Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-03-21
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MARTINsBURG. M.RcH 81. 1888


To The Voters Of The Congressional district com
posed of TIE counties Of Frederick, Jefferson,
Berkeley, Morgan and Hampshire.
Frrrow. CrrrzExs:-Having authorised my an
nunca,ion as candidate for Congress in this dis
.ric, and accompanied that annunciation with a
r;afcr,ositiou Of NV politcalcreed, Inow deem
;trrop.r. througha channel equally public, to state
Oh. considerations which have influenced me to
withdraw my name from the canvass. As con-
scented to occupy the position and assume the res
possibilities Of candidate at this important juno
ture from no motives Of personal ambition, but
solely in reference TO the agtatng character Of the
crisis, have felt myself at liberty 10 retire so
soon as became satisfied that those high public
objects which influenced my course, ceased to de-
mand nv further continuance before the People.
Those who have done me the honor to notice
my course as member Of the House Of Delegates
Of this State during the last winter viii bear tes
timony TO the unceasing solcitude which ! mani
tested throughout the session, that those funda-
mental principles of Constitutional Government
which were embodied in the Proclamation of the
President, and so vehementlv condemned by the
disciples Of Notification, should in some empha-
tic manner be brought to the consideration of the
PEOPLE of Virginia. would bog leave among
others TO refer TO the motion made by me on the
18th of February last for the indefinite postpone
ment Of the election of Senator, together with
my published remarks in support Of that motion,
as one of the means by which sought to accom-
plish that result The only safe corrective OF the
errors of misguided legislation and the excuses
Of perverted party spirit is to be found in the So
Der Intelligence and discriminating reflection OF
the People. All experience teaches us, tn re
j point of time when politicians should cease TO
sway the destinies Of country and, the People
thems elves take into their own hands the admin
istration Of their own concerns. That period in
my Judgment had arrived, when principles sub
yersiye Of that Constitution which had been de-
liberately formed by the people themselves were
openly advocated by their agents. and doctrines
proclaimed, which strip the government of every
vestige of power and authority-prescnt il as
object inviting the constant and vindctve assaults
of Faction, and reduce us back to worse than the
infantine fecbleness of the Old Confederation.
Deeply impressed with these views, believing
that the pernicious doctrines to which have just
adverted would be powerfully advocated and sus-
tanned in this district during the then approaching
canvass ardently DESTROYS to sustain by my per-
sonal excrtons the opposite, and as ! conceive,
only true Constitutional doctrines, l consented
while yet in Richmond, to be announced as can
ddate for Congress. Acting on the same view OF
the subject, published while in Winchester, on
my way home, brief address to my fellow citI-
gems of that county, disclosing my political creed
and announcing myself as a candidate for their
suffrages On my arrival in Berkeley, address
ed NV fellow citizens there, and again announced
that my great and leading object in presenting
myself as candidate for their sutfrages, was to
put in issue before the people in this district those
vitality important Constitutional doctrines, which
during my stay in Richmond, had seen so fierce
" assailcd On the same day, my personal and
political friend MIR. MAYOR Of Hampshire, who
had been announced before my return from Rich
mond, also addressed the People of Berkeley,
and made full disclosure Of his principles and
views Their almost entire identity with my
own, induced me TO pause and reflect whether it
was right to distract and divide the supporters of
those principles in this Congressional district, by
continuing to advance my pretensions in opposition
TO his The result of my reflections was, that it
would be unpatriotc so to distract and divide the
friends of the UNION and the CONSTITUTION.
Great Difference moreover was due TO his advanc-
ed age. to his mature experience, and to his val
liable public services. / felt that Difference and
acted on it. determined to withdraw from the
canvass for a seat in Congress, and to offer my
services to nv fellow citizens in Berkeley, as
their representative in the Legislature OF the
Commonwealth. Should that offer be accepted,
il NAV he nv good fortune to render to them, and
not to them alone, but to my fellow citizens gen
orally in the district, more efficient service than
at this period could do, on the more elevated
theatre of the National Legislature.
Iconfess too that the discovery which quickly
made on nv return to Berkeley, that the new,
pernicious and disorganzing doctrines OF the Sou
thern politicians had taken little root in this dis
trict rendered less anxious, to enter into con-
dict with them as a candidate for Congress. l
trust and believe that the sober good sense of the
district, has already affixed to these doctrines,
the seal of reprobation, and that no man will be
found bold and reckless enough to seek to rally
party here under the standard of NULLlflCA-
TION or SECESSION. Those pernicous here
sizes, after exposing the Union itself to the great
Get nerI have met with signal discontinue, in
the firm but conciliatory measures adopted by the
wisdom of Congress. They have had their day;
and will soon, ri trust, be numbered with the by
gone folies of other times recollected only to be
wondered at, as exemplifications of the extent to
which the human mind is capable ofbeing deluded.