Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-10-20
MR.. RIVES' REPI- Y.

CASTLE HfLr., Oct. 5th, 1891
Gcnilcmen--I hive had the honor TO receive
your letter of the oath ult informing me that my
political friends Of the county Of Amherst, IN test
mony of,heir respect for my personal character
and public services, had dcpuled you us commit.
tee, on their behalf, TO invite me TO public dln-
ncr a, Their court house, Monday the 20tn of ih
prcscn, month or such other time as might be
most agreeable TO M,
BE insured gentlemen, that this " free " III Of
feri,,e" Of n portion of my old cons,uents,o whom
am bound by so many ties of grateful rcmem.
brancc can not be otherwise than in the highcs.
degree gratifying to my feelings When advert
TO the well known names annexed to your letter,
embracing a large portion OF the Intelligence, re.
spectabity, solid worth and ripcned experience
of your patriotic and enli ghtencd county feel IN
deed that my labors for the public good, however
humble, in receiving the sanction OF such men as
yourselves, and those you represent have not been
in vain, nor without their rich reward To meet
! YOU and those Of my cllowci,izcrs and former
F, constituents, who, through you, have so kindly
sienifed their wishes, on the occasion proposed,
would be one Of tho greatest pleasures could en-
Joy but it being prccludcd to me, at present, by
circumstances and considerations beyond my con
troll, can only express TO you my deep and gfate-
| ful sense ofthis and all the other kndnesscs reco,
we'd a, the hands efny ancient and generous friends
Of Amherst
The comprehensive and unqualified aprroba-
ton YOU are pleased to express OF my conduct IN the
discharge Of the various public trusts which nave
been committed to me, coming il does from those
who have known me long and intimately, and
who have been close and intelligent observers oil
n,b,ic events is a testimonial shall cherish with
pride and gratitude. can safely say, gentlemen
| that in every post of public duty in which l have
been plt ced, my efforts have been directed, with ar
unwayering aim, to what considered the hghesi
interests and honog Of my country, ond the 'n' "no
permanent success of her tree Republican lasiu
| tons ard IN sustaining, with the odfnest'e5a o.
thor ough conviction, the adminisirallen VI or W
nerable Chief Magistrate, in the prominent men
surcs TO which you refer, have feii taat ~
sustaining those institutions ttenSe'res ageHs' 'h'
hcrcest assaults and most formidable enemies 'he]
can ever be doomed 10 encounter. You can be I"
M loss. gentlemen, to comprehend thot alud1 ID
ths, bold and parficJal heresy Of Nulhcai'on, en-
oendered in the ho,-bed of political ambition whci
brought, and may again bring Of nor decis've''
rebukcd by the voice Of the people our eher'snet
Union TO the brink of dissolution; and that AFRO
can't moneycd power, the oHsrring of violated
constitution and the mos. alarming Personhca''o'
decentralization, which even now seeks 10 subJu
oa,e the people ond government OF TINS proud anf
baupy country TO its sordid and deg. aiding domi"
ion. In contributing my feeble but conscientious
support 10 the authority Of the laws, and to IN
constitutional and hitherto undisputed powers o
the Executive organ of the public will, IN this vita
conflict with enemies, so dangerous and desperate
az al. Rspublican Institutions, believed myself e
he performing the highest and most sacred DUTY o
r.,rio,i,m and althonghI we'll knew TINT, for tn
course pursued, I should incur the joint ana'hc
mas Of powerful and now oonlesced parties, l ne
vcr ceased to look, with steady confidence to 'h'
sober judgment of virtuous and enlightened pro
ole, for my ultimate Justification.