Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-27
LETTER FROM JEFF. DAVIS.
He Says He is Not and Will Not be
ii Candidate for the United
States Senate.

IFrom the Brookhuven Miss Ledger.l
The following letter was written by Hon. JEFF
ferson Davis in reply to one addressed him by
the editor of the Ledger. asking HIN if he would
consent to allow his name to go before the next
legislature for the Ollie of United States senator,
stating that We believed it was the wish of II
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:
BE,uyoIH Z. o., MISS, August 90. 1879.
Ledger: My Dear Sir TO your inquiry ! might
succinctly reply that l am not a candidate f.r
the Office OF United states senator of Mississippi,
Your uniform friendship and advocacy OF mt
Tor that high station, entitIe you to u full state
ment OF the reasons. which control me in this
matter.
Assuming what. in view of recent events ia by
no means probable, that the requis te majority
Of congress would remove my political disubll-
tiles and thus spare our state the afrront of deny
ing to her the tight to choose her own represent
atlYe. l proceed 10 consider the case hypothetic-
ally presented.
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
Il majority of the people OF Mississippi. The
best return | can make Tor such kindness Is to
insist that the only consideration shall be, as to
what will best promote the welfare and prosper
Ity OF the. state.
nv 'ANht i'f'c cNANAS Al Soahtly . VIC CoIlGol
between state rights and consolidation. Or, IN
other words, between the constitution, as II was
adopted and interpreted by the fathers, or the
unrestricted Will OF the majority. The first is
liberty, The last dcspOtism. The supremacy of
law Is indispensable to the preservation of pop
ular freedom. and whether the ruler, who Ia !.
law unto himself, be one man or a multitude, the
result Is alIkc-a dcspOtIsm.
The checks and balances, the distribution OF
power, and the cautious reservation in the
tenth article Of the amendments, which were us
conditions annexed TO the compact between the
lie a general government which should be re-
sponstble to the states and their people. Surely
tie blood of the revolution had not been shed
merely 10 elect Il change OF masters. 1t was for
self government that the states declared their
independence, and fought until they We're sever
ally acknowledged to be free and Independent
nations.
Thoroughly convinced that the restoration of
the ideas and practices of the founders and early
administration OF The general government is the
one thing essential to secure the liberty, safety
and happiness Of the people of the states and
their poatcrity. the point for dellberatiOn before
answering your question was, whether | could,
us an United States senator, be useful in attain
ing that end, The other political questions
which aSi'ate the country are, ill my estimation,
50 subordinate that | think, after the conteIn-
plated restoration, they could all be easily and
happily adjusted.
himself, III" attitude of IL disinterestcd party in
this discussi n, Will first remark, what ia
equally known to YOU, that in the northern mind
there Is an unrrasoning opposition to the doctrine
OF state rights; and That my assertion of il, with
Whatever conclusions were necessarily ucuuclUle
thrretrDm, has made me the special object OF
sectional hostility. II has, therefore, followed
that others could say, without creating excite
mrmt", that tn" Ike OF which, If uttered by me,
would be swollen and distorted Tor uses IN par
tisan agitation. The future of the county needs
that there should be calm reflection, and by the
light OF history The reiailOn of the states to the
Union b" justly and permanently determined.
sooner or later The principles To which reference
has been made Will, ! trust, by the force of their
inherent TRUTH, NlnIIrate themselves to the
common SENSE OF our countrymen of every
section. To hasten the Missis-
S!ppI has many sons ADLER than |. From among
ili"in let one he selected who has no political
'dI~hbIlitI"s' to ubstrIct his admittance to the
sciIaic and against whom there are no bit ter
pieJulirrS To impair his usefulness.
DHt desire Ia return To political life, the con-
sit"ralIuna herein presented would outweigh
that desire. i;ut the tact is the reverse. Per-
snnaliy, therefore, while 1 am grateful to you
iOr your advocacy, | do not wish To re- enter the
United States senate. To the public considera-
lions given, might be added private reasons,
which ""nJniniIy, under existing circumstances,
render M avcrse 10 public station. You are
authorized To announce that my name Will not
be, with my consent, included among the can
Mississippi in that body.
From youth 10 a@e IT has been my pride TO rep
resent Mississippi in military and In civil
service; and | would that all her sons should
l":lIE" that II Is her interest which dictates
my present decision. Faithfully your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.