Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-07
LETTER FROM CAMPBELL COUNTY.
That New Gospel of Political Salvation


That New Gospel. of Political Salvation.
Mr.. EDITOR: I wrote letter some time
since 20 the Republican for publication ana
it was treated with silent contempt. AS L
am not in the habit of asking prince the
second time for favors, if once denied, ask
the CHRONICLE to publish this letter, to the
editor of the Republican. Now, Colonel,
let Ms exchange a few thoughts seriously and |
soberly and see what your "new gospel of |
political salvation u does really amount to.
Is it any improvement for the people You
say the people are supreme, that all power
belongs to them. That is So but have not
the people the right to delegate that power
to such persons as they please? If not have
they all power?
Now, Colonel, let us take up one thought
at time, and not let them get mixed too
much believe it might be wei enough to
let the people elect a President by direct
ote, but are you sure while we are amending
the Cons tuition in that particular we might
not make it worse in others Should we,
the dear people" vote for every officer OF
this nation 7! You say we should OF the
officers iririsdic ton, colonel, tell me where
oh where shall it extend? Should vote for
every officer of the Senate of the United
States? [ am sure | am just as much
Interested in the vote of the Senator from
Massachusetts, as from Tennessee or else
where know you can fix that up satlsfac-
| tory to yourself.
| DO YOU honestly believe me capable of Sc
| Iecting a suitable person for Chief Justice of
| Nf 4l,O or
| a circuit or district Judge, or a collector of
customs at the port of New York? You say
the people should elect directly, those Off
GERS Somehow, Colonel, [ can't see that it
is expedient to do SO, for, according to your
logic the people must vote for all of them,
| in whose official conduct they are interested.
If we should fix it up for all to vote for
every officer, in which we are interested,
might not we, the dear people" think that
our jurisdiction extends little further than
| YOU think it does? Where does our interest
stop? Are we in Campbell county not a.
much interested III the conduct OF
the Knoxville postmaster as the
people of Knox county? Nor does our IL,
terest stop there, for we are directly inter
ested in the postoffice at Washington, ant
by your plan let us be ever so much neg
lected we could not help ourselves. Th'
postmaster could say to Knox county voters
. Never mind those mean Complexities
they are only lying about me-" and so o
the Washington postmaster and all others
Now, colonel, when we go to mend, let u
be sure that we do not as the distinguishes
! person did with the dogs leg-break it i
another place.
Now, colonel, I have no quarrel with you
for the best men can get wrong: but wha
:. j.. l., 10 10 fp.Q
a 900 more persons for Office than We nov
vote for? Then suppose we have thre
: candidates for each office, wouldn't it b
I something of an election? When coul
the clerks and judges count out the votes
: Could they call over /, 0S0, 900 names in 81
s or would it take twelve months? The tim
for holding elections would have to /
changed again Would the different office
S be filed by better senators, postmaster
y, Judges, collectors. &C., than now? In Il
States where they elect have they able
f. judges than those appointed by the Pres
! dent? If not, why this clamor? kno
- as well as you do, colonel, that your pla
S would make some difference in our Stat
: for had it been carried out we would ha'
J a Democratic comptroller, treasurer and S
d perintendent of public instruction. Won
this be any benefit to us, and if not, wi
not let well enough alone? 1c
g6spel Is GarvPTaPg4P8garRg OF "FR5}yaIty!n
. have heard such arguments for the last
If years, and knew all the time they we
n mostly "buncombe" If there is a 90,
thing in royalty" long tried. should v
lie not initiate it ? Let us throw away nothil
\ that is good, but throw away everything tn
is bad. You enumerate several things a.
d say they are acts of kingship. Oh what
n, sorry expression from such source. Kin
have acted after Gods own heart, so don
; scare US, but be sober and tell us somethi1
is for our good. VIII voting ticket wi
lose 900 names on it? | wish, colon,
y you would come to your sober senses al
e give us your real opinion on this votil
, business. [ do believe you would say til
"a the '.de,ar peoples" vote is little u
certain No doubt many think with yo
r. See what JEFF. Davis said in his speech co
L corning Stonewall jackson. If your - Ne
is political gospel is true, secession was II 81
for it was voted for by the people. L
9 history of our country would show he
q. correct you are, if we but knew the N
who have been elected to our legislator
10 and other positions of trust. Campo
ne county voted down the school tax in 49,
was it right? Does not that vote look
d little "kingly?"
~ Colonel, your buncOmbe sucks {
\ still little farther in the last clause of yC
4u new gospel when you ask: Are t
tie Americans of to-day less brave,
m proud of freedom" &C., than the
Oh who lived in the days of Washingt
i'd and Jefferson? Now, colonel, do J
. know how many slaves Washington owne
" How many had Jefferson, of human bein
m as good by nature, and perhaps better
oil practice than you or /: 1t really tool
glorious epoch to scare us up to more Z
he and greater jealousy of our rights. {
m more question, Colonel, honestly asked
I hope it will be honestly answered: If
,r- these rings" you speak of should be
no down, can a poor man make living
Ho easier, or will the widow and the orpl
re, fare better? Will knowledge be more G
"a orally diffused than now? If SO, | know
~ people would like to know how.
up Yours truly,
~ ON SENOJ