Year: 1867

Address OF Mr. II. Il. Fairbanks to the


Citizens of Williamson. Maury and
/ Lewis Counties.


4 . FELLOW CITIZENS: Most unexpectedIy


to myself, and l presume quite as much Sc
to most OF you, | am nominated to, and have
accepted the position recently occupied by
| Captain Tucker, as candidate of the Con-
! serYatiYe party for the Legislature in this
fotorial district, embracing the counties OF
| Williamson, Maury and Lewis. In ac-
ceptlng nomination which was wholly
| unsolicited and unexpected on my part. II
is no more than proper that / should ex-
| press my qualification to those who have
been instrumental in presenting my name
| in preference to hundreds of others who
are worthy Of your confidence and support,
and that l should lay before you at the
| earliest practicable moment the political
principles which will govern and prompt
my action in case | am elected to fill the
Office


In the present disturbed and unsettled
condition of our State, the responsibility of
the trust outweighs all personal considera-
tons and preferences. The greatest good
of the greatest number should be the rule of
action. Let the people and their public
servants be actuated and governed by prin-
ciples which shall tend to harmonic the
interests and feelings of the masses to re-
store mutual confidence in the rulers and
in the people, and to enact and sustain such
laws and measures as are right and lust,
and the people of the State will be peace
ful, prosperous and happy. Over and
above everything else do we require and
desire 50 desirable contamination. Hap
py is the man who can contribute to this
result.


Our State is beginning a new life. New
measures and new laws will be required
from time to time to meet the exigencies
which will necessarily arise from the chaotic
condition which now exists. In this age of
the world a stand-still conservatism is
neither wise nor practical, but an upward
and onward one which will improve the
condition of the people and not disturb
present existing social and political rela-
tons. And this brings me to a proper
point to notice the measures and principles
which now divide the people of the State.
Both partiesagree in the inality of the law
enfranchising the colored man and in the
proposed alteration removing all disability
from his holding Office also of all laws
which go to acknowledge or establish his
freedom. The Conservative party are
pledged against all measures for con6sca-
ton of property growing out of the late
conflict between the two sections of the
country. They are for the restoration of
all to citizenship and full suffrage who, for
the present and future, will conform TO the
laws Of the State and nation. They are for
dlsarmlng every man in the State and for
giving their cordial and hearty support to
good government and law, and the execution
Of the same by the legally constituted civil
authorities. They are against the proposed
measure Of taxing the people of the State
to pay so-caled Union men for losses sus-
tanned during the war, many of whom were
the first promoters and gettera-up of the
rebellion. They are opposed to the pre-
sent pnpdagate, loose sud corrupt manner
Of managing the finances of the State by
her present rulers, by which her credit is
80 deprecated that her bonds are selling
Tor 6S9 cents on the dollar. Now that the
status of the cOlored man is fixed, they are
for the passage of such lawssas will tend to.
aid and encourage him to rise in the scale
Of civilization, that he may intelligently
meet the duties, responsibilities, and share
the benefits of citizenship.


Personally, am in favor of the colored
children having the same benefits from the
school fund for educational purposes as the
whites and in giving all practical aid and
encouragement to the education of the col
ored race


l will address the people of the district
upon the issues of the day as soon as prac-
ticable. Respectfully,


FRANKLIN T. FAIRBANKS.


Williamson county, June IL, 1867.