The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-04-04
JUDGE KIRKPATRICK.
Tenders his resignation as COL
onel and Aid on Gov.
Turney's Staff.
Because he cannot Follow him In
the wrong Being Perpetrated
on the People and instl
tutionS of TenneS-
see in Turney's
name

The Chattanooga Times says;
'Judge Samuel ] Kirkpatrick, of
Jonesboro, has rendered his resigna-
ton as colonel and aid on the staff of
Acting Gov. Turney, in letter which
follows below, and which breathes
the spirit of generous manhood, the
true citizen and the lofty patriot.
Judge kirkpatrick is one of the most
learned lawyers at the bar Of Tennes-
see; he is not an office seeker nor an
Office holder; he occupies as high a
place in the esteem of the people of
the state as any man in it; he has often
been urged to accept official position,
but he has declined. Judge Kirk
patrick has been since the war one of
the strongest men in East Tennessee.
having built up by his fine attainments
and honorable methods large and
paying law practice. He was brave
confederate soldier, fighting through
the war beside Judge Turney and has
since that event, been true and zeal
Gus democrat. He has always given
his best endeavors to the promotion OF
the best interests of the party and has
been always ready and willing to do
battle whenever and wherever called
upon. But he cannot indorse the
plan inaugurated at Nashville to main.
tain usurpation in the office of Cover
nor nor can he condone the high han
ded attempt of the would-be leaders
of the party to abrogate the fudamen
tai law of the land in order to main
tain party ascendaney Judge K.sskS
patrick's letter gives proof that patri.
otism, love of country and high min
ded regard for right are still inherent
in the breasts Of loyal Tennesseans.
The letter follows and its utterances
and sentiments should be engraven
upon the hearts of the people and its
ringing words re-echoed Il ON one end
of the state to the other, so that the
misguided leaders of the party may be
brought to a realizing sense of the full
significance of what they are under
taking to do:
March 26th, 1895.
His Excellency, Governor Peter
Turney, Nashville, Tennessee.
My DEAR GovERNoR:-I had sup
posed that my commission as Colonel
and Aid on your Staff would expire
at the close of your term of office as
Governor, as limited by laws in force
when you were elected. But doubt
having arisen in my mind as to the
correctness of this conclusion, hereby
tender my resignation of the Office
referred to, that you may not be en-
barrassed by holding even formal
official relations with one whose views
as to certain public measures, are not
in accord with your own.
In taking this step, beg to assure
you that the sincere friendship l have
felt for you personally for the past
twenty years, and which l have
sought to evince by an unsel6sh sup
port of every claim you have made
upon the confidence of the people,
has not abated in the least. These
divergencles of opinion often cause
painful separations; but each of II:
know from pers onal experience, wha
men will do and dare, when impellet
by high and clear convictions o
right.
Where the path Of duty lies for you
determine you must. This in equa
measure, you will concede to me.
l have supported the democrati,
party unfalteringly since my enfran
chisement in 1869; have stood with
the main column when large section,
of the party went after vagaries anC
fomentsd schisms which led to DANCE
and defeat. l deplore republican
ascendency in the State, or out of il
but as compared with this evil, l Sc
in the course being pursued by other.
ostensibly in your interest, infnitl
more appalling consequences to ou
party and the people. And be tn
facts what they may, you will be he'll
in the judgment of the public, a
standing sponsor for all the mischief