Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-04-03
A MANLY LETTER.
KIRKPATRICK, WILLIAMS & BOWMAN, !
ATTORNEYS, !

~ Nv M
ATTORNEYS, !
~JoNEsBoRo, TENN, March 90, 1895. !
His Excellency, Gov. Peter Turney,
Nashville, Tenn.
M DEAR GOVERNOR: Ihad supposed
that my commission as Colonel and
Aide 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 a doubt having
arisen in my mind as to the correctness
of this conclusion, l here tender my res
ignation of the Office referred to, that
you may not be embarrassed by hold
ing even formal official relations with
n whose views as to certain public
measures, are not In accord with your
own.
In taking this step, l beg to assure
you that the sincere friendship l have
felt for you personally for the past
twenty years, and which ] have sought
to evince by an unselfish support Of
every claim you have made upon the
confidence of the people, has not abated
in the least. These Emergencies of
opinion often cause painful separations;
but each of us knows from personal ex-
perience, what men will do and dare,
when impelled by high and clear con
victions of right.
Where the path of duty lies for you,
determine you must. This in equal
measure, you will concede to me.
l have supported the Democratic
party unfalteringly since my enfran-
chisement in 1859; l have stood with
the main column when large sections
of the party went after vagaries and
fomonted schisms which led to danger
and defeat. l deplore Republican as
tendency in the State, or out of it; but
as compared with this evil, l see in the
course being pursued by others, osten'
sibly in your interest, infinitely more
appalling consequences to our party
and the people. And be the facts what
they may, you will be held in the judg-
ment of the public, as standing sponsor
for all the mischiefs which may follow.
With those who know you as I do, you
will stand acquit Of intending wrong
to the Commonwealth; but how many
will care, when the evil days come, to
seek out the facts, and give a sedate,
judicial verdict on them?
1t is my opinion that no fairer cleo
ton was ever held in the State than
that Of November last; and If an ex-
animation were made into the details
of any of the general elections of the
past twenty years, more material and
vital irregularities would be disclosed,
than have been, OF a be discovered
in the one now under pretense OF inves
tigation. This is the opinion of eighty
per cent. of the people of the State, and
your knowledge of the character, cour-
age and strong sense of justice native
to the glorious manhood of this State,
enables you to know how i%nstinctively
they discern the right of a matter, and
how inevitably they avengethe wrong.
1t is a distinct disapprovalo of the pol
icy of those who have assumed to lead
in the present unfortunate condition of
affairs. that l take my stand with the
party, and while l, with the party,
may, and in all probability will 10
down in the next general election in
defeat, because of the unwisdom of
those who held the reins. l want the
consolation of knowing that l not only
did what l could to avert such party
disaster, but as a citizen, did that which
before God and man | believed to be in
accordance with the laws of the coun-
try, the will of the people, and the de-
mands Of patriotism. 1 am
Truly and respectfully,
s. j. KIRKPATRICK.