Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-06-30
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To prejudice me IA your good opinion. by
representations the must unjust: and I
therefore consider IL NOT ouiy due 10 my
self but to you also. that soene explanation
should be given. which will enable you %
decide rs TO the rccti,utie Of the course
pursued by me. have been induced 10
present. myself as n candidate 60 represent
you in the next House Of Delegates, not by
any rashness or presumption, ar fond cou-
cch OF my o~n meri, or ability. but by the
Su'heoi'c wish and al the solicitation OF
number oT voters. warmly expressed he.
fore ] would consent TO offer Having
been called upon IN u manner so natter-
ing. and having received many assursn
Cos OF success. ! resolved 60 undertake the
labours OF the canvass, aud solicit the Ca
YOUR OF the County. upon frank. manly,
aud honorable ground. did not. how
ever. take this step Of SO much d-lcacy
and Importance, with fhe reckless ambi.
ton Of thought!css young man, but " it'll
the plain confidence OF one who has well
considercd. and is fully sensible Of the
heavy responsibility under which he will
rest. and the srduons duties which he will
have TO perform, If elected
A To the manner of my coming ont.
about which SO much has been said. il has
been above board and in open day; and
whilst sincerely regret that some few.
Tor whom ] entertain the highest respect.
except To II. vet. at m. same time. as to
offering them ,ny excus. or apology ne
,-t will do li-for the plain and substan.,
usi reason. that no excuse. no apology. 10
necessary 20 justify conduct. the exercise
of which 1, the sacred and undeniable pri-
,ilegc " every NiIginisn.
l. I 4 l. \
Gus no:Nination--not, however. because I
might not have been SO brought OUTPUT
because l objected TO that mode. under q
belief, which has since been verified. that
party spirit was too languid 10 render
practicable the raising OF caucus suffi-
cienily numerous 10 express with any GER
tainiy the will Of the Jackson party Thus
circumstanced. j thought il advisable (and
several Ut the most respectable jackson
men agreed with me IN opiBion,) TO an
nounce myself Ia the usual way. rather
than be brough, out by u petty and unau-
thoiized caucus. whose nomination would
certainly render me odious to the people
Ia adopting this course. was governed by
the long established custom OF Virginia,
which has ever held all raucussins, that
does not clearly and beyond doubt express
the will Of the people. as destructive 10
the free aud untrammellcd exercise OF the
right OF suffrage.
could wish, undoubtedly, to make the
manner Of my coming out agreeable TO
every one-but the very attempt ton ards
pleasing every body. generally ends in
pleasing nobody; and. besides. ! well
knew (before ] announced MYSELF that
certain individuals had melted their souls
down into one burning resolve, TO oppose,
and If possible prescribe me, right or
wrong, even If the manner OF my coming
out had heem ever - uneSceptionable
never can agree with those Who be-
lieve, no doubt honestly. that a few indi-
v.duals have a perfect right - meet IN
caucus, and dictate TO n whole party, re
gardlcss Of the will of that party. Such
system, of caueussing. l contend. operates
10 deprive the people Of their sove ,eign
will; aud fearlessly densunce il as a spe-
cies Of arbitrary polite al machine. whose
bsncful influence hangs like an Internal
light marc upon that freedom Of choice
which should be exercised by every vo
ter. without fear. favor, or affection. But.
say the friends Of caucus dictation. f" the
people generally arc too ignorant TO know
hoS to vote correctly. and therefore they
ought To he told" Now. I ask, will The
intelligent aud independent voters Of JEFF.
frrson suffer this reflection TO be cast upon
them? Will they, at this day Of bright
and almost universal intelligence, suffer
even an insinuation that they are not SUI
ficiently enlightened TO choose CT and pro-
per persons 10 represent them, without the
dictation OF a self-con stituted caucus p
Can any man be 90 ignorant Of the high
toned and lofty spirit of the Virginia cha.
racter. as to suppose that the voters Of
Jefferson county will obscquiously kneel
& biindly swear allegiance 10 candidate
merely because he has been nomina ted
by u select and privileged few. unauiho-
rizsd To express the will Of the party. and
by them trumpetted forth with all the in
significant pomp and circumstance OF q
petty demagogur. 1ourishing the whip OF
authority in his hand. and, with The over.
bearing frown Of self wiIied and arbitra-
~ master, threatening every voter with
the bloody Lash who might not yield sls-
wish obedience 20 caucus dictation To
such anti. republic an, sristScratic. despotie
rule, no man who has one spark Of indie
pendsnce will submit. No. the voters Of
Jefferson county will rise in the majesty
Of their united siren 9Th. and. with = spirit
OF Incorporating indignation. hurl def
ance into tie teeth &c those who seek. by
sub &C ting sbe will Of the many 10 that Of
the few. 81 destroy the very spirit Of those
institutions for which our forefathers so
brsvely fought and freely poured out their
blood
Fellow citizens. when 7 announced my
self a candidate, u WAS with the perfect
understanding that if the party question
should be raised, aud IL were the general
,SiA % the Jackson party 20 run two men.
excluding myself. would withdraw. and
heartily support them No such general
will has % my opinion been vet eHpress.
ed-unless il be admitted that one IiSen-
tiefh part of the party has a right n speak
Z for the whole partV-and this no yrputN.