Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-03-04
JoNESBoRO, Tenn, March lSgt

~JoNEsBoRo, TENN, March 1896.
Hon. w. p. GILLENwATERs. Rogersville.
Tenn.
DEAR SIR-Your letter fully explains
its object, and owing to its kindly spirit,
the prominence and party loyalty Of its
author and the importance of the subject
discussed, deserves a candid reply. In all
our previous history it was expected and
demanded OF our Congressional Repre-
sentatives that they should distribute the
Government patronage, and it was quite
natural that he should farm out these
favors among his prominent and infu-
entail friends. To aid those who aid us
is the generous and common impulse of
the average man. | am not prepared at
this time to say that the general eflic-
ency OF the public service was impaired
by this course in a single instance, or
that any wrong or abuse grew out of
this policy.
have no hesitation in saying now
that am now making my canvass for a
seat in Congress on my own merits. |
l.
disdain to press into my services anv
influences and agencies that can only be
enlisted and brought into action bv the
hope of reward in the future. | am not
reduced to such a strait, nor can an oc-
casion arise in the emergencies of the
anvas that would induce me to barter
in goods that belong to the people for
the promotion of my own interests.
TO repeat have made no pledge of
public patronage in the event of nv
nomination and election. If / go to
Congress | will go unhampered and I'M
embarrassed, and shall use special eff
forts to ascertain who the people want
appointed to the various offices to be
filled in this District in the event of a
Republican administration, and | do
hereby unreservedly pledge myself TO
abide by and dearly out the wishes of the
people in all things as far as | am able
to do so. This policy has the approval
OF my judgment and conscience as |
recognize that the peaplc are the foun-
tain source of all power under our sys-
TEN OF free government, and that they
have no moral right to delegate this au-
thority to any one individual.
The policy, or change if you see fit to
so designate it, would relieve the Repre-
sentative from a vast amount of care.
labor and harassment, and place the en-
tire responsibility upon the people in
stead of the Representative.
The time and occasion seem opportune
for me to express the conviction that no
mar can justify himself in using the
patronage of the administration in Sc
curing or forcing his own nomination
for Congress, and if he does do so he is
totally unfit for the exalted position and
ought to be repudiated by his party. If
o Representative is DESTROYS of a renom-
nation he should demonstrate his worth
mess of it and his claim upon the party
by faithful and efficient work and labor
in Congress, before the committees and
in the various Departments of the Gov
eminent. He should not depend upon
the "kind offices" of henchmen and ap-
pointees for his success.
can stand up and say in the face of
the world and 1.-THE balance of mankindn
that | have no desire to occupy any
public office, and especially a seat in the
Congress of the United States, without
having earned to the last farthing the
salary attached to the position by service
in the interest of the constituency l rep
resent.
When | consent to do so | will lose nv
self respect and it will be the duty of
the people to thrust me aside for a good
and deserving man.
AS your private letter is entirely de-
voted to a matter of great public inter
est and concern | take the liberty to
publish it with my reply to the same.
Your obedient servant
w. p. BRowNLow