South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-03-14

SOA huu lGuCElCA &/UQusiSEs
FelIoso Citizens
AT meetings held in the fall in all
the counties Of the district, composed,
| presume, almos. exclusively, of cti-
zens opposed to the present Admins.
tration, delegates were elected to meet
at a central point for the purpose of
selecting, and offering to the conside-
ration Of the people, candidate for
Congress.
The convention formed of these del
egates conferred on me the high dis
tinction of an unanimous nomination.
| assen,ed TO the nomination with I'M
feigned reluctance not only because
| deemed it highly probable that the
election might be made to turn 90 the
hackneyed and worn-out party ques-
tons ofthe day; on many Of which ]
differ in opinion with the majority of
the electoral body, but because fell a
decided disiaste, amounting almost TO
aversion, not only for public life, as it
is called, but for the turmoil and ex-
ci!ement of a contested election termin-
ate how il might.
deemed IL my duty, however, to
waive these and other weighty consid-
erations, and to accept the nomination
by which | felt SO highly honored.
Blu. my acceptance was preceded
by suggestion, that, as it would be
wholly on! of my power, for various
reasons, to ride through the district
and communicate in person to the cleo.
tors my views and opinions, it would
be better to select candidate who
would be able to pay to the people tha!
customary tribute of respect. The sug.
gestion was overfuled and | was no,
minated with the express understand.
ing that 1 was not expected to ride
through and canvass the district. 1t
is new experiment, fellow ciliztns,
and, like most new experiments, il will
probably fail. Time will shew.
The press being thus the only medi.
um Of communication left me, avail
myself Of its aid to state to you frankly
and boldly, the grounds on which
think | have right to ask, equally
with my respectable opponent, the suf.
frages of honest and patriotic men of
every party in the district.
When ] was nominated in Novem-
Der, no pledge was asked or given as
to the political course should pursue
in the event of my election. But am
persuaded that the respectable citizens
who nominated me did not expect me
to act the part Of political partisan.
They knew that l had stood aloof, in
great degree, from the bitter poiti.
cal feuds of the last few years-fauds
in which political principles we're so lit
tie involved that the parties were de-
signated by the names of the men they
supported. 1t is true that they knew,
also, that in these latter times, when
the lines between the parties came
again TO be drawn with references to
great questions Of public policy and
constitutional law, was, on many OF
these questions, decidedly opposed to
the present Administration. But hope
they did me the justice to believe that,
if elected, would look with single
eye to the welfare of the country and
the preservation Of its political institu.
lions, and that my opposition to, or
support Of men, would be exclusively
governed by reference to those para
mount considerations.
have already limited to you that |
considered most Of the party questions
ofihe day hackneyed, WORKOUT, and
over discussed. l shall therefore not
weary you by stating my opinions on
the past and executed measures Of the
present administration. | see no good
and much evil 10 the continued discuss.
ion of those measures. A recorded
protest has accompanied or followed
each act of real or supposed usurpa-
ton of unconstitutional power, and the
people will be more competent to pass
toal sentence on them when the fe.
ver-heat Of party shall have subsidized.
My reason for thinking that con-
tinued discussion of the vexed party
questions Of the last few years, at pre-
sent, would produce more evil than
good, is simply this. 1t is my cool,
deliberate, and settled opinion that the
free Institutions Of the country are in
danger from the operation of causes
now in full and powerful action. 1t is
my opinion, also, that the continued
operation Of those causes is SO power.
fully sustained by great combination
of interests ia the Country. that their