The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1882-09-07
MIR. CLEMENTS LETTER.
An Admirable and Well Tempered Re
ply TO DIR FELTON,.


CEDARTowN, Ca, Aug 81, 1882
Hon. Wm. FcIton-Dear Sir: / an
in receipt of your note of the 15tl
inst, in which you say: "Thc OBJ
iect of this note is to invite yor
most cordially to attend oil my sp
pointmsnts, and join with me or
equal terms, in discussing the politi,
cal questions of the day. Ifit is in
convenient. for you to attend my ap-
pointments, it will give me pleasure
to be at your appointments, and en-
gage with you in friendly and pleass
ant debate" You will remember
that two years ego, after you had
spoken 10 most of the counties, and
before | had entered upon the can
vass, as you were about to address
the people of Walker county, at La
Fayette, by appointment, Proposed
a join. discussion with you at that
place. You peremptory declined
the proposition, and announced to
the gentleman through whom | COM
intoxicated With you that you would
decline to engage in joint discussion
with me elsewhere at any time DUR
ing the campaign. In your speech
which Immediately followed, aud
which heard, your references to
me and to my candidacy were de.
cidedly disrespectful, if not con-
temptuous. | must now decline to
accept the invitation conveyed in the
courteous note before me, which is
10 singular contrast with your con
duct on tho occasion above referred
to. l fear, from your temper and
condnct toward me during the last
canvass, that you deceive yourself
if you suppose that any debate you
might have with me could be either
friendly or pleasant on your part.
You cannot be unmindful of the
fact that the joint discussions in
which you engaged in your previous
campaigns, we're so raucorous as to
estrange neighbors, ALLEVIATE friends,
and 10 some instances relatives, and
stir up bitter animosities and preju-
dices. That such was the result is
deeply regretted by all good citi>
zena. Happily, for the last two
years political passion and prejudice !
have been subsiding, and peace and
harmony have been restored to a
crafty ing extent. That they should
be fully restored is of more impor-
lance to society and would be more
promotive Of every good cause, than
the political success of either of US
would be. If you have fair con.
ception of your temperament and
disposition, as heretofore manifested
by you in your political controver-
sizes, you must know that in a Joint
discussion the personal element
would largely predominant, and
would tend to reopen breaches which
are healing and to rekindle passions
and prejudices which are subsiding.
Separate discussion of the ques
tons, which concern the public vel.
fare, by each of US at our several
appointments, if conducted with fair
ness, candor and truthfulness, and
freed from personalism las it shall
be on my part) could have no such
tendency.
So far as my observations extend,
the people of the district accord a
patient and cheerful hearing to any
candidate who may desire an audi
ence.
I am sure that they are quite wills
ing to attend our several appoints
ments and hear the views of each OF
US upon the public questions in
which they are concerned, with hon
esty Of purpose and in spirit of
fairness. 1t is better that they hear
us separately, calmly and dispassion
ateIy, and free from the excitement
and passion incident to public de-
bate. have 40 abiding confidence
that they will decide between us
with cool, calm judgment, 10 ac>
cordance with the dictates Of con-
science, actuated alone by motives
Of patriotism. respectfully decline
your request.
Yours, truly,