The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1886-05-27
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SEVENTH CON-
GRESSI0NAL DISTRICT OF GEORGIA.


many of you | am candidate for nomina
ton for the office of Representative in the
next Congress. Should be the choice O.
the Democracy of the District | would APP
preciate the honor, otherwise | would Meth
er expect or desire it. My apology for tax
ing the liberty of addressing you this letter
is, that owing to the unusually early date OF
the convention this year and consequently
early county meetings while Congress is in
session, it will be ont of my power to see
many OF yon personally, as | would be glad
to do, and as other candidates are doing.
even # the duties OF the trust with which
you have honored me should permit me TO
visit the District at this time.
The triumph of the principles of Democ-
racy are far more important to the country
and to each voter than are the aspirations
OF any candidate. The success of these
principles depends upon the integrity of the
party devoted to them Such integrity can
only be preserved by fair and just methods
OF organization whereby the choice of the
masses OF the people can be fully and dehb-
erately recorded and respected.
For some reason July the sth, date five
or six weeks earlier than has been usual in
this or other districts Of the State. has been
liked for the convention. The county meet
ings to select delegates must therefore. OF
necessity, be held in the midst of the busiest
season of the year, instead of the usual and
easy time Of the latter part of July or the
first of August. Meetings IN several Of the
GqpnF'es, INCLUDING Catoosa, Murray, Cor
| don, and Polk have been called for the first
day OF June.
Mr. Waddell, chairman of tho EIeGNtne
OQmmlttee OF the district, IN reply to some
criticism of the press upon its action in fix
ing so early date, offers the remarkable
explanation that the courts begin on the
second Monday In INV aaa he nmo was
therefore liked prior TO that date for the
convenience of the "tatcyers, Ha9aats and
| tcitneSSeS and while he admits the date to
be early, he tries to justify it with the state
ment that Col Clements was at one time
nominated on the 4th of July This stats
ment is erroneous kg,r Ueen ,wice nom
iGated between the 10Th aud the last of Au-
gust, and never earlier than the Sth of Au-
gust. But how many litigants and wit
neSses are likely to attend the convention 3?
There are perhaps two hundred times as
many voters Of other alavses "a the District
rs there arc lawyers, The latter live in the
| towns where the meetings will be held; the
former live mainly in the country. In ad-
ditlon to the short notice given, no more in
convenient time for the honest, toiling farm
ers and laborers Of the country could have
been selected than this, tho aust psesStug
end busy season Of the year.
These people, upon whose prosperity
all other classes must depend, certainly have
quite as great an interest in the nomination
of candidate for their Representative ia
tpHItsss Ne Gate FI,a eAtHen.b respectable
but very small class of citizens knowns as
lawyers, whose convenience has been so
kindly considered at the expense of the great
body of the voters, though | do not believo
iAa a"yrts as elass have qeNandad q De.
sire it,
The farmers must either lose day from
their work, or leave the selection Of dele
gates to represent them in this important
convention to others. But the day has haea
H&ed. Aaeupga mUsI s0on be held in some
manner in all the counties to select your
delegates whose action in convention as
sembled we must all abide | respectfully
protest that they should be selected by the
whole Democratic people of the respective
counties d lAe bis,Llaf u reBresen, their
will and 20 nominate their choice for Con-
grers, whoever they may be
Therefore, for the good name of the par
ty the integrity of its organization. and the
triumph of its principles, | earnestly appeal
to eGch and al Of you who may read this
letter, to watch fer the appointments Tor
county or primary meetings and to take
one day from your fields and other labors
and to attend these important meetings.
and urge others to do So and to see that tho
will Of the majority WHICH is the spirit Of
democracy, prevails.
Allow me in conclusion, to say that what
ever of personal interest have in the con
test | leave it in the hands of people who
have honored me with their confidence Ia
the past whom have endeayored to serve
to the best of my ability, whose sense of JUS
tice and fairness may always be trusted, and
to whose will none will bow with more rev
erence than-lour obedent servant and
telIow-eitizen, j. G. ClEMExfs.
Washington, p. G., May 10, 1856.