The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-08-09
To The People of Copiah.

The undersigned were delegates to the
Democratic convention, which met in Halle
hurst on the 18th Of July, 1882 for the pur-
pose of sending delegates to represent
Copiah in the Democratic Dis
trict Convention which is to assemble
here to nominate a Congressman for the 7th
Congressional District, and we desire to
truthfully answer the indictment which has
been preferred against that Convention by
certain friends of the Hon. G. E. Hooker, 20
that the people may pass an intelligent judg-
ment upon its action.
1st. It is charged that delegates to that
Convention worked in the interest of one
man and not for the good of the cause. We
freely admit our preferences were for one
man and that man was the Hon. E. Barks-
dale, and in desiring his nomination we
deny there was any misrepresentation of the
will of the people, and we also deny that in
working for BarksdaIe we we've not subserv-
ing the best interest of the Democratic cause.
At all events, it is the height of unblushing
cheek, we respectfully submit, for men who
labored and spoke themselves hoarse to
accomplish HOoker's nomination to charge
US with working IN the interest of zone
man."
I'd. 1t is charged that the Chairman Of
the Executive Committee actef without
authority, in calling the Convention, with
out first having called the Committee to-
gether. This charge is founded in a miscon-
ception of the fact and duties of the Chair
man as must patiently appear to every fair
mind. The Democratic Executive Com
mittee of the TIN District met in Jackson on
the Sth day of July, 1882, and adopted
resolution calling on the Chairman of Coun-
ty Committees to take steps for calling
County Conventions, also appointed the
10th day of August for the District Conven-
ton, to meet to nominate a candidate for
Congress. II our Chairman had taken time
to call the Committee together to act on this
matter, one issue in each of the county pa
peTs would have been lost. in which to give
notice to the voters to meet and select dele
gates, and the 2lst of July would have
been the first issue Of the county papers, in
which the notice to the voters could have
appeared, and thus only eight days notice
been given, which would have indeed been
too short The Chairman saw these difficult
ties and bis notice appeared in the county
papers OF July 14th, the FIRST issue after the
meeting of the District Convention, and the
voters thus had sixteen days notice, which
was all that was possible to give between the
Sth aud 18th.
Yet say the Hooker men he did not give
sufficient notice We think we have de-
monstrated that he gave all the notice posi-
bic, and also that be gave one week more
notice than could have been given had he
waited to assemble the Committee. Impos-
sibilities cannot be expected Of him. Be-
sides, ii Is his duty and the very object Of
bis Office to act in emergencies like this
Certainly there was no matter Of grave con
Germ 10 the marty which demanded the action
Of the Committee; there was but one simple
thing TO do, viz: TO name day for the peo-
pie 70 meet at their voting pricincts and
select delegates % meet on another day
al the Committee could have done, and il
naming the 1aEh of July be eoanselod with