The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-08
A Reply to Messrs. Hunter and Will
kinson.

EDITORS CLARION: In your issue of the 9Th
inst, is a communication from DR.. Hunter, a
defeated candidate for the Legislature in
Copiah county, and another from W. c. vii.
kinson, both in reference to the election in
said county. 1t becomes necessary for me to
give these communications a briefreply. The
motiveof those parties believe is solely from
personal animosity towards myself They
wish to throw barrier in the way lest
Buiflfn and myself should be treated with
respect by our colleagues in the Legislature,
simply because we were elected as Indepen-
dents. That Buifkin and myself may be clear
ly understood before the public, let me make
statement of the facts as they really are.
He and | were never anything but Democrats,
never have affiliated with any other party
ard now sill claim to be such, not nOminally,
but from principle. And we now claim that
we are none the less Democratic, because we
refused 70 submit to know wrong, attempted
to be seddled upon thai party in our county.
There was not a Radical vote cast for either
of us in the election, with the understanding
that either of us were Radicals. DR.. Hunter
says the parties are nearly equally divided
Then why was il that BuHkin beat him
and never canvasscd the county n day
The truth'was, that the manner in which the
Convention was conducted and the sovcalled
nominees for Representatives., were so objec-
tionable that they, together, came well nigh
destroying the party. If party loses self
respect 10 that extent that II may be led by
such men as those who beaded the ticket, It
cannot expect anything else than defeat. in
fact ! heard Mr.. Harris. the Chairman Of the
Executive Committee the gentleman who in
d0rses WilkinsOns letter, on or before our
County Convention, deuounce one Of those
who headed the ticket, and do not believe
now, if he was put upon oath, that he would
say he voted the head OF the ticket. ! be did,
he did so with the prayer, at the time, falling
from his lips Lord, forgive me There was
al DR. Hunter says, primary election in our
county prior to our County Convention. On
the day Of the primary election, DR.. Hum
ter and my ysclf received the highest number
Of primary votes cast for candidates for the
Legislature. When the Convention met it or
ganized under o rule allowing each candidate
his pro rata Of the delegate votes Of the Con-
yenton in proportion to his primary votes.
The candidates were pledged under this rule.
No one can deny, upon principles Of justice,
that the Convention had any right then TO dis
regard its rule. The moment that the Con-
vention allowed this disregarded or violated
| bv precincts, then and there every candidate
was released from any obligations to observe
the acts Of that body. The principles Of De-
mocracv. which proclaims equal rights and
Justice to all. forbid it dong such an act
! Now, the facts are these: One precinct did
! propose to viGate the rule. the Convention
I forced it 10 observe it, and Immediately after
allowed several other precincts to disregard
/ it--One precinct Transcribed its authority
and cast more votes than it possessed In
/ this manner the rights Of candidates were
violated, that Of precincts disregarded and
By this means nominations we're forced upon
the county by false count and illegal votes
thus initiating the periured returning board
which made Hayes Presdent-and was il
every sense Of the word Radical act. While
the Convention was thus acting, ] Withdrew
from IL. giving as my reason that it was viola
ting It's rule, hence feij then, and | feel now
that / did nothing criminal in the whole mat
ter. ] was released from my pledge to tn
/. Convention, because the Convention had dis
/ regarded the rule under which | was pledged
Shortly after the Convention, showed plainl
: | by actual calculations, to the citizens Of ou