Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-05-02
To the Citizens Of AUGUSTA 8. Rockbr idgc.

number of my fellow citizens, have per-
mitteI my name 10 he placed in nomination
for the representation Of your Senatorial dis
trict in the General Assembly Of the State.
And seize this ea.tiest opportunity OF calls
ing your attention, in a ie.v hasty lines, To
the position which have held and still hold
as "a Politician.
To the citizens Of Augusta, l hAt.er my
sell. that need make no explanations olmy
Political opinions. During the period Of e.
leveh years that have resided among them,
l have taken an active part in most, il not
all, of the movements of the People OF the
County-On all such occasions, my senti.
nents, duly weighed, have been expressed
freely aud frankly, and my conduct has been
obvious, undsgused, and decided. In all
public meetings and all county enterprises
which have had IN view either the general
welfare OF our common country, or The par
ticu!ar advantage, whether in interest or in
hnnor, OF the county Of Augusta, have in
variably taken "A part, and often prominent
and Luxurious part, unless prevented by ac
cidcnlal absence or indisposiIion.
On the subject OF general politics. mean
the principles on which the Federal Govern
mont should De administered, and the conduct
ni our Federal agents, as well as the doc
,rines o! political economy aud domestic
policy which should regulate our State legis-
ialion, they know me we'll. Having serv>
ed them during three sessions as their Dele
gate in the General Assembly, in times OF
high party excitement, and al period when
the domestic policy Of the State in meas
ure first began to assume decided and per.
manenl tendency, my opinions on the subject
are on record-aLd flatter myself moreover,
that these opinions are so permanently iden-
iIhed with the vel. known convictions of our
People. and so inseperabfy united with the
rest interests pl the county, that they are
not now, and never will be disapproved of
by them. In reference 10 the peculiar To-
Cal measures OF the county, such as the Val
ley railroad, the Valley turnpike-the rail
road over the Blue ridge, the western im-
provemens, and all other county measures
OF Improvement, my bitierest enemy Git
have one in the couniy,) must, am sure,
admit that | have taken an active, and as fas
as my ability permitted AN efficient part.
But TO you, Fellow Citizens Of the county
ofRockbridge, l must presume that my poiili~
Cal opinions and conduct are not known
For, with The exception of a few individuals
among you, / am personally an entire siran-
ger 20 you. My pursuits as retired farm
er Tor the last SIX or seven years, have cons
fined me, unless when called out by public
duty, TO the narrow circle of my domestic
afiairs--and my career as public man has
been TOO obscure to have attracted your at
tcnlion. am deeply sensible, therefore, Of
the disadvantage under which appear be-
fore you as o candidate for the Senate. am
fully aware that, that confidence which
ought to exist under our institutions ,betw cen
the Constituent and the Representative,
should be, 10 a very considerable extent, the
result OF personal acquaintance and Of friend
Iy feeling. III is natural for us 10 desire TO
know and 10 esteem the personal qualities vi
the man, to whom we are called upon 10 com.
mil the guardianship o! our highest interests,
and IN some measure, our characters for pat
riotism and Intelligence. To meet this diff
hculiy, can only refer you 10 those among
you who have had some opportunity ok know
ing me, and abide The w ard which their lib
crafty may dictate. In respect TO my pos
li,ical character, ] might refer you TO my
course as q Delegate from this county du-
ring the sessions Of 1884 35-aud 1885,
IN which have every reason 10 believe that
truly represented the people Of Augusta,
whose political sentiments you ak know
You would find that during those eventual
and exciting sessions my course was precise
y-i wrile from memory-tbat OF your ow n
Delegates 10 The last ment toned session On
Federal Politics am a Wing. | approved
generally Of those principles Of institution.
oil construction and administrative policy
which characterized The Administrations Of
James Monroe and John Q Adams was
during the administration Of The latter that
my political opinions were first formed. II
was The continuation, in principle, as ] be-
iieyed, OF The administration OF Mr.. Monroe.
which wss the most popular ever known 10
this country. IL was economical. cautious
and conciiia'ory-It was essentially Repub-
HcaD--and when after committees Of reform
had freely Investigated its imputed corrup.
lions, without detecting single fault which
'mpugned its integrity, and when i, bad been