The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
HE is A CANDIDATE.
SENATOR HARRIS STATES THAT He
DESIRES REELECTION.
He Declares He Never Stated He Would
Not Be Candidate Again. and Ex-
plains the Meaning OF His MAXWELL
House Speech.

The following letter, from Senator Harris
to the Hon. B. +. Ragland, OF Brownsville,
Tenn. has just been made public by thu
Nashville Democrat: M
WASHINGTON, March 8, ISss< +
Hon. B. +. Ragland. Brownsville Tenn:
Dear Sir--ln your note OF 18th ult. yo +
say: 81 have heard the statement repeatc(
frequently that in your canvass for TIL
Senate in 1883 you promised never agairi
to aspire TO seat In that body, and that
you are again candidate in violation Of
that promise"
This means, and is evidently intended to
mean, that when candidate made terms
with opposition by promising that would
never DO a candidate again. II is not true.
have never seen the time when i would
have bargained my way into the Senate or
any other position. No man ever asked
me to make such promise, or intimated
desire that should; and il such demand
had been made, should have refused TO
make the promise, even II l had known
that my election depended upon IL.
The only foundation in truth that such
statement has is found in this fact: On the
night OF my reelection to the Senate in
1883 l was called out at the Maxwell
house and in a speech then made said
among other things, something like this:
ITO have been elected TO the United
States Senate in 1877 and again in 1883, rs
| have been, by majority OF both
houses OF the Legislature ON tho first bal.
lot might well Gil the cup Of any mans
ambition. II had filed mine TO over
flowing, and this is probably tho last
time that shall over ask any official po-
sition ut the hands OF the people Of Ten
nessee."
This was a voluntary utterance OF what
then thought would most probably be my
future course. This is moi now question
10 me; the same charge was made when |
was a candidate for reelection in 1883,
having no fact 10 sustain II other than
this.
In 1880, at the request Of the State ex-
ecutive committee, | cnnynsscd n large
portion OF the State. The Legislature then
TO be elected had no voice whatever in the
election Of my successor, and in some OF
the speeches in that CANVASS | said, 81
have no personal interest in this contest;
am no candidate; the only interest that
have in the contest Is that Of private
citizen" Yet remarks such MS these made
in 1880 were quoted by certain newspapers
rs q pledge that | would not be candidate
before the Legislature TO be elected in 1882.
These are the facts, my dear sir, and in
addition 10 them, ! want 10 say that do
not feel the slightest embarrassment on the
question OF pledges, ~ no man will say that
] ever promised him that would not be a
candidate again. No man will complainI
that have acted in bad faith with him bS
being candidate.
No one will deny that every citizen wis &
has attained the constitutional age ma &
aspire TO the Senate. No one will dcnv
the right OF the people OF Tennessee II
send TO the Senate that man who they
may think will best represent their inter-
csls in that body. The field is open TO I'll,
aud the right Of selection 10y the people
through their Legislature absolute. My
candidacy amounts To no more or less than
this II the Democracy q Tennessee do
sire that ! should continue 10 represent
the state m the Senate. shall be glad TO
do so. But, believing ~ | do, that tho
rights Of the States and of the citizens,
and the highest and best interests of the
country depend upon the success and
maintenance oil Democratic principles, l
have never seen, and shall never zee the
time, that would allow any personal as
pintion, ambition or wish Of mine to dis
tract the councils Of the party or cndanger.
lis success.
Neither the personal wishes Of myself %
any other man should be considered for
one moment, II they cndangcr the succeed
Of those principles and policies upon which
depend the welfare OF the country.
As soon as Congress adioums will com
home and go into the canvass in suppod
OF Democratic principles. and may be ri
| ganicd as n candidate for reelection 10 the
Senate, but always subject TO the will Of
the majority OF the party, 10 the principle1|
Of which have been through life dcvoted&
Very respectfully, Isaaa q. Hams.