Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1898-08-11
A CARD OF
EXPLANATION.
To the Voters of the
Second Congressional
District of Mississip-
pi.

! did not state In INV card an
nou1ciug my candidacy for con
gre>- % fili the vacancy caused D,
the recent appointment OF Hon. W
V. Sullivan 10 the 4. :. senate
that | would not b.. a candidate for
the next succeediug term. bat told
my friends that I would not re I'M
les- was elected 20 al said unex
pired term. Having been defeated.
az least as shown BY the returns,
though by small plurality. I feel
that | should new make a public
announcement Of the fact that
will not be a candidate for the nomi-
nation fer Congress in this District
/ at the pr maries 10 be he'd on the
I 10th of this month.
Nery maay different causes have
been suggested a. producing my re
cent defeat for congress. I hope
however that viii be permitted to
say that | rejoice because OF the
fact tbst i l. not claimed, even by
I my enemies, that IL was caused by
personal unpopularity. Some sug-
gested that the defsat wa- tie re
suit Of the charge that / belonged
I to n crowd Of politicians who mai
planned to deprive the people -
tneir right 10 select thelr officers.
That ] vas high up on the slate and
was T. De one % the favored few
! admit that this. although false ard
uufounded and 50 known TO be by
mani Who Ncr, MOS. industrious N
cir ulaiiag the report, did contrib
ute more largely to my defeat than
any other oad-r. Ia this eonnec-
ton il Was fre~y charged that I
was connected with a meeting Of
politicians held OF Minona for the
purpose Of arranging the plans
above suggested, which w.s abso-
lutely false, as had no connection
/ with said meeting, If any was held.
| again II IS claimed that the defeat
was caused by the fact that did
not resign my position as Judge
\ As TO this can only say that rath-
or believe that IL contributed some
what to nay defeat; We; I acted or
the advice Of friends as well as
some who proved themselves to be
otherwise
uOtbeTs claim I vas injured by The
charge that voted for Il. h. Bruce
for the L. :. Senate "a years ago (:
bot cannot think that this could
have bad much to do with .produc
ing the suit, n It Is a known fact
that in doing 50 did no more than
IVES done ia similar matters about
the same time aud by members OF
the same legislature and by men
VINO now boast of their life long
| .eyalty to Democratic principles.
Indeed that conclusion cannot be
reached v hen We consider the fact
that | have been endorsed since
that titne by the Democracy OF my
county Congressional and judicial
I Districts - well a. the safe, -
can be shown b. the records A.
MANY times az any man of NV age,
IN North 3lIs-i>sippI, at least- And
I especially I'll We have trouble Ia
rasching thi- conclusion when We
I further CONSIDER th- fact THAI Capt.
| S7iEht, who vas declared eIect-d.
/ committed the same kind " an s-un-
I psrdonable en-" Il IL - 10 be -
considered. 81 voting for \. 4.
DAVIS for T. :. senator IN Is-i. a.
-hosn . journals Of the legislature
Of .hat yu1r. DAVIS Wa 4 much
worse negro than Bruce. wls Lieut..
Coy while Ames Was Gov. and "a
imPe1cEsd for bribery &c Ta.s
1 vote V1s east when the sane opDor-
tanity wss given him to vote for
Wz-ta2I, LAMAR, L0Wry and other
i.Iustrlou. Democrats, that !: vs.
claimed S-1- given me ia the Bruce
contest In the Davis contest
voted for lease, : white man
Although nv enemies charged
me with political mistakes made
! 7 quarter y = century ago. / said
nothing dur;n. ny late canvas.
about the short c1nings of nv
leading opFOnsnt if he had any,
| did not even assail his democracy
! by charging that he pledged his
I support TO tae uomilne Of the con-
gress!onzI convention held 4. HOLM
Springs IN 1870; and that within 4
hours there itSr ne Was publicly
consulting with his fri-Rds ..ish !
View OF defeating that nominee
which proposed plan w1s thwartsC
By tic Democracy Of my county a.
sembled IN mass conqenfiou. Nei
Their do I now attack his Democracy
have supported him for office to-
often TO do 50 II desired. which
do not and only mention these mat
tiers now TO show the unreasonable
ness of some of the causes assigned
for my defeat. that Is that | Was no,
politically straight.
assert now and without any fea,
OF successful contradiction thai
there was uei er a candidate for of
ice against whom more false charg.
e. were preferred, and preferres
zoo When | was physically unable Il
rI11Ae a CANVASS and even sstemp
TO overcome the effects of the same
Indeed, / was only able to canvas,
days and made three speeches
while nv opponents mate a clos.
canvass OF the district. Icare yer,
much less for my defeat, tnan tn.
taet that am compelled for awhile
At least, to endure the effects O
those false charges many OF which
| have not space to mention.
In conclusion | desire to say tina
, | sail never cease to love thos,
friends who stood by me so loyal,
IL the late election, regardless Of al
rumO-s and charges, and TO thos,
who voted against me. must 50,
that harbor no i'll feeling agains
you. realizing the fact that in thi
free country of ours every man hal
a right to exercise his own iudg.
nsnt &c, in the matter of exercis'
Ing his elective franchise / hop,
some day to be permitted 10 com.
before the people of this Distric
and, at least, attempt to overcom,
The effects of my defeat in the Lat.
election by asking an endorsement
AZ their hands.
Respectfully yours,
~ CTfrburNc