To tte free Votsrs Qf cra,eford County.
{"character_count": 2247, "word_count": 413, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9765999913215637], "ccnet_perplexity": [2013.0], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}


 To the free Voters of Cramtord County. FELLOW CITIZENS

 You are doubtless all well aware that I have placed my name before you, some time since, as a candidate for the office of Sheriff, at the next December election. l have not been led to take this step without well considering my ability to serve you, and without examining we'll my chances for election. Under our present laws, the of- fee which ask ;st your hands, is au i'm portant and responsible one--and your she riff, whoever he may be, holds the peace aud comfort of many individuals in his hands. It Is well, therefore, considering the mani fold and arduous duties which devolve upon your sheriff, his heavy responsibilities, and the power which he has in his hands fer good or evil--;t is well that he who aspires to your free and unbribed suffrages, should make plain statement to you of his capa- bilities, and of the claims which he can ad vance to your votes. Those who elect an officer, have certainly right to know whom they are electing, and why.

 Permit me, therefore, fellow citizens, briefly 10 say to you, that have now been resident in the county for three or four years. have adopted it as my future home, aud shall probably spend my life among the people whom like and respect. IL is true am poor--but l have my all at stake here-and the richest among you can say no more. No man can have better claims 10 your suffrages than I--for none of you have ever suffered injustice or op- pression al my hands. Misfortunes have fallen heavily upon me--in common with many of you--and am not only poor, but in bad health and unable to make q support for myself. by hand labor. believe that am competent to perform the duties of She-. riff--as much so as any of my opponents, but of that you are the proper judges. l am not acquainted with all of you, but hope to be so before the election. am inform ed that reports have been spread about, in tended doubtless by my enemies, to inlure me-but l trust too much in your good sense and feelings of justice, to believe that you have condemned or prejudged me un- heard. Because have sold my place, you have been told that 1 intend leaving the country-but can assure you, fellow citi- zens, that 1t is not so. l sold out, because