Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-12
A CARD.
A CARD.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES U. s., |

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June II.
TO my constituents Of the Eighth CongresSton-
al district Of Virginia:
It was announced by authority through
the newspapers several months ago thai |
would not be candidate TO represent the
district in The next House of Representa-
tives, and that more formal notice Of the
fact would in due season be given to the
constituent body which had heretofore
honored me with seat in Congress. The
execution OF this purpose has been unavoid-
ably postponed longer than was originally
intended on my part by the incessant pres
sure Of various public engagements, which
have occupied my time and deprived me Of
the proper leisure ard opportunity to COM
municate in fitting terms the reasons which
have influenced my desire to withdraw from
public life, and to express my grateful APP
probation Of tho generous confidence which
/ have received 1t the hands of tho people
of the district,
Politics, as an employment, has never pos
scsscd for me any special charms or flscina-
ton, and my experience of the past five
years Of political life has confirmed the olig-
inal sentiment. I was called into the pub
lie service in 1880 by the unanimous nomi-
nation Of the democratic convention If the
district, without the slightest solicitation or
expectation on my part as n candidate Tor
Congress, and in like manner nominated
and reelected to the House of Representa-
tives in 1882 and 1881 Alter the disastrous
campaigns in Virginia of 1881 and 1882,
when the power of the State was in the
hands Of our political adversares, I was
unanimously elected by the democratic con-
vention Of Virginia chairman of the State
committee against my personal wishes: and
required to discharge the duties of that
onerous and most responsible position,
which were continued in the Presidential
election of 1854; and again in the same Ca
pacity I conducted the campaign, on behalf
Of the democratic party, in the important
contest for State supremacy IN 1888. 10
those familiar with the situation, and who
know how nearly political parties have been
for some years past divided in Virginia, and
how stubbornly the battle had been fought
on both sides, it is not necessary to explain
the extent of the cxacting labors and re-
sponsibilites which my position involved.
The success of the democratic party in the
last Presidential election and the installment
of the administration of Mr.. Cleveland neces-
sarily increased the labors of democratic
members of Congress in connection with the dis
tribution of governmental patronage and appoint
ments to otlice-a very limited and unsatisfactory
L
show how exclusively my timo has been occupied
for the past three years and the necessity which
now requires me to seek some temporary relief
and IcSt
In view Of the public considerations men
| TONED, irrespective of others of personal
nature, desire TO retire from public life and to
withdraw my name from competition rs a candi
date for Congress ut the ensuing election. In
taking this step feel that tho condition Of my
health and personal surroundings can bocoDsultcd
my part without u5t cause Of com paint or dctri
mcnt to my party and political obligations. j
| really require some relaxation and change OF
scene, and have made my arrangements to go
abroad in July and expect TO BIC absent during
| tho summer and autumn months.
| 1t is true that havo received many communi.
cations, oral and wrttcn, from prominent repre-
sentative men Of the counties of the district, in
Guiding several OF tho immediate candidates men
toned for the succession, urging that should re-
call my purpose to decline being a candidate for
| re- election and expressing a general popular sem
timent to exist to that effect, notwithstanding my
purposcd trip to Europe As much rs appreciate
the high personal compliment thereby conveyed,
l do not think, however it would he u5t to tho
democratic party, or in harmony with the fitness
OF things that its candidate should DO absent from
tho country during the canvass, and nos be 1T
hand TO conduct in rcrsoa the campaign. 1t is Il
position which my Judgment does not sanction,
and which / am unwilling to invite under the
circumstances.
In scvcrng my relations to the district must
express regret that have not made you more
efficient representative rendered moro conspic.
uous service in Congress. ] have, however, al
ways cndcavored to give careful attention to such
special interests Of the district camc before tho
House of Representatives,, and to faithfully dis
charge all duties committed to my charge. You
will be able, doubtless, to select moro capable
representative to serve you i'll Congress, but am
not willing to conccdo that any one can DO found
to sllrpass mc in unsclfsh devotion to the best in
tcrests of tho people of virginia.
am, with grateful sense of your past kind
nnss very trnly yours, JOHN S. BARBOUR.