Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1874 — A Freeman Now; No More a Slave. [ARTICLE]

A Freeman Now; No More a Slave.

South Be.no, Ind., April 4, 1874. Hon. David Turner, of Loire Count)/; A Thomas Jerneijnn, of LaPorte County; M. L. McClellan , of Porter County; C. W. McPherson , of CarroU County, and others: 51 v Dkau Fjuends; Besides vour friendly letters I have received many otlu>r reqnests, oral or written, from citizens of | tliis Dist rict, to accept a candidacy lor Congress. Aud it is due also to several gentlemen spoken of for this position, but who have so \ kindly proffered to yield in my favor, that I should' slate in some public way what I have uniformly said personally during the past twelvemonth. There is no office that I would prefer to that of Representative of the old constituency by which 1 was eight times unanimously nominated for Congress, and always so generously and cordially supported— While I live l shall' never forget that long-continued confidence and esteem, which I so highly prized and of which 1 so constantly strove to be worthy. But, after belonging to the public for twenty years, 1 belong now to my family, who cannot consent that this ownership shall be changed. I have found too, that the truest happiness in life is in being out of office, and master of one’s own time and movements. And, therefore, no possible inducement nor contingency that I can either imaghie’or foresee could tempt me to desire a return to Congressional life, with what are so well known to be "its cares and toils, its exactions and respousibili ties, its Injustice and falsifications, its envyingsand uncharitableness.” My old constituents must pardon me for insisting that, in their future Congressional .canvasses, I must be counted only as a voter, and, Under no circumstances, as a candidate. It public life can be ranked as a duty not to be evaded, I have certainly performed a full share of that duty. If, however, as is gens orally considered, it is regarded as a pleasure, I have certainly had, of that pleasure, more t ban any one citizen pad a right to claim or expect. I have faithfully striven to serve my country with such industry, fidelity and integrity, as to have a conscience void ol offence towards God or man. And, looking back over those long years,* with moreHiours given to public duties than any business man at home gave to his private affairs, and which* almost cost me my life, I can see nothing in the record of that public life, which*, “dying, 1 would wish to blot " * That our political friends may exhibit the same unity and zeal in future contests, which won victory in so many conflicts of the past, and thanking you for such valued manifestations of your unshaken faith and your friendly regard, I arn. Very Truly, Yours, S<"nv yi.er Colfax.