The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-05-08
For the HERALD
A CARD.
Nessrs. Editors:

A CARD
Messrs. Editors:
In your last weeks issue find the
following language:
To Jefferson A. Sligh-A representa-
tive man. The Peoples choice for
STATE SENATOR. viii you accept the
position if we elect YOU? Let us hear
from you. VOTERS.
n. B. Answer through all the pa
pers Of this County.
Before complying with the request
contained in the above complimentary
language, hope that may be allowed
to say that I am totally Ignorant Of
this movement-ofi its origin, or Of the
names of any of the persons connected
with it, as not the least intimation has
ever been given to me that such a meth
od would be employed to draw me out
on this subject. For this reason, l
highly appreciate the compliment as I
do all expressions of kindness coming
from my fellow citizens. The we'll
done, so heartily given to faithful
public servant by those whom he rep
resents, is to be priced far above silver
and gold. Numbers ofmy friends have
frequently urged me to be candidate
for State Senator from this County, and
others have asked that should also al
low my name announcedin the papers.
For various reasons, ii kroW my own
heart, I did not desire any position
from the people at this time but while
this is true, for other reasons, there lay
back of all this feeling that / might
be, and that perhaps l ought to be, q
candidate for the Senate. Therefore
when my friends appealed to my pa
triotism to lay aside any objections I
might have in the matter and repeated
ly urged me to become a candidate, /
frankly replied that l would, but we
need not be in great hurry to have
the fact announced in the papers. But
it appears now that this matter should
be delayed no longer, as it seems that
some are in doubt as to what l shall do.
Therefore I will say to the "Voters"
making this inquiry, and to all others
concerned, that if elected to the posi-
tion indicated, that l will accept it,
and serve the people to the best of nay
ability.
Having been a member OF the Legis-
lature for four years, stand ready to
give an account to the people" OF my
Stewardship as their servant and l ask
them as an act Of kindness on their
part towards me, their servant, to sus-
pend judgment on any of my acts, or
on any reports that are now in circula-
ton, or that may hereafter be put il
circulation calculated to iniure me,
until 1 have had an opportunity to be
heard. The people should remember
these three things:
1st-That there are two sides to
every question, or report.
2nd-That there is such thing as
telling the truth, without telling the
whole truth.
3rd-And that misrepresentation
are very common things in our day es-
pecially in regard to candidates.
am sensible OF the fact that no man
who is thoroughly selfish, who is not
able to lay aside his preiudices and
feeling of self interest, and labor for
the public good, or who seeks or de-
sires position, simply to make it the
stepping stone TO something else, can
ever make a statesman IN the true
sense of that word. The lawful in
terests OF all. of Comfy and State in
this instance, must be protected and
protected in such way as to produce
as little clashing as possible. Justice
must be given to every citizen, so that
persons of every class, profession and
occupation may be prosperous and con-
tented, so far as good and wholesome
laws can make them so, that the rich
and the poor together may work har
moniously icr the up-building of their
common country. lam therefore fully
aware that the responsibility to be i'm
posed upon me if elected State Sena-
tor is 4 heavy one, as i'll that Body it
frequently occurs that laws both good
and bad are made Or unmade by sim
gle vote Saying nothing of the influ-
ence that one member may have over
others and that these laws are sent
out, so to speak, to be blessing Or
curse to hundreds and even thousands
OF men, women and children. For the
proper discharge of such responsible
ties and duties clear head, discrimi-
mating Judgment and an impartial
mind backed up by q conscientious
sense of duty and lofty patriotism
are all required.
l do not pretend to say that l pos
sess these qualifications and talents.
and I rejoice that the responsibility OF
deciding this important matter is not
mine, nor that of any particular class,
but that it strictly belongs to the
people, to those to whom the offices be-
long, and that am prepared to say
that 1 shall most heartily concur in
any decision fairly made by the people.
No one, not even our fair-mindcd en-
emies, will pretend to deny but what
the Democratic party has done great
and good work for the State of South
Carolina since 1876. But while this is
true, there are other things that ought
to be done in order to give the people
that relief to which they are Justly en-
titled and which they have right to
demand of those whom they select t.
do their work in the Halls of Legisla-
ton. 1 propose during the coming
campaign, if the people desire it, not
only to discuss the familiar questions
of the day, but to bring to their notice
some of the changes alluded to above,
which if made, will give relief, where
relief is greatly needed, and at the
same time will be robbing no citizen
Of that which Justly belongs to him.
In conclusion, l thank my fellow
citizens for what they have in the past
done for me, for the encouraging words
and flattering compliments given to me
from time to time, and now assure
them, whether elected or not, that
whatever lean do for my native County
and State will be most cheerfully done.
Respectfully,
JEFFERSON A. SLIGU.