Con-
gress would remove my political
disabilities and the atfrUnt of deny
ing to her the right to choose her
own representative, l proceed to
consider the case alphabetically
presented.
Holding that the personal wishes
or private advantage of an individ-
ual should not enter into his Selec-
ton for a public trust, | do not the
less gratefully appreciate the gener-
Gus preference for me which you
give assurance is entertained by a
majority of the people of MISSISSIPPI
pi. The best return l can make for
such kindness is to insist that the
only consideration shall be as to
and prosperity of the State.
The vital issue before the country
is the contest between State rights
and consolidation or, in other
words, between the Constitution, as
it was adopted and interpreted by
the fathers, or the unrestricted will
of the majority. The first is liberty
the last despOtism. The supremacy
of the law is indispensable to the
preservation of popular freedom,
and whether the ruler, who is a law
unto himself, be one man or a null
titude, the result is alike a despot'
| ism.
The checks and balances, the dis
| tributiOn of powers, and the caution,
reservation in the 10th article of the
amendments, which We're as cOndi
| tions annexed 10 the compact be
| tween the States, all distinctly show
| the purpose to organize a genera
/ government which should be res
pOnsible to the States and their PEG
! pie. Surely the blood Of the reVO
! luton had not been shed merely t
effect change of masters. 1t wa,
for self-gOvernment that the State,
declared their independence, anC
fought until they were seVerally ac
knOwledged to be free and indepen
dent nations.
Thoroughly convinced that thu
restoration of the ideas and practise
of the founders and early admins
traitors of the general government i
the one thing essential to secure thu
liberty, safety and happiness of thu
! people of the States and their pos
terity, the point for deliberation be
fore answering your question was
whether l could, as United State
Senator, be useful in attaining tina
end. The other political question
which agitate the country are, il
nav estimation, so subordinate tina
| think, after the contemplated res
tOratiOn, they could all be easil,
and happily adjusted.
Taking, as far as one may in
matter affecting himself, theattftud
of a disinterested partyin this discus
sion, / will firstremark, what is equal
! lY known tOyou, that in the Northern
mind there is an unreaSOning OppO
sitiOn to the doctrine of State rights
and that my assertion of it, witt
whatever conclusion were dedncibl
therefrOm, has made me the specia
object of sectional hostility. 1t has
therefore, followed that others cOult
say, without creating excitement
that, the like of which, if uttered b.
! me, would be swollen and diStOrtet
for uses in partisan agitation. TIL
future of the country needs tina
there should be calm reflection, ant
by the light of history the relation
of the States to the Union be justl,
and permanently determined. Soon
er or later the principles to whicI
| reference has been made Will,
trust, by the force of their inheren
truth. Vindicate themselves to tn
common sense of our cOuntrymel
in every section. TO hasten the con
summation, Mississippi has man.
sons ADLER than /. From amOn
themHet one be selected who has II
political disabilities" to Obstruc
his admittance TO the Senate, AM
against whom there are no bite
preiudices to impair his usefulness.
Did l desire to return to politica
life, the considerations herein pre-
! SenIeU WOulu outweigh lildt NSoiA'
But the fact is the reverse. Person
ally, therefore, while | am grateful
to ycu for your advocacy, l d
not wish to re-enter the Unite
States Senate. To the public cOnsid
erations given might be added pr
waite reasons, which conformity, ur
der existing circumstances, rende
me averse to public station. Yo
are authorized to announce that m.
name will not be, with my consent
included among the candidates fO
the United States Senate to repre-
sent Mississippi in that body.
From youth to age it has been m,
pride to represent Mississippi in mil
, itary and in civil service, and
! would that all her sons should real
ize that it is her interest which diC
: tates my present decision. Faith
fully your friend,
. JEFFERSON DAVIS.