Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-02-13
and all
b. W. LEIGH.


Wy best wishes TO Mrs. -, and all
yours. Your friend,
d. W. LEIGH
Extract Of a kticr from II. ". L,ish 10 a gen-
! hema" 81 .htekie'sburg, dated June ~, 1898.
/ have very decided opinions on all the sub
jcct, you neutrality-suspicious. formed long be-
| tore tins nomination OF me Tor the Prrsidcn-
~ was thought of-Which though, (as YOU
Justly remark,) my situation never made II
necessary that they should Ice publicly de-
clared. yet never conee alcd. II any gen
tlemsn Of my acquaintance had, ,ciihom re-
Jersnee 20 thus nomination.. desired To know
those opinions, should hava gwen them to
him, without the least hesitation, ia language
as free ~ my thoughts and to none would /,
/ have given them more freely or more re ldily
I Than TO you. But when came 10 understand
/ that tins nomination Was seriously designed
! deliberately resolved not la have any pari
! or agency in it-not To say one word, not To-
I do any act, whatever, that could, directly or
indirectly, induce or tend To induce any midi
'mual or any portion of my fellow citizens TO
make the nomination, or ii made, TO support
n'e for the osiicc. You will see, ia the sequel,
that tins i not an empty profession thc res
o'ution - founded IN a deep and solemn scu,c
of proprlcty, and shall be literally fulfilled.
! am not candidate for the Office doubt
whether any man, under any circumstances
ought To present himself or any way illully
to unite with Others IA presenting him, as
candidate for it'll feel that IT would be the
height Of presumption ia 10 do 80. ac-
know ledge tie right OF any Of my couutrymen
10 put the IN nomination, n thcS think proper.
and such n nomination will confer honor on
Inc To which I cannot bc in~en.Ible-but I
shall, nevertheless, hold my self perfectly free
To support the election Of any other gentle
I man who may be nominated, and whose cleo
toni shall think more for the good Of my
country, and more feasible. And II by a
miracle, for it will be little short of one, } !
should be elected To the Presidency, would
make sure OF going into the office unfcttered
by any pledges, and free as should be, de-
termIued ~ pursue the great end of the gen
eral good, according TO my judgment and the
best advice OF the wl>est and most VirtuCus
men could summon 10 my assistance.
can say with most perfect sincerity, that
even before the fortunes OF my ilc had divert
ed Inc (as they very early did from the pur-
suit Of political houors, in the widest aud
most dreaming state OF my ambition, the Pre-
sIdency was never, for a momcut, within the
scope Of my expectations, hopes, or ishes :;
and beIitrs that should now have no desire
Of that high station, IT were a. sure that
II Is within my reach, rs am that IL j. above
II. IL Is impossible should be elected 10 it
!, who have borne 30 little part in public al
fairs, aud am 30 little known 10 the nation
that even my fellow citizens Of Meckenburg
county, Virginia, are uniformed Of my opiu-
IONS ON the most interesting political questions
of the times, That fact alone j. enough L.
! ascertain to my own mind that cannot be e
lecied-pcrhapS, another would say, enough
To prove that ought not Ia be- elected. IL
would be unwisO In me not To- Keep my mind
I perfectly uninicTested IN tho affair.
Extract Of a letter from u. ~ Leigh 10 another
! gtniismsn u .dsekisnbUTg, daisd .iugGi
| II, 1888.
can only say, m general, thai am most
sincerely and entirely 10y ai 10 all our insiItu-
uOns, state and lcderal--that, IA my opinion
the suTcst way 90 maintain tie federal gov
ernmept III Its full strength, and the only way
10 maintain II IN Its purity, -, 10 coniine u.
actions " ithin the Limits, both US To- means
p, aud purposes, prescribed for II hy the con,,i.
/ tution--aud that, therefore, those entrusted
\ with the administration Of 1t, ought To- be most
careful, not only to AVOID the assumption ui
! powers, not delegated To II, but TO abstain
from tile exercise oi doubtful powers, aud ne
YER TO pcrvert the powers that are granted to
purposes different from those for which thew
we're granted. II I were appointed To- any
station, much more tu the highest station a.
The federal government, these are the general
+, prime pies By which should regulate my CON
duct. Aud set, Il should hid .ysIont Of
measures already established, ~ my opinion
not originally Warranted by the Constitu-
ton, but 50 InIerwSYcn with the very frame
Of tie Government, aud With the vital
II interests VI the country, - 10 render It I'M
possible 10 change OF reverse 1t, without IN
= dieting yet more deadly wound on the Con-
slhuuOn, Sud endsnGerinS tlie prosperity. the
} peace, aud the existence of the uiou, shall
not Pretend that would not weld e. such ah
2 ovcrguliug necessity, tcmpoTiLe Ith Tie mis-
chef should be unable 10 correct az once
opi content ny self with endea,ors g. pre,en
tic further extension uf a. and to mil. ate Il
+ by sure and safe d,ErCe- In such case.
should hope the forgiveness Of NY country.
iOr al involuntary departure ffosn nv own
I principles. u should abandon thcni throf
: caprice, 90 passion. or ambition, should not
expect pardon from man, and hardly hope foT
/ mercy from Heaven
I Iho.e who think proper 20 support me for
tIc ircstdcHcy. must give 1870 credit iur Iud.-
mcnt 90 distcru, sni tor virtue 81 maniiin
60 tie utmost 81 us ability, THAT is ron.titu-
tonal. Just, aud right do not ehall,nso
such confidence a. due ~ u,c, ior have ue-
yer been tried 1t must bc their own tree giit.
bestowed not tor ny o~n sAke, but as re-
cessary qualification o. make me ~ inst. ~
mcnt Of good, 90 case thcir suffrage, should
prevail 10 elect nae 10 tie office. Recording
g. Pro-eut appearance, n0 person " 90 get Il
majority 81 the electoral votes at the nckt e.
iccuon, aud The election sili drsoi,e upon
go House a. cprc-entstyt.--ilst is, ,n
other words, ire successor - General Jack
son vfl 60 irtn Tie office viti0ut beng the
rhpi.e ~ "a msuuty q ne uston Ttlta-
I.rr s fearful t.lrUity. Ard utlrssf
sha.l be- 'he person thgs eIe,leI 60 tle office
1T DO shall have committed himself. direct
~ ~ indirectly ~ pledges o. any party. be-
siii hHd o. impossible 10 ,oacilate such una
IHf'y as Will ensalo him o. administer Tie
t.gegnmeut 90 al unless be- can command -
m1rffy ty thr Hl4suee n Li. paitonatr
1a.s be- atiew ~ u.s sHh,ect ~hich ougtt Co.
r.skr sfrry nitu atusI.IiI he heldup ss a sou,-
~ 'sar 60 &C. of4r. treuJis-
f.a I..