Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-22
SAvANNAH. G.. September

SAVANNAH, GA, September 20, 1882.
MeSSrS Jas. A. Sykes, L. d. Pleasant, s. u.
.Scrcggins, Ed,0drd Harper and IU'1ts q.
CrmpbeD:
GENTLEMEN have received snd care
fully considered your letter OF the 18TH inst.
and accompanying documents, which you,
as a committee IN the name and in behalf Of
the Republicans of the First Congressional
district Of Georgia, in convention assembled,
IN Empire Hall, in this city, on the 18th
iUst., have presented for my consideration
and action.
You state 10 your letter, and seem clearly
TO establish by the documents and other
evidence submitted, that l was fairly nomi-
mated by the legally called and organized
convention OF the Republican party IN this
Congressional district, and you accordingly
ask nae to accept the nomination so made.
And ere state from my own knowledge
that eighteen of the twenty delegates whose
credentials you submit called In person on
me in nv Office Immediately after the ad
iOurnment OF the convention on the 18th
inst, and voluntarily assured me, In en-
phatic language, that they seVerally had
been personally present IN the convention,
and there supported me as the candidate of
the party, and that nine of the fourteen re-
ported by you to have acted under proxies,
as you allege, also called on me at the same
time and place and gave me the same as
surance IN regard to themselves, IN terms
similarly strong.
Nevertheless, l have waited to hear or
see II any evidence could be sdduced TO
contradict these seemingly incontrovertible
proofs of the validity of my title to the Re
publican nomination for Congress. No such
contradictory evidence has as yet come to
my knowledge, and therefore feel justified
in taking for granted that no real cOntrsdic-
tory evidence exists.
beg here to say that l did not In any
sense seek this nomination, not having had
so much as thought of it TO cross my mind,
until was requested few days prior to
the meeting OF the convention to become q
candidate, and did not consent, until about
three days prior thereto, to the use Of my
name; and l then expressly stipulated that
/ must not be expected to do or say any
thing whatever to secure the nomination.
So that the convention was left absolutely
free, so far as any action of mine, directly
or indirectly, was concerned, to select the
candidate Of their choice, for l did nothing
whatever, except to yield my consent, to
bring about the result you have reported to
me.
Nevertheless, knowing assuredly that
have been fairly and honestly chosen as the
standard bearer Of my party, l hereby for
mally accept the nomination, and promise to
labor for success st the polls.
SuSPCSS tuae my POii'iCaL HN4PACS
are already pretty well understood, in
a general way, throughout the district, and
that special exposition Of them, under the
circumstances of my situation. may be
properly waived until the opening of the
campaign. This, however, Is designed as
waiver for the time being only; for l say to
you, and through you to the people Of the
district generally, that It is my purpose
early IN the campaign to announce my po-
litical position in explicit terms, and to de-
fine and explain my views distir city.
l will say now in advance that entertain
no views and cherish no principles that l
do not honestly believe are calculated to
subserve the best interest Of all classes and
individuals of the people Of the First Con
gressional district, in common with sll the
people of the United States.
Very respectfully, etc,
JAMES ATKINS.