Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-06-29
GnrAr CRosSrNos, 9th .lunt


GREAT GHosSlNGs, 9th june, 1873.
Gentlemen have had the honor to receive
your letter informing me that have been nom-
mated by the recent Republican Convention nj
Baltimore, ms a candidate for the office of \ ice
President.
For this expression Of confidence from the Re
publican party OF the lnio", | have not LANGUAGE
To express my gratitude. For the exalted talents,
pure character and sound principles of the gentle
man, whose name was BROUGHT in competition with
mine, no man can have higher respect tanmy
self and had he been preferred by the ConNen-
ton, it would have afforded me the highest plea
sure to have given him my cordial support. To
my greater age and longer public service, and not
to superior qualifications, can attribute ihe pre-
ference of the Convention and il any injury
should accrue to the Republican from thu,
preference, no man will dcplore it more than my
self Is, however, the Convention were undoubt-
cdlv better qualified 10 iudrc on that point than
one or II few individuals possibly can be, have
but To accept the proilered nomination, and resien
myscfto the will ofthe people rs it may beeN-
pressed nj the polls.-'rhc qualification feel n the
honor done me is not nnmnglcd with regret, AIRS
my NOT from the preference of another by n por-
ton of the Conventions but from the error under
which they appear TO have labored in relation Ia
my political principles. do not know myself, il
my principles do not accord with thosr of Ihomls
Jefferson, the Patriarch ofRcpuhranism, and his
disciples, who constituted the late Convention.
During almost the whole period comprised in
the Administrations of Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe, was a member of Congress aud aayc
them my cordial Snpport.-f rom the earliest mo-
mcnt, uniformly acted with the Republican party
founded ON the principles asserted hy virginia IN
1908, and never withheld my support on any oc-
casion from either olthc distinguished men, who,
in succession became the representative of these
principles Al the head of the Government, save
only in the struggle OF 1914, Is, and 10, for the
establishment of "A National Bank. President
Madison then, and many otmy Republican assooi
atcS in Congress, who concurrcd with me in prin-
ciplc, felt themselves constrained to Weld up
their objections to what they considered the
highest aw--pubc necessity. ! continued II be
lcvc the remedy worse than the disease had
voted against the rc-chartcr of the old Bank of the
United States, in Isl /, from ii conviction oil its
dangerous tendencies rs well rs lis demonstrations
aIitv. Upon the same grounds ! felt constrained
TO vote against the establishment of the present
Bank in 1916, although advocated by the tImin-
stralion To which was attached. voted AGAINST
the bill Ia re charter this Bank in 1872. In 1851
voted for Mr.. Polk's resolution, declaring, thai
the Bank of the United States enelt not 10 he re-
chartered, and defended the President measure
IN regard To the removal of the Public Dcpo>ilcs,
at every point at which it was asSailrd, with Il
view to sever the connection between the Govern
ment and the Bank, and to make sure of lmal de
liycrancc from the Institution. Indeed, have ne
yer varied in my opinion against its constitutional
itv, and have never seen the moment when would
have given my vote for any similar lnNtutIon.-l
cannot conceive how the opinion got abroad that ]
was in favor of the Bank or Of any such unconstn-
tional monopoly, unless il be from the creum-
stance, that did not with the ardor Younger po-
lticianS pledge myself against every possible sub
stuc for the present Bank.-General Jackson,
in one of his annual messages, suggested the out
line OF "A substitute without stockholders or power
to make loans as understood il; and in his veto
message, he declared that he could have furnished
plan which would not be liable 10 constitutional
objections. Many of his friends believed thai it
would be absolutely necessary to have some snbsl-
tuic, and suggested variety of schemes. To all
these listened, without giving my assent to any,
and never for IA moment did llarbor "A thought OF
proposing or supporting any one, except in the
vent OF failure in the experiment to use the State
Banks and then only such a scheme a> should be
entirely free from constitutional objections, and
have the appreciation of the Administration and
the Republican party.
The recent developments of the power ofdoing
mischief possessed by National Bank, and the
uncomfortable tendency to this power to direct
the politics of the country, have satisfied me dat
no such institution should be tolerated, under any
circumstances. The facility and success with which
the public business has recently been done through
the State Banks, have, in my opinion, proved that
a National Institution is unnecessary as it is
unsafe and unconstitutional.
In relation to the Tariff, my views appear also
not to be ndcrsood.-At the close of the last war,
the general sentiment seemed to prevail among our
eminent statesmen, especially those who had sup
ported the government in that conflict, that it was
the true policy of the government so to regulate
The Tariff, as to promote the establishment of ma
nuacturcs within our borders. In this opinion,
many of the Statesmen from the South united with
those of the Middle and Western States. With
out being distinguished peculiar advocate of
the course of legislation which grew up under
these circumstances, gave il my support in pur-
sliance of public opinion. As soon, however, as
perceived the dangers which were likely 10 grow