Year: 1865

Composed vf the Counties Of Claiborne CGgtPosst'


Anderson, Scott, Morgan RoG1e, t't101h h''o1'


BLosgat Monroe, McMauL Polk a,'d Bradley.


In compliance with the wishes Of many
Of nv Fellow Citizens of the Second Con
cressional District, l take this occasion of
announcing myself candidate to represent
YOU in the next Congress Of the United
States.


As the present iuncture and the novel
and embarrassing condition Of public affairs
demand in our national councils the servi-
ces of our wisest and best men and the ex
ercise of the very highest order Of states
manship, do not disguise the fact, that 1t
Is with extreme difidence | consent, II the
reople will, to serve them at a time and IN
a capacity requiring a far higher degree of
wisdom and experience than l possess
None. however, if | should be so favored
by the confidence of the people, will bring
70 the discharge Of their official duties a
more untiring zeal and energy or more
sincere desire TO promote the best interests
of the country.


have been a citizen OF your State for
period of moro than fifty years, during a
great portion of which time | have been aC-
lively engaged in public life, and, to some
extent. interested in the leading political
and social movements Of the day. The
people in the past have favored me with
positions of honor and responsibility, and
/ refer TO the history Of my past life for ev-
idence Of the manner in which | have re
warded the public confidence.


Ny record for the last four years, during
the troublous times through which we have
passed, is well known, presume, to most
of my fellow-citizens Of the district, and re-
quires but little comment from myself l
am. have ever been an unyielding friend
of the Union of States, and opposed to all
efforts and schemes TO destroy their integri-
ty / have labored ever since | attained
20 mans estate, and especially during the
last several years, for the preservation Of
the American Union and the perpetuatlOn
of republican institutions. | have lamented
the perilous exigences which lately threat
ened the Government, and hailed with un
measured qualification the recent happy and
glorious termination Uf our military ctHNS-
gles Though the rebellion has been sup
pressed and no armed resistance exists any
where within our borders, all our hopes are
not vet communicative have other and
perhaps more embarrassing difficulties, be
fore us. Order must be brought out Of con-
fusjon-the National wounds must be heal
ed-thC rude measures Of war must give
ulsce 10 the more refining and ameEoratng
offices of peace Laws must be conformed
10 the changes in the social and political
condition of the country-the country IT.
self cemented in a more perfect Union,
and the Republic re-established on more en-
during foundations than ever Now that
the government has been rescued from the
terrible fate to which the rebellion, if sue
cessful, would have consigned it, it is neces-
sary to see that the common prosperity and
the liberties ofthe people are also preserved.


Every agency that viii contribute to
these results is needed and it will become
your representatives TO be active and vigi-
liant and alive to the destiny before US as
people. As Nation, we have illustrated
our military strength is right and nee
essary that VIC now exhibit our political
wisdom. For this purpose if elected as your
representative, viii give my hearty sup
port TO the conservative policy Of the Gov
ernment as already foreshadOwed in the
measures Of President Johnsons admins
trstiOn, in the great work Of pacifying the
country and restoring it TO its former ca
reer of prosperity and happiness.


1t will also be my desire and determina
ton to look well to the personal and pecu
mary interests Of my constituents; and to
do all within my power to secure to them
the full measure Of indemnity and


pensstion to which they may be entitld


reason of the consumption of their provis
ions, and the use and destruction Of their
property, by the armies of the Union
Large numbers of the people have claims
against the Government, some Of which are
already decided-but others are still unset
tied and undetermined, all Of which Will
require the active cooperation Of their rep
resentatives to secure their allowance and
payment These claims, as is supposed,
will amount in the aggregate, to no less a
sum than Two Million Dollars, and this to
citizens resident in a portion only, OF East
Tennessee. Every man, Of course, has not
a claim against the Government, but ecerg
man is interested that his neighbor who has
a claim. should get the money on it. You,
gentlemen. who / desire to represent, have
claims to a very large amount. Is there one
among you who would not feel the benefit
of an appropriation by Congress for this
purpose. If we except the worthy and Cf-
fcient Commissioners Of the Board Of Claims
perhaps no other man has interested him
self more already than l have in regard to
these claims-nOne feels more anxious that
they should be paid. To this subject, as
well as to all measures looking to the wei
fare of our common country, as well as to
the more minute details of individual inter
ests, l viii lend my faithful adherence and
support Very Respectfully,


Your Fellow-C Citizen,