Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-08-08
LrNIsuuHo, Greenbrier CO.

I9th July. 1899.
GcgHcmcn-- Yours Of the sth INST. directed 10 me
nj Richmond, WAS received by las, evenings mail
at this place.
lose time IN expressing my acknowledc-
ments o. the honor conferred me by your invita-
uon--my deep scuslhiny N the yeiy courte-
Gus and flalcIng terms ~ Which YOU have couch
ed II, aud my regret that it will not be in my pow.
cr 10 unite with YOU IN rendering the contemplated
compliment 10 your late Representative.
My acquaintance with that gentleman, during the
hIlei period that We served The State together in
Congress, impressed me with cordial feeling OF re
gard and respect for HIM. Whatever may have
been the sentiments with which he commenced his
public service, he was, am confident, too clear
sighted not to see, aud too honest aud independent
not 10 spun, thai sla,isl scuuy 10 party. aud that
cold blooded and unprnCipled despotism of party
SpfIt, which threatens Ia become the beseuing sin
and the "nhenng curse OF the country. Differing
with HIM upon q great question of government |
yet had occasion To admire the frmness and integ-
r's with which he reconced his representative fl
deity with his own personal Independence
The general tone Of yonr letter leads me TO some
reflections OF congenIal nature, in which hope
you will indulge me. hesitate not to say that the
influence 81 panty IN the violent aud despoic spirit
winch II has been already exerted, and is likely TO
be- fear, sui further manifested Is utterly incon-
sstent with, and destructive Of The very essence of
republican government.
nv iihbth hl Tue Capacity oil man IOt Spli-pOy-
eminent can be no bettcr illustrated, where political
opinion IS under the control Of a few selfish and self
constituted parry leaders than where Is submissive
to the arbitrary will Of an hereditary monarch. The
lolms OF Tree government may still continue but its
hle and spitt aie gone, when whole bodies of public
men, under the binding influence of party zeal o,
~ submission TO the recognized obligations OF party
allegiance, ct only embrace with leivor, but estab.
lis AS tests OF political orthodoxy, the very measures
and principles which little while before they had
ltepud'aed aud denounced the worst of heresies-
aud when eh-operauon WITH and fidelity To n par
~ IS olefedby Representative. aud shall be received
b. Inc people, as an all sufficient apology and iust
hcauon for every disregard OF popular sentiment
every error oil political opinion, aud every sacrifice o
: he public interests.
II ans party in power can bring to its support il
addition to its patronage, IT'S Establishments and il
cajoleiies-ihe crowning influence Of unhcsitatinc
aud INSCRIPTIONS party aulesion elevated into 20
ltical virue-iiS authority and lrresponsib!y mus
become as absolute as that ofa King "who can C
no wrong"
No less fatally pernicious, in my estimation
would be the evil OF political party in opposition
banded together for the purpose OF indiscrminate
aud relentless resistance TO an existing government
and ready to sacrifice long cherished and settled
prlnclples-to resist the most sautafy measures and
10 PROSTATE and trsmple upon the most upright and
yrtuons statesmen, for the sake OF accomplishing a
mere party triumph. Political contests urged in
this spirit degenerate into struggles for the spoils
Of victory" debasing. sofdd and shvsh. Between
parties warning against each other in this temper.
where The one hand the plumber is used TO pe,
ate power and The other power is sought that the
plnncer may be enjoyed, what motive has The patti
OF aud statesman Ia rouse him into action What
matter is II under which King" we are doomed TO
anguish out a feyerish and ftetful existence! or
what concern 10 the country is II, under the DONNA
''on OF which party, il they be equally actious, e.
qnally despolc and equally unprncipled The
Vlia' sp'r't OF republican government is crushed
aud dies.
do not wish TO be understood IN these remarks 10
characterize the parties existing. and which agi.
,ss anu dlv,de tie people and the politicians am
lar from believing that have arrived at that point
oi political ruin and debasement. For however
pefn'e'ously those party and official influences
o'"n'ch you SPEAK " have operated upon the CON
duct oil our public and 10 very geat exen,np