The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1880-11-25
From the Gainesville Free Press.
DR.. w. II. FELTON,.

DR.. w. II. FELTON,.
CARTERSvlLLE, Ga, Nov. II. -
To my friends in the 9TH congress
ional district of Georgia: Fellow
citizens i am profoundly grateful
to you for your support in the re-
cent congressional election, and
though it resulted 10 my defeat full
Iy appreciate the friendship and con
fideuce of every man, white and col
ored, democrat and republican, who
sustained me at the ballet box. |
thank each aud every one of you.
| am continually asked if am 60
ing to contest the seat, and great
many friends urge me to do so. The
faauds are glariug, and the injustice
startling to freeman, and great
many Insist that these wrongs be
righted before congress, but my ex>
perience cOnvinces me that the de-
lay, the annoyance, the excitment,
the great expenditure Of time and
labor, the final action by congress
being sometimes postponed unit a few
days before the expiration of the
last session of congress, all render a
contest as a general rule IN just to
the people, ADD inexpedient to the
political future of the contestant.
Besides all this, | have always APP
peaIed to the people of the district,
and | am willing to place these in~
iquit, us violations of law before them
when the proper times arrives. l
shall decline therefore formal con-
| test.
trust the Independents will new
er relax their efforts to procure hon
eS! government and free ballot
which necessited their revolt from
organized corruption 10 this district.
| There never was a time when Geor>
gia needed a bolder effort to over
throw corrupt combination of un~
scrupulous politicians than now.
The control of the state has passed
into the hands of a political oligar-
chy which has largely contributed
to the work of arraying the south
in solid political antagoaism to the
north.
voted for Gen. Hancock, but |
never allowed the storm of SANDER
GUS abuse heaped upon Gen. Gar'
field to deter me from saying on
the stump what was eminent due
him, viz: That he was a gentle>
man, irreproachable in character
patricia sine re lover of con-
stitutional liberty and statesman
of vast intellectual capabilities. |
shall, hereafter, in or out of con-
gress, give to his administration the
same just measure of support that
would have yielded to General
Hancock had he been elected-ap>
proving when right, condeming when
wrong.
trust every independent in this
district, will unite with me in re-
solving that hereafter mere party
names, party edicts and party shib-
boleths shall not influence our pO-
litlcal action or association, but we
will give our undivided efforts to
sustain in office good and faithful
men-true and tried-whatever may
be their party affiliations or sec
,ional connections that we will
unite in an honest and continued
effort to suppress any party or or
ganization which relies mainly up
on a sy stem of intimidation aud bull
dozirg of dependent voters, and by
cheating the Ignorant with traudu~
lent tickets; that we will struggle
for free bsllot~box, so that every
man, white and black, shall be able
to vote his convictions, protected 10
his rights, by wise state and federal
Legislation.
Until we DO this elections are
swindIe aud liberty a myth.
When this desirable result is &C.
compIished then this 'solid south,
which is our reproach, and which
means poverty and inaction," will
disappear forever.
In retiring from congress it gives
me unteigned pleasure to remember
that have served the district and
the state with unfeltering devotion -
not a line would | efface, not vote
would ! recall | defy my enemies
to pick a flaw 10 my honesty or find
stain upon my patriotism
This record | submit to my con
stituents and bequeath as heritage
to my children.
Again, thanking you for your con
idence and support, which has been
defeated at the balIot~b box by meaos
most foul and villainous, shall ev~
err remain your sincere friend and
obedient servant.
w. II. FELTON,.