Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-29
GEN. GORDON'S FATHER.
A Touching Appeal to the People
OF Georgia.

Allanta constitution.
see from copy Of your paper,
which has been sent me by some
friend, that my son, the Hon. John b.
Gordon, has resigned his seat in the
senate Of the United States, and that
much excitement prevails on account
OF it. | see some favorable and some
oondemnatory expressions ooncerRing
1T. l think it, perhaps, not out Of
place for me, his father, to write Won
this short communication. My son
has ever been dutiful, obedient and
confding. From his earliest youth to
the present time he has been the pride
and JOY OF my life. | am now nearly
eighty-fye years of age-a few more
days and | shall have passed away.
would feel that my teachings and
counsels would have been to little
purpose is the ISLANDERS and falsehoods
uttered against my son had any foun.
dation in fact.
AS ! stated above, he has always
been obedient and confding. When
he could reach my ear he has ALWAYS
consulted me before taking mo-
mentuous step.
lie made me visit in March last.
and while here he said to. me, "Pa. /
am tired Of public life. / crave the
peace and quietude of my home and
home affairs; besides, | can't save up
any money out Of my salary; and the
idea Of dying and leaving my family
without a competency troubles me no
little" He then went on to saw that
if he was out of the senate he could
make a great deal more money and
would have to spend a great deal less,
aud added that he had about conclud
ed to resign, feeling that the public
interests would not suffer thereby. and
his private interests would be pro-
tected. | advised him to that course
and urged him not to delay it, and in
stead of being surprised at his resig
nation now, | am only surprised that it
was not sooner. As to the insinuations
that he was bought out or bargain
ed out" | pronounce it UNANIMOUSLY
and shamefully false, and my blood
almost curdles, and my old limbs
totter with indignation when | think
Of such charges being made against
him. From his youth to his man
hood he has been the embodiment of
honor aud truthfulness. In his boy
hood he would never betray a friend,
and at least once to my knowledge he
suffered severe punishment at school
rather than betray the confidence of a
schoolmate. Would he then now. in
the zenith and glory of his manhood.
betray the people in whose defense he
has proven, on thousand occasions,
his readiness to die Would he be.
tray or sell for lucre that integrity
and honor which is dearer to him than
life itself? No mol no. Away
with such infamous false
hoods. Let those who condemn
his course put themselves in his
place. He had served his people in
war and in peace with undying devo-
ton. He had on his hands a large
and growing family; his state and
people are now free and prosperous,
and no longer require his service; his
financial affairs and home matters de.
mand his attention. The constitu-
ton and the laws of his country give
him the right to retire. His salary
is not sufficient to support his family
and meet all his needs for money. He
is not rich; after years of toll in his
country's service, he comes out poorer
than he went in. He is offered a po-
sition which will afford him rest and
quiet and a competency. Georgia has
other sons capable of filing his place
in the senate. Where, then, is the
crime of which he is guilty. Whatone
of his accusers would not have acted
as he did uldersimilar circumstances?
z. H. GORDON,
Jackson County, Ala.