The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-13


no, having brea mistaken. In instances with
ont nsmbsi. had expressed total ayersioH 90
IL 4. sge o. M o.hee, and | recognize many
3e "A this meat who can fully testify 90
I'M. fact. NJ, iiiend who sits nearly opposite
Nh Sclden although a. il we're mcmber oi
m, family, heeiine 80 fully impressed with my
wishes from nnfeserved and repeated converse
ttons. as not 20 have voted for me and among
those wha pm mcd similar course, some OF
whom are here present. number many OF my
Best friends. And vet the reeessas OF NV heart
have been attempted IN he scanned with the view
~ detecting some lurking wish at variance with
my public declarations. Had ! desired
clmngc, what vas there 10 have prevented me
rom 5pcnly seeking it Are not the Offices OF
This Republic equally open 10 all its clfizens
When WIS I'm exclusive monopoly established,
or WHEN was Il before, that Rome contained but
one mpn Virginia, thank Heaven, depends
upon no one Of her citizens, however distinguish
ed by talents for her character or standing. She
has hecu compared 10 the mother of the Gracchi,
andl trust thai she may still be permitted to be
proud OF her sons. But how miserable and con-
temptible is sle policy ascrlbed 10 me. II is
none other thin that OF wishing an office, and
vet Of ndoptng the very course the best cscula-
tod Of al others to defeat such wish-a course
unnecessarily calculated to damp the ardour of my
friends, and TO inspire with confidence my oppo-
ncnfs.
But have committed. in the estimation of
some AN egtes ious offence, in having obeyed
the WISHES OF Il ma jorty the legislature after
the same were full, and deoisisely expressed.
| had Il ought heretofore, that the prominent axi-
on IN ,he Republican creed was, that The uiH 81
IN minority wastte Inn tV'he public agent For
QUO who had been taught from early infancy
thai golden rule that neat TO his creator, his
FIRST duty belonged TO his country, and his last 20
himself how could have stood acquitted, had
| | permitted private considerations 10 have con
houled the obligations OF public duty by ac-
ccptng the appointment, while | mteriered with
| the pre,cnsions of no other citizen, have ac-
q..ltted mysolfof a sacred obligation.
But. gentlemen my political principles have
for the first time been called in question, and an
eflor, has seemingly been made 10 deprive me oil
the confidence of my native State, Heretofore
it has been my good fortune TO have remained
wholly unassailed for my public course nor
have now any thing to fear from a rejecting
community Those doubts have been made To
rest on the fact of my having written letter to
! Mr. Clay in a few days after the late Presidcn-
iial election. From the camor which this |
thing had made, one stranger 10 me would
| almost conceive that had been carrying on a
reasonable spondcncc, and plotting the
overthrow of public liberty. What would be
the aslonishment he would feel when he came
to be informed that il was letter written TO one
with whom had formed an acquaintance ma.
ny years since in the public councils, and
which acquaintance had been drawn the MOI c
| closely from the fact OF my having acted with
HIM IN perllons fines, and questions 1.-THE
Missouri question for instance) agltating TO the
peace of the community and that It's sing lc pur-
pot was an acquiital Of him, IN my own cstima-
ton, from the charge of an infamous corruption
And how much more would his astonishmcnt
be increased, when he came further 10 learn
that had been subjected TO the suspicion of
having kept something dannng in reserve, be
cause had not submitted to the demands of an
imporions dictitioni fthnt letter never made
any secret. True, did not communicate il to the
Lcgi, Azure as Chief Magistrate of Virginia or
publish IT rom the top the Capitol, but It's
| sentiments had been avowed times without
| number rs we'll 10 individuals as to large assem-
blics. Aud since it has been made a subject of
general consideration, 1t has been exhibited
iteely TO all, who nude known a desire to see it,
| II no other motive existed with me TO withhold II
from the press, think should find "A sufficient
| one IN the fact, that had recently had my guam
| tum sufheit Of newspaper Editors | mean,
| gentlemen, no dsrcSpcct TO that fraternity. |
| ann not so ignorant as not 10 know that he who
intermediates with nest OF hornets must expect
| TO be stung
But agreed with Mr.. Clay in his choice of
UT Adams. All here lies the tIea son-well
| then gcntlemen,l have al least one consolation
! MS that OF thclrishmanwho was about TO be hung
with n dozen of his fellows have many com.
| panlons. Nine tcnths of thepeople of Virginia
| are doomed TO the same prescription which a.
| waits me Why, he vas indeed " a rare bird"
who was at that day for Gen Jackson. \
| trend OF mIne could scarcely hold up his head
| AZ the musings OF ii ncighboring county. in sup
| port OF the Gencral, such WAS the unanimity OF
sentiment, prevailing there against him. Aud
| mere, Know the tact 10 he SO, the man who ex-
| pressed opinions favorable to him, was assaulted
o. all hands. General Jackson was laudol for
! MS victory AT New Orleans but ever and anon
| H' was tepreSeutedas the constitutions breaker
'shdNlhs without necessity aud against law
| suspended the habcas corpus-and AS hayino
ampled under foot our dearest rights. Ididuot
| hesitate on the floor of Congress to condemn his
conduct IN the Seminole war--but while CON
| demncd ms acts did not assail his ,poiirfs-J
never doubted but that they were patriotic Far
| dihrient however, we've the sentiments of many
II mention these things in invdous spirit
i mention them In let YOU understand that if
mere Is 10 oe sacrifice offered mp, il must con-
Sisi OF more than onr victim. | considered
| ''"' we hao snosttnta' grounds for our prefer
'hce OF Mr.. Adams over General Jacksou--o-
mulng others, will merely mention that Mr.
Adams had, tor long course OF wears been
member of the political families of MIR. Jcfer.
ION ana Mr. Madlson--l say nothing of Mr..
! Monroe, since his administration had become
! unpopular IN this state, bv reason of his doc
Tune on the subject of appropriatng public mo.
ney, We Lad therefore reason 10 believe that
to great extent, he would have adopted their
IDEAS OF federal power. partial guarantee
l"r this WAS also furnished in the fate of his
iattcr. had no idea that with the rock before
nun, on which that father had suffered political
Siipwreck, the son would SO nslilddiy have
naFgaicd his vessel as TO have incurred tho
r'Sqne OF dashins also against it. 1t should be
incidentally mentioned also that Massachusetts
h"d stood by the south in a prcpoudcratng vote
against the Iarih, and | had iondly hoped that
Mr. \. would have possessed the feelings of his
parent state But candour requires me here
publicly 10 say that his first splendid message
I" Congress has long since withered all my