The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-09-17
LETTER FROM HON. JEFFERSON
DAVIS.

HE SAYS THAT HE Is NOT AND WILL MOI
BE-A CANDIDATE FOR THE {. s. SENATE
Brookhayen Ledger.
The following letter was written by Hon
Jefferson Davis in reply To one ADDRESSED
him by the editor of the Ledger, asking i
| he would consent to allow his name to %
before the next Legislature for the office o
| United States Senator stating that We be
| lieved it was the wish of majority of the
people of this State to return him to the DO
| sition he held at the breaking out of the
| war between the States:
BEAUvoIR, P. o. Mss, 29th Aug, 70.
R. H. Henry, Esq. editor Brookhaven
| Ledger:
Ny DEAR SIR: To your inquiry l might
succintly reply, that am not a candidate
for the office of United States Senator OF
Mississippi, aud do not desire to be elected
to that position. Your uniform friendship
and early advocacy of me for that high
station, entitle you to 4 full statement of
the reasons which control me in this mat
| ter.
| Assuming what, in view of recent events,
| Is by no means probable, that the requisite
majority of Congress would remove my POI
litical disabilities, and thus spare our State
| the atfront of denying to her the right to
L
to consider the case alphabetically present
| ed
Holding that the personal wishes or
| private advantage of an individual should
not enter into his selection tor a public
| trust, do not the less gratefully appreciate
| the generous preference for me which YOU
| give assurance is entertained by a majority
of the people of Mississippi. The best re-
turn | can make for such kindness, Is to
Il,
as to what will best promote the welfare
and prosperity of the State.
The vital issue before the country is
the contest beteen State Rights and CON
| soidation. Or in other words, between
the Constitution, as it was adopted and
interpreted by the Fathers, or the unre-
stricted will of the majority. The first is
liberty; the last is despotism. The su-
premacy of law is indispensable to the
preservation of popular freedom, and
whether the ruler, who is a law unto him
self, be one man, or Il multitude, the result
Is alike u despotism.
The checks and balances, the distribution
of powers, and the cautious reservation in
the tenth article of the amendments, which
We're rs conditions annexed TO the compact
between the States, all distinctly show the
purpose to organize a general government
which should be responsible to the States
revolution has not been shed merely to
effect a change of masters. 1t was for self
government that the States declared their
independence, and fought until they were
severally acknowledged to be free and in
dependent nations.
Thoroughly convinced that the ideas and
practices of the founders and early admins
traitors of the general government is the one
thing essential to secure the liberty, safety
nd of hn 1la Of he ut nd
their posterity, the point for deliberation be-
fore answering your question was, whether
l could, as an United States Senator, be use
full in attaining that end. The other politi-
cal questions which agitate the country, are,
in my estimation, so subordinate that |
think, after the contemplated restoration,
they could all be easily and happily adjus-
ted
Taking as far as one may in a matter af-
fecting himself, the attitude of disinteres-
ted party in this discussion, l will first re-
mark, what is equally known to you, that
in the northern mind there is an unreason-
ing opposition to the doctrine of Staterights;
and that my assertion of it, with whatever
conclusions were necessarily deduclble there
from, has made me the special object of sec
tionaI hostility. 1t has, therefore, followed
that others could say, without creating ex
element, that the like of which if uttered
by me, would be swollen and distored for
uses in partisan agitation. The future of the
country needs that there should be calm
reflection and by the light of history
the relation of the States to the I'm
ion be justly and permanently deter
mined. Sooner or later the principles
to which reference has been made, will,
trust, by the force of their inherent TRUTH
vindcate themselves to the common sense
of our countrymen of every section. To
hasten the contamination, Mississippi has
many sons ADLER than |. From among them
let one be selected who has no political ''dis
abilities" to obstruct his admittance to the
Senate, and against whom there are no bit
ter preiudices to impair his usefulness.
Did | desire to return to political life,
the considerations herein presented would
outweigh that desire But the fact is the
reverse Personally, therefore, while | am
grateful to you for your advocacy, | do not
wish to re-enter the United States Senate.
To the public considerations given, might
be added private reasons, which, conformity,
under existing circumstances, render me
averse to public station. You are author
lied to announce that my name will not be,
with my consent, included among the can
didates for the United States Senate to re-
present Mississippi in that body.
From youth to age it has been my pride
to represent Mississippi in military and in
civil service; and | would that all her sons
should realize, that it is her interest which
dictates my present decision.
Faithfully your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.