The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-28
For THE HERALD.

M ESSRS. EDlTORS 1ue duuoUuC0
ment Of my name in the HERALD as a
candidate for the State Legislature
seems to demand from NE that kind
of an answer which shall contain
positive decision as to my acceptance
or dec!ination of said nomination. .~---
For various reasons, | have from
time to time, most uncquivocally said
to my friends when iuterrogated on
this subject, aud urged to allow my
name to be used in this connection,
* cannot under existing circun-
stances give my consent to be elected
to the Legislature. f.have no desire
to be in office, and I am not candi-
date, and will not be unless change
of circumstances shall produce in my
mind a change in my fce!iugs." Quite
recently, however, the desire on the
part Of large number of good men,
residents of the County, has become
so strong and manifested itself in
such great earnestness and deep
solicitude, than when asked to re-
consider my decision and to give the
subject earnest thought and then to
act from a sense of duty, I could not
refuse to comply with the request
hence the nomination | suppose re-
ferred to, containing as it does an ap-
peal to my patriotism and gratitude.
While ], have no desire for such
position aud greatly prefer to be in
possession Of the influence which l
seen to have to any position of
the kind to which might be
elevated, I cannot say but what
such Unconstitutional reepect, con-
fdence and popular good will are
pleasing to ne. And such, suppose,
are the more 50 from the fact that
Newberry County is my birth place,
the home of my CHILDHOOD, and the
scene of the struggles Of my ripper
years. Here I have had to labor for
foot-hold; meeting and overcoming
formidable opposition and difficulties.
The. hill which I have been climbing
has oftentimes beer steep, very steep,
rugged and almost impossible. But
by toiling Oh, holding 20 the righ: and
asking for courage that | might quit
myself like man, With always few
tried friends at my side spiritirg me
on to the contest, | stand to-day 10
the position I occupy and fee; very
grateful to God that my life has not al:
together been a failure. I deserve no
credit for what I. have done, for I
have only performed my du;y and
not the whole Of that. Bua | do
think I have learned to appreciate
true friendship and kindly auts and
how to sympathi7e with a fellow be-
ing aspiring after eleVatl lon and noble
deeds-therefore when those whom |
I know to be true friends and we'll
wishers desire, and honestly and sim
cerely desire, to place me in position
which they conceive to be one of
honor, and in which they conscien-
tiopsly believe I might be of service
to them and the country, it might
seem like ingratitude and the want
of patriotism on my part to decline
the honor intended to be conferred,
or to shrink from the duties and re-
spousibilities designed to be laid
upon me.
For such reasons and from this
stand point, I make the following an
nouucement: If I am fairly nominated
at the Primary Election in August as
candidate for said position, I shall
allow my name to continue before the
people and if elected at the General
Election in November, | shall consider
it nj duty to serve the people Of the
County in said position in manner
the very best | know how. I ask no
man to vote for me and shall not
allow myself or my friends, if [ know
it, to enter into any combination in
order to strengthen me, or otherwise,
or to use any undue influence to con-
troll single vote in my favor. If sue
cessful after making this public de.
claration. I shall have and enjoy the
comforting assurance that my fellow
citizens honestly and sincerely desired
me to serve them in such capacity,
and, therefore, shall feel during the
short period that shall be engaged
;u this pew york, that I am 10 the
line Of duty, and shall, as I have al
ways tried to DO, discharge the duties
of the position, faithfully, fairly aod
conscientiously, leaving results and
consequences to take care Of them
selves.
# not elected, | shall haye the sat-
isfaction of knowing that I was not
the free and voluntary choice Of the
requisite number of my fellow citizens
aud that it would be unmanly in me,
and not in keeping with a we'll d.
rected ambition or noble aspirations
to obtain position at less price. There
fore let this matter terminate as it
may, I shall be satisfied and quitcly
abide the decision made at the ballot
box by my fellow citizens.
Respectfully, :.