The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1882-06-22
MRssrppHEN /, SPEAKS AGAIN.

rors and misunderstanding of those
who are making war upon him in
regard to the Casey letter and the
Speer telegram. He says:
"One of the erroneous impressions
attempted to be made on the public
mind in some sections, to which
refer, is that there has been a CORES
pondence between me and leading
coalitionists and independents Whose
object is to destroy the democratic
party1 and that an understanding
exists between them ADD me as to
their plans and purposes and that |
am 10 sympathy with them. To
this have simply to say most EN-
phatically that there is not the slight
est foundation for this idea, state-
merit, or insinuation. 1t 10 true |
am on friendly relations, personally,
and have been for years with the
leading Independents, SO styled 10
in the state, and with many of the
leading republicans. But no such
CORES poDdence ever took place be
tween me and either or any of the
parties designated. No mans fidelity
to the great principle of the demo-
cratic party was ever maintained
with more steadfastness that mine
has been since my first connection
with it, upwards of a quarter of a
century ago. | have, with one ex-
ception, voted for the candidates
nominated by that party, and on all
occasions, during all that long period
in the county, district, state and
federal elections This exception
was my refusal to support the nomi-
nation of Mr. Greeley for the presi-
dency 10 1872. The whole of my
life has been devoted to the defense
and maintenance of those principles
upon which the party was organized
upwards of eighty years ago. How
ia it possible to suppose that |, at my
present ago, could be conspiring to
overthrow and destroy those princi-
pies to which my whole previous life
has been devoted, or to overthrow
that organization 10 which alone
there is any hopeful prospect of their
preservation and perpetuatiou."
He denies having been in cores
pondence with WiIlinghsm, Lawshe,
Longstreet, and FELTON, or being in
/ sympathy with them politically.
AS to the Casey letter and when
he canvassed his district for the
democratic nomination, he says:
81 stated on the proper occasions
that | would not oppose the nomina
ton of any other by the convention
unless my vote 90 the Potter resolu-
ton should be censured and | ruled
. out of the party because Of it. But
if they did condemn my vote refer
red to and nominate another, ! should
appeal from the lower to the higher
;, tribunal. | canvassed my district
= met the people in masses, and de
# Tended any cause on the principles
IA of democracy. | maintained tina
20 fidelity to party organization
70 did not require plant conformity t.
party caucoses or dictation upor
questions of legislation. This wa
70 the height of my independentism il
"a that canvass. had been put dowr
,. in the house here and denied the
a privilege of addressing them ever
81 for three minutes upon the passage
q of the resolution. | was not ther
q warning against the democratic par
G ty but trying to save it with its or
ganization from inevitable self-de'
struction. told the leading men OF
a the party who we're pressing the
y adoption of the resolution that il
they succeeded and made them 3
v party issue they would not, in my
b opinion, carry thirteen congressional
o districts 10 the next election through~
n out the entire northern states. This
j, warning did but bring down upon
me fercer denunciation by certain
Q presses both north and south
D When, however, the true democracy
of ennsylvania-the old keystone
state, in convention a few weeks
. afterw ards spoke in condemnation of
the policy of the Potter resolutions,
e which really involved the peace of
8 the country, this voice fell upon the
: ears of the leaders of the party 10
b the house as distant thunder, indica,
. ting a storm Popular Reproduction
d which brought them to their senses
:. They soon determined to tack ship
: and abandon the further prosecution
il of the measure. | have thus
sketched the status of the case when
q entered the canvass Of my distric,
s in 1876. At that time nearly every
democratic paper 10 the state was
for ruling me out of the party, but
q before ! got through with it there
was not one so low as to do rever-
= ence to the Potter resolution. | dis
! cussed the question before the mass
es as a democrat, talking to demo-
, Gratis and placing my defense before
; them inside of the party and appeal
ing to them to send men to the con-
vention who would decide whether
I was q true democrat or not. The
result was a unanimous vote in that
convention, save one, Endorsed my
course and presented my name for
nomination. If there was treason to