Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-11-23
Mcssrs. David Hoffman, and others
PmILAprIrnIA. Oct DOLL. 1879.

Grnftrmsn-l have had the honor 10 receive
your letter, inviting mo to your State Festival in
tended to celebrate the recent, triumph in Mary
land, OF those who arc opposed 10 the elevation Of
Mr.. Van Buren, 10 the Presidential char Accor-
ding with you IN opinion, MS do in hi, instance,
II would give me pleasure to be one of ,onr guests
but circumstances, not 10 be controlled, will pre-
vent the era,llicaton OF my wishes. II may not
be improper, however, to express To Won some of
the sentiments which the occasion calls forth
The practicabllny OF institutions sucl, MS ours
has been problem for more than two Thousand
years. Tie experiment has been often made IN
van ana we have been for about bali .fcnluly
Jcllerson said il was successful. Have We the
same confidence still DO our fellow citizens act
fio TIC oniy may IN whch Mcy can maintain hcr
hbrrfifs1 ai,u Inc ."n,",s Tor 'hc republic,
which they feel for their wives and children. On
the contrary is not political education greatly neg
lectcd While almost morbIdlp tenac ous
about our rights are not our corresponding dunes
almost unknown unpcrormod' Are not m sscs
OF those who CLAIM 10 be- part ol an ntcllicontly
governing power, led TO vote rs directed by selfish
demagoeucs, Just AS nocks of sheep are driven by
the whistles Of then keepers or the barking OF their
dogsl
Heretofore the Republics have fallen, not in the
first instance as is often incorrectly said, under the
arms of military chcf,alns but beneath the arif-
ccs of pretended friends Of the people. II WIS 10
escape the odious thraldom OF such political npos-
tcrs that the citizens OF many free States submit
ted 10 single dcspof \ similar fate to ourselves
hes been predicted by the enemies Of reform IN
Enropc The people there are warned to beware
OF such institutions as ours, aud the warning s 81
ven in consequence OF the nsurpatbns, corruption,
and outrageS, which have been OF late 50 boldly
prncli,ed amongs, us. To ,hc,, tokens ofdecay
/ 4
sena,cd his successor and the terrors of party cx-
communication are denounced against all who ma,
dare to dlsobcy this political bull.
That your State rcssts this downward course Is
encouraging. That Tennessee rcvolts it is still
more cheering. And am not without hope tina
abused PENNSYLVANIA is following the example
In this state, large portion OF the democratic re-
publican family, of which | ever have been !
! member, have a, all times had the courage as wei
as the wisdom think and act Tor themselves
They have seorned to be drilled by descrtcrs iron
all party flags, mere followers OF political camps
ready to strip the spoils from friend or foe. Sncl
independent men will BIZ especially watched II
times like the prescnt-Indccd, towards MIR. Val
Buren,, land say it dispassionacl,) no consldcra
bic part of the frcemen of Pennsy wanna have eve
been partial. And | add, what candid men ofc,
cry party must admit, that the mass OF our citizen
are anxious to have as his opponent some individt
al, WI ON they may support consistently with the
principles.
1t must be- obvious, therefore, that succcssf'
opposition 10 Mr. Van Buren, depends upon til
means that may be employed to resist him
seems we are so fortunate as to have many cit
zcns worthy of the executive char; and yet
unfortunate not to have one, whose claims ar
50 transcendant to ovcrshadow all others, or d
! eains whom objections may not be successful,
, however unjustly, made. There appears TO be n
: alternative, therefore, between submission to II
= dicaton of the President, and resistance to
: through the candidate, who may be the least Ike
: ~ to provoke opposition or arouse prejudice.
r am not one of those who favor the preference {
i what is expcdcni for what is right. In persons
" affairs, or in public stations, the rule, that what
right is alone cxpcdicnt, may be safely adhered L
d But casting eyes upon the history OF free state
and particularly own, it can scarcely be doub
ed that what is cxpedicnt Is sometimes absolute
right also. =.e...-5. a..
As the approaching contest must end IN veal
at woe for the republic; the suggestion must nat
X rally rise in the minds Of dispassionatc men, III
err sectional predlssons and. inti~aaua' aspirat'e