Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-12-19
WEDNESDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 10 1s:ss

/ practlble to adopt some means by which
the success OF the Administration candid
ate could be prevented from being plausi.
bly, interpreted into an expression of APP
| probation of a measure which was per-
suaded, from the proceedings of her Leg.
isature, that ancient Republican State
did not approve; but il no such means
should be found, it would then become a
matter ofgrave consideration for the Con-
servailves ofPennsyiyenia, whether they
! could conscientonsly bestow their votes
so as to be instrumental in fastening upon
the country scheme which they belle.
we'd to be ruinous TO its prosperity, and
dangerous to its free Institutions. This
was question, added, which the Con-
servatives OF Pennsylvania themselves
were alone competent TO decide. re.
faoaStrated against no course they should
think 1t proper to pursue, but expressed
my conviction that their determination,
whatever it might be, would be guided by
patriotism and wisdom.
have no copy Of my letter; but that
this is a correct statement Of its general
tenor and spirit feel perfectly sure. I
was guilty of no interference with the
Pennsylvania election, as charged by your
correspondent. My letter was not obtru-
ded, but was in answer to one had recei,
we'd. 1t was strictly private letter, not
designed for public use or for political eff.
feet. 1t was simply an interchange OF
opinion with friend in the freedom OF
private correspondence on matter of
general speculation and interest and I'M
less your correspondent means to inter.
dict all liberty of epistolary communica-
ton, | think he can hardly consider me
as having abused SO humble and cusioma.
ry a privilege on this occasion.
An attempt, however, is now made to
connect the question Of Abolition with the
Pennsylvania election. | will venture to
asser; that hardly man out ofthe State
of Pennsylvania, and but few, if any,
within it, ever dreamed of any other issue
being involved in the contest there than
that which had been joined on the great
political question Of the day. What evil
dence was there that the Administration
candidate, highly respectable as he I'M
doubtedly is, thought differently from bis
competitor on the subject of slavery7 II
he had made any public declaration Of bis
sentiments on that question, or if there
was any other evidence Of what his senti-
ments are upon it, | have never seen or
heard Of them. We have seen recently
IN many instances-as, for example, in
the States Of Ohio and Massachusetts, &C
cording to statements contained in late
numbers your paper-that some Of the
candidates for Office of the Administration
party have expressed sentiments as heret-
ical and dangerous in regard TO the instI-
tutons and rights ofthc South as those at
tributed to the candidates Of the opposite
party.
1t is vain, then to endeayor to subdue
tho freedom ofopinion in the South, or to
curb its expression on the great prnci.
plies of civil and political liberty involved
in the measures and administrative policy
of the Government, by parading before
our eyes the gorgon terrors of Abolition.
J ism. We will defend our domestic insti.
tutlons and the peace ofour fresides when.
ever or wherever they are threatened, at
every hazard, and to the last extremity
but we are no less determined, | trust, to
guard the political institutions we have in
! herited from our ancestors, and which are
the guaranty Of our common liberties,
against the dangers which menace them
from whatever quarter those dangers may
proceed.
Very respectfully, your
most obedient servant,
w. G. RlVES.
Albemarle Co., Nov. %, 1898.
/ From the Baltimore Patriot Of December 10
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