The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1882-05-04
SMITH CLAYTON w1rHDRAws

Mr.. Smith Clayton, who has been
an Independent for seven ysars, who
helped Mr.. Spser in the ninth dis
trict, who was one of the committee
of seven Of the caacos coalition that
Issued the star chamber call for the
liberal convention, has Withdrawn
10 disgust from the movement. Ia
IN interview with the Constitution
reporter be says;
sThe republicans known as the
syndicate are using the independent
democrats as lever to life them
selves and their friends into federal
| offices 10 Georgia. The republicans
are inAamipg the negroes by ap
pointing many of their number to
federal office. All this means that
the federal patronage 10 Georgia is
/ to be used two years hence to give
Arthur Georgia delegation 10 help
him to another term
"Mr. Arthur is trying to make
the independents think they are
leading the procession, bat they are
really riding abreast with the repub.
Iicans, while the negroes ale in ad
vance. See Davis, Pledger, Pleas
ant, etc"
Mr.. Clayt ton says he was offered
a position as mail route agent on the
state road, which be declioed, 80 be
did not wish to be under obligations
to Arthur. He also says:
That the object of Arthur's new
party 10 Georgia is to get the legis
ature. If they should succeed, they
will redistrict the State to suit them
selves with fair prospect of putting
several republicans and negroes in
congress from Georgia. To this
end you will see 10 the near future
many republican and negro candi
dates for the legislature The ne'
groes and republicans will support
the independents for the State offices
and 10 turn the independents will be
expected to support the negroes ADD
republicans. The negroes even now
openly declare that they hoid the
balance of power 10 the state"
II know that Arthur told prom
inent Georgia republican, to whom
he has recently given an office, that
be intended to d. for the new party
in Georgia what he has done for the
new party in Virginia. 1t is well
settled that the officeholders under
Arthur's administration will be as
sessed to raise funds to build up this
new party in Georgia, In short Ar
thur is playing for second term, the
state of Georgia is the chess board
and be is goiog to use just as many
black men and white men as he can
in order to win delegation"
"You don't propose to help him to
do it 2"
"No. sir. AS white Georgian,
and democrat, | feel that, knowing
what | know, it is my duty to part
company with the so-called liberals
| believe in the fullest political free
dom for both white and black, but |
see in this present movement in
Georgia, as now conducted, an ele-
ment which menaces the lives and
property of the citizens of this
State, and warn all parties concern
ed that any collision between fac
tions which the near future may dc
velop will give overwhelming and,
perhaps mournful evidence to the
world that the white man still rules
in Georgia. say this, too, in all
friendliuess to the colored man
whose best interest, socially, pOIiti-
cally, materially lies in resisting with
his full strength the unhallowed eff
forts of the administration at Wash
ington to sacrifice him iu the inter
est of a second term"
"How do they expect to carry the
State with au overwhelming white
sentiment against them 7"
''They count on the solid negro
vote, massed by the administration,
and led by white office~seekers iC
various parts of the State. Seeiog
this | became Disguised with the
movement, and, az white man and
a democrat, thought my withdrawal
was in order. / trust that any OF
my friends in Georgia who may
have been misled by my position
will accord me credit for conscien-
tiousuess and profit by my example