Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-01-07
The Congressional Contest,

cuss this question exclusively as q pub
lie measure, and would not, if we
could, allow our personal feelings to
enter into a careful and impartial anal
ysis of the situation; and here, let lis
state. that ms between the two gentle
men, it is impossible for us to decide,
gdIded by Our feelings, which'has' pre-
ference. Both arc gentlemen of high
character, and deserving worth, and it
has always been our cndcayor to cult.
as far as possible, intimate relations
with both, and nothing but the inter.
est of Noxuhec County could induce
us to take sides in this contest. Even
now VIC would not have it understood
that we are taking sides, as between
the two gentlemen. We simply pro-
pose 10 submit facts to the careful con.
sidcration of the voters of this county,
that they may take advantage of the
opportunity to advance the interest OF
Noxubcc County.
-Four years ago at the Grenada Con-
vcntion. Mr.. Lewis was rendered the
nomination, but under circumstances
that il was hardly expected an hon.
orablc gentleman would accept,
The convention had ballotcd for
nearly three days, and the last ballot
was substantially the same as the first.
Recognizing the necessity for a break
in the dead lock, Noxubee county
made n proposition to Mr.. Barry,
which was accepted, and which would
haye given us the nomination on hon.
orable terms could Barry have carried
out his agreement. Failing to do so,
however, and from no fault of his, Nox.
ubcc felt disposed to return the kind
ly feeling manifested towards her IAN.
didate,. and agreed, after conference,
to give Barry the nominatihn. After
the agreement had been entered into,
Mltchell's men offered to nominate
Lewis, purely and entirely out of spite
TO Barry, and from no kind feelings
toward Noxubec County. No honor
able man could condemn Mr.. Lewis
for his action in this matter. Some
who look upon politics as a scramble
for Office, might question his policy,
but no action, prompted by honorable
motives, is subject to condemnation.
Now, let us consider the question we
proposed in the outset of this article,
namely, the best interest of Noxubec
Go. That it is an important advan.
tage for q county to have u congress.
man, none will deny, and the question
for IFS to consider is, which of the two
gentlemen stands the best chance foI
nomination, with the endorsement Of
this county. We know nothing posi-.
tively of Capt. Jamison's acquaintance
in the district, but it is fair to pre-,
sumo that it must be very limited, a,
he has had no occasion, since his resi-
dence in this county, TO cultivate al
acquaintance throughout the district
Besides its oxtcnt, there is no inter
course between the citizens of thi,
county and other counties formin.
this district, and for any one TO hav,
an acquaintance of any extent in tn,
fourth congressional district, he would
necessarily have to make it q business
and make the opportunity himself fot
cnltivating that acquaintance. A
Capt. Jamison has never been an aspi
rant for public Office, his name has no
been associated with the polite o
this state, and of course, all the &C
%quaintancc which he has is, neccssari
~, of a personal nature. On tho 9th
or hand, MIR. Lewis has been o promi
nent member of the Mississippi Lcgis
lature, and has always figured conspi
uously in the politics of Noxube
County. In '84 he was a candidat
for Congress in this district, and cau
vassed the major part of it. This, G
course, gave him II large personal az
quaintance, and, politically, he Is lie,
essarily know to every voter in III
District.
Upon the Adjournment OF the Grcna
da convention, Mr.. Lewis made a pul
lie declaration OF his intention to b.
come a candidate for Congress iu 81
$ it not earlier, and it is well known t
! nearly every citizen in this count,
!. that Mr.. Lewis was a candidate for tn
nomination in 'SS and has been sine
"a; and he has shaped his policy t
this end, not only at home bu
throughout the entire District.
1t is certainly unfortunate for n
2 that we are not united in the supper
Of one man, and we do think that tn
just condemnation of tho people {
the county should be visited upo
s those who have thrown the apple ,
OF discord amongst us.
: 1t is plain that this weakens Nox,
: bees chances, aud one or the other
these gentlemen should not have bee
p a candidate.
Which one is itp Mr.. Lewis h,
time and time again since 's4 declare
himself a candidate, aud II would CO
tainly look weak, If not cowardly, f
him to withdraw from the contes
On the other hand, Capt. Janis,
might have said to his friends that
contest for the endorsement Of Mex
bee, between two of Its citizens, won
necessarily weaken the chances Of h
candidate, whoever he might be, al
that as Mr.. Lewis has been au avow,
Is candidate ter several years, and Il,
0. Noxubeo's interest was