Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-04-20
LONDON, February 24th 1882


l have been honored with your letter
OF the first instant communicating to
me the sentiments Of a public meeting of
my Fellow Citizens ON the subject of
the rejection by the Senate of nv NOM
ination as Minister to this country.
Having always observed, on the part
of the Republicans of the city of New
York, frank and fearless independence
of opinion, and disinterested regard to
truth ond justice in their estimate and
support of public men, have looked to
tnelr aPprobation with solicitude as a
criterlon of conduct, and have received
u. Tue 'IIi'tlmonials of respect with which
tney rave occasionally honored me, with
.t Spondent satisfaction, but never
wise such deep felt sensibiity as in the
Pi.-, mt instance. Severed for the first
tiAIfrom my country and friends, and
plNed in conspicuous situation among
strangers, in foreign land, advantage
has been taken ofmy position to level at
me shaft intended to wound me TO the
quick, and to humiliate me in the eyes of
the Government and nation, with whom
was to treat, and to whom I was, as
yet, but little known. Thanks to the
generous and warm hearted promptness
of my Fellow Citizens of New York,
the same moment that brought me the
poisoned shaft Of my enemies, brought
also the missive of my friends with
healing on its wings" When you in
form your constituents of this circum-
stance, they will at once perceive how
well timed and effectua has been the
assurance fsympathy, esteem and con-
fidenee, and now deeply it must have
sunk into my heart.
In testifying to my public conduct
they are pleased 10 speak with eulogium
of me, as contributing while in the Cabi-
net, to the success of the present admin
istration: That signal success, feel
called upon to declare, is preeminently
due to the political sagacity, unweary-
ing industry, and upright straight for
ward course of our present venerated
chief All the humble merit | can
claim is, that Of having exerted myself
TO the utmost to execute his patriotic
and single hearted views, and of having
sacrificed all personal considerations to
ensure their success, when threatened
with extraneous embarrassmentS. That
my exertions were arduous, painful, and
lncessant, l may without vanity, assert {:
whether my sacrifices have not been re-
paid with unmerited detraction and re-
Proach, L leave to my countrymen to de-
termine. Still | shall ever regard my
situation in that Cabinet, as one of tile
most fortunate events of my life, placing
me as 1T did in close and familiar rela-
lation with one who has well been des-
cribed by Mr.. Jefferson as possessing
more of the Roman in his character than
any man living" and whose administra-
ton will be looked to, in future times,
as golden era in our history. To have
served under such a Chief, at such a
time, and to have won his confidence
and esteem, is sufficient glory, and of
that, thank God, my enemies cannot de-
prive me.
Of the particular act Of hostility to
which am happily indebted for the
present expression of feelings on the
part of my Republican fellow citizens,
is not, perhaps, proper, and / would fain
think, not necessary, that should say
much. The courtsey due to the high
est Of our Legislative bodies obiges us
to presume that the reasons assigned by
the majority for their decision were sin
cere if so, / console myself with the
persuasion that public sentiment ofwhich
l have an earnest before me, is likely to
determine the futility Of those reasons,
and the injustice ofthat decision.
Allow me, gentlemen, in conclusion,
to thank you heartily for the expression