Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-07-02
eREAr cpo.sIxe,. Oh r-xr Ie3s

GREAT eSo.sINes, 9th JUNE, 1885.
Gentlemen | have had the honor 10
receive your letter informing me that
] have been nominated by the recent
Republican Convention at Baltimore.
as candidate for the Office of Vice
President.
For this expression Of confidence
from the Republican party Of the u
mon, ] have not language to express
my gratitude. For the exalted talents.
pure character and sound principles
of the gentleman, whose name was
brought in competition with mine, no
man can have higher respect than
myself; and had he been preferred by
the Convention, il would have afforded
me the highest pleasure 10 give him
my cordial support. To my greater
age and longer public service, and not
TO superior qualifications, can attribute
the preference Of the Convention; and
if any injury should accrue to the Re-
publican cause from that preference,
no man will deplore il more than my
SELF As, however, the Convention
were undoubtedly better qualified to
judge on that point, than one or few
individuals possibly can be, I have but
to accept the proffered nomination, and
resign myselfto the will of the people,
as Il may be expressed at the polls
The qualification ! feel at the honor
done me is not unmingled with regret;
regret, arisingn not from the preference
OF another by a portion Of the Con-
vention, but from the error under
which they appear to have labored in
relation to my political principles. I
do not know myself, if my principles
do not accord with those Of Thomas
jefferson, the Patriarch of Republica-
nism and his disciples who constituted
The late Convention. During almost
the whole period comprised in the adj
ministrations OF Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe, was member of Congress
and gave them my cordial support
From the earliest moment, uniformly
acted with the Republican party found
ed on the principles asserted by Va.
in l79e, and never withheld my sup
port on any occasion, from either Of
the distinguished men, who in sue
eession became the representatives of
these principles at the head Of the Co
vernment, save only in the struggle of
1914. 'l5. and 'l6, for the establish
ment Of National Bank. President
Madison then, and many Of nv Re-
publican associates in Congress, who
concuned with me in principle, felt
themselves constrained to Weld ND
their objections to what they consider
ed the highest law-public necessity.
i continued to believe the remedy worse
than the disease. I had voted against
the re-charter Of the old Bank of the
United States, in 1911, from a convic-
ton Of its dangerous tendencies as
well as its unconstitutionality. Upon
the same grounds felt constrained to
vote against the establishment Of the
present Bank in 1916, although advo-
Gated by the Administration 10 which I
was attached. voted against the
bill 10 re-charter thiI Bank in ls32.-
In 1884, | voted for Mr.. Folks REQ
luton, declaring, that the Bank Of the
United States ought not to be re-char-
cred, and defended the Presidents
measure in regard to the removal Of
the Public DepoSiies, at every point at
which II was assailed, with a view 20
sever the connection between the Co
yernment and the Bank, and to make
sure Of final deliyerance from the In
stitution. Indeed, ] have never wa
vered IN my opinion against It's consti-
tutiOnality and have never seen the
moment when ] would have given my
vote for any similar institution can
not conceive how the opinion got a.
broad that was in favor Of the Back
or Of any such unconstitutional monop-
oily, unless Il be from the Circumstance,
that did not, with the aFdor Of young
er politicians, pledge myself against
every possible substitute for the present
Bank.--General jackson, in one Of his
annual messages, suggested the out
line Of q substitute without Slockhol-
deEs OF power 10 make loans, a. un-
derstood H. and in his veto message.
he declared that he could have furnish
ed q plan which would not be liable
to eOnstitutOnal objections. Many Of
his friends believed ihai Il would be
absolutely necessary 10 have some sub
stitute, and suggested q variety Of
schemes. To all these ! listened,
without giving my assent 10 any, and
never fog q moment did ! harbour q
thought Of proposing or supporting any
one, except IN the event Of a failure
IN TIE experiment 10 use the State
Banks; and then only such q scheme
e should be entirely free from consti-
tus,onal objections, and have The ap-
probatioa Of the Administration and
u's Republican party.
ne recent developements q the
PCser Of doing misrhief possessed BY
. Natoaal Beah. and tke unooass.1.