Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-05-20
CONGRESSIONAL

CONGRESSIONAL.
EDITOR INrELLIGENcER:-Tne lnArmities that
wait on age, added TO the other ills that flesh is
heir to, have long prevented my active partici-
patton in public affairs, though the Interest l
feel in all that effects the prosperity and welfare
| of our country, is none the less. because no
| longer hold my place in the ranks. The recent
change in OUR congressional district has made q
| slight ripple upon the political waters. and like
| every other public measure, there are those who
| advocate and those who denounce it. i believe
il a iudlcious management of the district, though
| MANY think that on account of the great prepon-
derance OF population in Jackson, 1t puts an
| enectual quietus to the hopes and aspirations OF
all the politicians in the other counties oil the
district. Well. we OF Lafayette, have been so
long accustomed to do without such favors. that
we will try and stand 1t; and Us to johnson 1.-THE
other county of the DISTRICT, she is already SO
loaded down to the guards with public honors to
her citizens. that she could hardly keep afloat
If an other congressman were added to the brill
liant array of names inscribed upon the bunting
which flies at her mast head. COckrell, the
senator, and Crittenden, the governor, both
from that county and out of the same law office.
Some have gone 30 far as to express the opinion
that some peculiar ingredient In the atmosphere
of Warrensburg. possibly the exhalations aris-
ing from the classic stream Of the Post Oak.
rendered that locality more fruitful in the pro-
duction of talent than other less favored regions.
johnson county may therefore be counted out
of this race, having already glory enough to last
her, (f not for o century, certainly at least for
the next SIX lustrums, a period made famous by
the immortal Benton. Mr.. Webster in the
greatest speech ever delivered in the senate of
the United States. boosted of . patriotism which
could not be restricted or hemmed in by state
lines, but was broad enough to embrace his en-
tire country, and though public virtue has GER
tainly not been greatly on the increase since his
day. may we not indulge the hope that our
neighbors Of Jackson are not SO circumscribed
in their views and feelings as to withhold their
support from u suitable candidate only because
he happens to have grown up outside the narrow
limits Of their own county.
In the early days of our state, the county of
Lafayette embraced the territory now contained
in jackson and johnson counties, but though
the Oldest county Of the district. she has thus far
enjoyed none Of The honors or emoluments of
Office; they have been always bestowed else
where. Since the districting of the state in A
or rs, we have been represented by Phelps Of
Green, Miller and Rice Of Cooper, Woodson.
Reid, Van Horn and Comingo of Jackson, King
of Ray. Philips Of Pettis ,Crlttenden of Johnson.
Clark OF Howard. and Lay of Jefferson City and
In all the years that have passed since the organ
izatlen of our county In 1870. the one solitary
instance of q citizen of Lafayette being in con-
gress was the late Thomas P. Akers, elected to
Gil out the uncxpired term of Hon. Jehn G.
Miller, embracing q period of a few weeks.
Whether her sons have been less ambitious of
~ A--n~. $50 ,k,1~kl,xv -. ~, 3.
not for me to say; the fact remains the same and
cannot be gainsaid. In the distribution OF state
honors and Offices she has been equally ignored.
The late Col. James Young was once elected
lieut.. governor, and is the single instance OF
any man from Lafayette holding any position at
the state capitol.
If in all our past history We have had no men
Of sunlcient intellectual caliber to represent the
district IN congress or to hold q state position,
we have nobody to blame but ourselves. and
ought not to charge the fault of our stupidity
upon more fortunate localities because OF their
greater fruitfu!ness in the production of great
men. But Whatever the cause may have been in
times past, we believe that it has ceased to exist.
and however presumptuous the thought, the peO-
pie of Lafayette honestly believe they have as
good material out OF which to make D congress-
man as any other county of the district. The
names Of several gentlemen from Lafayette have
been mentioned in this connection. among
others that OF Mr.. Xenophon Ryland. Without
intending to detract from the merits OF any who
have been spoken of. you wilsallow me. gentle
men, to say IN my opinion, Mr.. Rylsnd posses
ses peculiar qualifications for the place. Born
and raised and educated among us, he has
grown up under our eye; a young man in the
very prime and vigor Of life, he has already
taken his place in the front rank of lawyers at
this bar; Us Il speaker he has few equals. and his
able and successful canvass of the state as an
%elector ON tue Hancock ticket. gave him an en-
vlable reputation as q political orator. During
The presidential contest he made more speeches
aud did more for the democratic Cause than any
other man on the ticket. Not restricting his
Lahore to any particular section of the state. he
went wherever and whenever called, ably and
eloquently sustaining the principles ofhis party,
No one could have performed the duties devolv-
ing upon him more efficiently. A son of the late
John F. Ryland. for twenty years the able and
hOnored judge of the circuit in which he lived.
and aiterward promoted to the bench of the
supreme court, his name itself furnishes q
guarantee for the possession of all those a.nia-
BILE and honorable qualities which 80 highly
adorned the character of his venerable and dis
tinguished father. A gentleman by education,
by inheritance, and better than all, by practice;
of strict integrity and ~faultless habits, the peo-
pie Of this district will be peculiarly fortunate
it they succeed in making him their representa-
tive. There will be both wisdom and sound
judgment displayed in the choice.
The unhappy divisions which have arisen in
Jackson county, may. by the selection of Mr.
Ryland, be efectually healed. The people Of La
fAyette offer him as an olive branch to the hos
tile factions which have 30 long wsrred against
The peace and unity of the democratic party of
that county. Actuated by no other wish than to
zee our party and our principles triumphant,
1 am gentlemen. most respectfully,
Your friend. SENEY,