Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-07-18
GOV. EDW ARDS


has been, and probably will hereafter be made, of
certain candid avowals of Discrimination to any
such service, which have heretofore made, rem
Gers it proper to say, that have been led to this
determination by a sense Of duty alone. Wish
ing no Office in the gift of the Government, and
having no other personal object in view, seat in
Congress, which can neither advance my private
interests, nor confer any new honor upon me, has,
IN itself, no allurements to withdraw me from my
private affairs, or tempt me from the repose which,
for some time past, have found in the walks of
private life. But, concurring in the general SEN
timent that, the payment of the national debt, now
near at hand, must produce crisis in the afs
fairs of the new States, which, if Judiciously
managed, promises infinitely more in their favor,
than any occurrence that has presented itself since
the first organization of the Government; and
seeing the State improvidently involved IN all the
dangers of formidable Indian war; its citizens
required to sacrifice their time and property, and
risk their lives in fighting the battles of the Uni
ted States, for which, other provision should have
been made; and the Union itself threatened with
almost certain disruption; am too profoundly
sensible Of the obligations which your multiplied
proofs OF friendship and confidence have imposed
upon me, to feel myself at liberty to refuse, par
tcularly ON an occasion so interesting and impor-
tant, any services am capable of rendering you.
And hence it is, that have yielded to solicita-
tons from my fellow citizens, which, too favor
able estima Of my capacities had rendered far
more numerous than had any reason to expect
Nor have they been confined to any particular
party. That this is truly the case, there are many
among yourselves, in almost every part of the
district, that can testify. Why then, should |
not have complied with those solicitations? Were
not my fellowcitizens entitled to this proof Of my
gratitude? And what justification could have
found for refusingl If one, whose sole object is
to serve you, is the less worthy of that honor,
because he does not greatly covet it on his own
account, this, l freely confess, may be a good
reason for rejecting me; but, as the office is in
tended for the benefit of the people, and not the
candidate, and is equally open to every qualified
free man, no mans right is invaded, nor any Just
cause of dissatisfaction afforded, by entering into
competition for it. As then, l neither directly
nor indirectly solicited any of my competitors to
be candidate, and in no way whatever, have
imposed upon myself an obligation to disregard
the wishes OF my fellow-ciizens, it is cheeruv
submitted to your decision, whether the present
tender oil my services involves any breach of good
faith or honor towards any one.
Anxious, however, for peace and harmony
throughout the State and having much reason to
be satisfied with the general forbearance of my
old opponents, and even, to be thankful for the |
courtesies of many of them, l am determined to
lose my election, rather than engage in any UNI
friendly strife to obtain it. And least of all, shall
any of my highly respectable competitors meet
with the slightest discourtesv from me. Wishing
no success that is to be obtained by disparaging
rival, and freely admitting their abilities to
serve you ably, and their dispositions to do it
faithfully, if they are not all preferred to myself
1T shall not be, for any thing that shall say, Or
write against them, or any one of them.
After the lapse of twenty years, faithfully de-
voted to your service, in all the perls difficulties
and vicissitudes, through which we have passed
during that long period, l think l may fairly |
claim the benefit of being judged by "my fruits, "
rather than condemned, as has often been the |
case, not for the bad things have done, but, for
those, which unchariable suspicion may choose
to suggest as being within my future intentions
Ii have during all those trials, been faithful to
you, what better security could you reasonably
expect for my future conduct? Doubtless may
have committed many errors, and may not have
done as much for your benefit as might have beenl
accomplished by one more competent. Butt
wherein, have ever been deficient in zeal for
your service2 When host of ferocious sayages.
backed by their British allies, and far more for
midabe than those now assailing our frontiers, |
were constantly arrayed against us, for three
whole years, did |, during any part of that awful
period, fail to make any suitable preparation
10 encounter any toll or peril--or to incur any
risk or responsibility that was necessary to defend
yourselves, and your helpless wives and children,
against their terrible incursions? Wherein, have
] ever failed to vindicate your rights with the
best of my poor abilities? And in what instance.
have l ever attempted to postpone your interest
to my own7 Let any such case be specifically
alledged, and am always ready to acknowledge
zny error, or defend my conduct If, however, no
such delinquency or betrayal of trust can be truly
stated, it would seem that this alone, should be
sufficient to defend me against general denuncia-
tons. But if not, then may be permitted to
oppose to them, the fact of my never having lost
election by the people in my life; my unsoli-
cited promotion from the office of 4th Judge of
the Court Of Appeals, to that of Chief Justice of
Kentucky, without dissenting vote; my appoint
ment as Governor of the Territory of Illinois, ,
upon the recommendation of gentlemen equally
distinguished for rcspectabiity and intelligence,
who had long been witnesses Of my conduct; the
renewals of the same appointment, during the
whole period OF our territorial government; the
unanimous approbatian of my conduct, by all the
troops under my command, as testified bv their
address to me, Immediately after nv return from
the expedition which Ihad the honor to comma nd