The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-09-19
FROM MR.. DAVIS.
HE SAYS HE Is NOT AND WILL NOT
BEA CANDIDATE FOR THE u. S.
SENATE.
BrOokhaven Ledger.


Hon. Jefferson Davis in reply tC
one addressed him by the editor OF
the Ledger, asking if he would con
sent to allow his name to 90 before
the next legislature for the Office OF
United States senator; stating that
we believed it wa5 tile wish of a
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. 80 '79.
r. II. Henry, Esq, Editor Brookhaven
Ledger.
My Dear Sir--To your inquiry /
might succinctly. reply that | am
not Il candidate for the Office of
United States senator of Missis-
sippi, and do not desire to be elect
ed to that position. Your uniform
friendship and early advocacy of
me for. that high station, entitle
you to a full statement Of the rea-
sons which control me in this
matter.
Assuming what, in view of re.
cent events, is by no means proba-
BILE, that the requisite majority of
congress would remove my political
disabilities, and thus spare our
State the atfront of denying to her
the right to choose her own repre-
sentative, proceed to consider the
case alphabetically presented.
Holding that the personal wishes
or private advantage Bf an individ-
ual should not enter into his selec-
tiUn for public trust, l do not the
less gratefully appreciate the gen
erous preference for me which you
give assurance is entertained by a
majority of the people Of Missis-
sipp;. The best return / can make
for such kindness, is to insist that
the only consideration shall be, as
to what will best promote the well
fare and prosperity of the State.
The vital issue before the coun-
try is the contest between State
rights and consolidation. Or, in
other words, between the constitu-
tion, as it was adopted and inter
pretcd by the Fathers, or the unre-
stricted will of the majority. The
Iirst is liberty; the last is despOt-
ism. The supremacy Of the law is
TO the preservation
IF popular freedom, and whether
Jhe ruler, who is II law unto himself,
be one man, or multitude The re-
suit is alike despotisui.
The checks and balances, tho dis
,ribution of powers, and the eau
ious reservation in the tenth ar
icle of the amendments, which
we're as conditions annexed to the
between the States, all dis
inctly show the purpose to orga-
lized a general government which
hould be responsible to the States
md their people. Surely the blood
# the revolution had not been
he'd merely to effect a change Of
masters. 1t vas tor self-govern-
nent that the States declared their
Independence, and fought until
hey were severallY acknowledged
o be free aud independent nations.
Thoroughly convinced that the
estoration of the ideas and prac-
ices of the founders and early ad,
of the general govern
ient is the ono thing essential to
ecure the liberty, safety and hap
mess of the people of the States
nd their pOsterity, the point for
elaboration before answering rour
uestion was, whether / could, as
n United States senator, be useful
l attaining that end. The 9th
r political questions which agi-
,te the country, are; in my esti-
Iation; so subordinate that think,
fter the contemplated restoration, s
ley could all be easily and happily q
1justed.
Taking as far as one may in d
latter affecting himself, the atti- {
lde Of disinterested party in {
lis discussion, l will first remark,
hat is equally known to youj that q
the Northern mind there is an c
lreasoning opposition to the doc q
inc of State rights; and that my b
,sertion of it, with whatever con- l
usions were necessarily deducible i
eretrom, has made me the special b
,iect of sectional hostility. 1t has, C
erefore, followed that what others !.
'uld say, without creating excite "a
ent, that the like of which if ut "
red by me, would be swollen and "
storted for uses in partisan agita a
Oh. The future of the country b
,eds that there should be calm II
and by the light of his +,
~ the relation of the States to
o Union be justly and permanent Il
determined. Sooner or later "
G principles to which reference o
IS been made, will, l trust, by
Q force of their inherent truth, L
themselves to the com \
Oh sense of our eountrymem of G.
cry section. To hasten the con- Il
Mississippi has many. "
Ms abler than l. From among v
em let one be selected who has u
political "disabilites" to obstruct Il
5 admittance ID the senate, aud
aiust whom there are no bitter