The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-30
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

! Fellow CITIZENS - Al the moment of passing from
your service in the honorable and responsible station
in which your confidence has twice placed me, 10
the quiet and not unwecome scenes Of private life,
| | find myself pursued with violence Of dennncia-
tion and bitterness OF obloquy, which allow me
no choice but 10 appeal in defence OF The character
which party prescription may still have lef me, TO
the sober and candid judgment of my counrymen.
Ills now twenty-five years since first entered into The
service Of the State which gave me binh as repre-
sentative OF the people and from tina, period this
with hardly an interval, my time and faculties such
they are have been devoted To the public service
Humble as my exertons for the general veal, dur
ing that long period, may have been, and far short
as they have undoubtedly fallen OF my own Wishes.
have yet fatlered myself that the zeal and good
tenliops, which accompanied them, had earned for
me some share Of the esteem and regard OF my fell
low-citiZens. have sought and now seek, no other
reward. Office have never coveted, but, on the
contrary, have often declined or relinqushed, and
hold as nothing when put in the balance against an
honest fame, and the respect OF virtuous and en-
lighened people. But to these, the most precious pos
session Of life spent in The public service, confess
am not nsensble; and cannot consent to surrender
them TO the merciless prescription of party without
effort at least TO dsabuse the minds OF my fellow
| citizens. %
Ever since have felt II my duty TO the country
under the solemn convictions of my understanding,
10 oppose favorile Of the administration,
which Tbeleved and still believe 10 be raught with
the gravest dangers TO The public liberty and happi-
ness have been the object OF deep political resent
ment, and occasionally OF fierce and bitter denuncia-
ton. But within the last three or Tour monhs, the
storm OF denunciaiion has gathered new force, and
been directed with unsparing fury against me. Dur
| ing thai period the Robesperrean Press at Wash
ington, under the immediate control Of the admins
raiion has daily exerted all its daboical resources
of ialsehood and defamation to blacken my charac-
Ter, assal my motives, and misrepresent my conduct.
/ II has rnlled from its vocabulary of abuse all its
most hacknied terms Of political vInperation, such
federai renegade, descrter traitor and by attach
ing them TO my name, has sought to make il the
object of general odium and Ieprobaton. Al the
same time, the partisans OF the administration of
every grade, in and out Of Congress, have been
taught that they could render no homage more
cepable to power, than TO discharge each one, his
poisoned shaft at me. The whole pack, "the little
dogs and all, Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart !" have
all been let loose, and barked on in this general
"hunt of obloquy" against me. And last though not
least, the most ancient and powerful Press Of our
own State, lately agreeing with me too: in my con-
! demnaon OF the leading and test MEASURE of the
administration, bur determined, at all hazards TO
"sink swim with the men of ii, after many salu-
tatons OF art thou in health, my brother" accom-
panyirg The point of its dagger, has, at length open
ly proclaimed the Of It's pary in the coming
elections TO be "Rives or mo Rives" The whole
power and influence of the Executive thus com
bned 10 pursue me, would seem, to total annhiia-
| tion
What crime have perpetrated, fellow-citizens,
what heinous offence have l committed TO have
drawn down upon me all this fierce and unrelenting
hostility Have l misrepresenied the sentiments
and opinions, or betrayed the interests Of my State
II will not be pretended 1t Is notorious thai large
majority of the people of Virginia, well of her
representatives in the Legislature OF the State
firmly and decidedly opposed to that measure of the
administration, which have felt il my duty TO resist
| 10 the best of my ability.
| Have departed from any principle have here
tofore heldl Have abandoned any tenet OF the
political faith have professed, The old Republican
creed of Virginia7 lchallenge the most searching
and vindlctive scrutiny to point out solitary in
Ell nnnFS nrh dana rfttrs ph.nl nrt
contrary, the complaint against is that have
adhered loo sternly TO my principles, which were but
recently the protested principles of the entire party
/ OF the adminiSraton--ihat have not changed with
the parfy--tha have not been willing TO surrender
the settled convictions of my understanding together
| with the well known sentiments Of my constituents,
10 the mandates of party discipline and the influences
| of official power. The head and front oil my Of
| Tending hath this exfent-no more"
To account for this mpol,tic sternness Of princi-
pie men, incapable Of approaching other motives of
action, have insinuated that have private griejs
against the President and that have b;en infiuenc-
| ed by ambition. These charges force me 10 depart
from delicacy which have heretofore prescribed
to myself in speaking OF certain transactions, which
| were however known to others al The time Of their
occurrence and have thus become already partially
known to the public. SO far from having pirate
grieE against the President, there has been every
thing IN my personal relations with him 10 halter
and to crafty me- il | were capable Of being infu-
enced by such considerations in the discharge of my
| puDiic uu'es' iheTe was noiniDg IN the WaV mat
official advancement, which could have expected
or desired, that was not, not merely offered, but
pressed upon me, IN the most earnest and hatlering
manner by the President at the first moment OF or
ganizng his administration. preferred the service
| OF nv State where her confidence had placed me- to
any Executive station, and hese offers however fat
tering, were respectfully declined.
| In regard to ambition, IL ! had ever entertained
| The lofty aspirations which have becn gratuitouSIy
aScrbsd 10 me BY some, aud were capable of weigh
ing Tor moment, the paltry interests of that amb-
ton against the great interests Of my country how
could have more effectually promoted its selfish
aims, than BY continuing to act with the numerous