Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-05-27
Racpalannock CO. Hense. Manl5. 1899.

Messrs. Robert Camm and Others, Committee &c.
Genemen--I received by the mail OF Today,
your letter oil the 9th ns ant. inviting mf, " on be
half of large number of gour fellow citizens par
take oil public dinner al Amherst CuuI House, on
he 20Ih inst gwen tn our late distinguished Sena-
tor the Hon. Vim. G. Riycs.n
Iregrct exceedingly, that my private and profess
sioaa engagements such, rs to deprive me OF The
pleasure ofbeng with you, on that occassnn. Con
curing as do with the great body OF the Wing
"a ~. in all portions Of tbe United States IN a most
cordial appreciation Of the character, and, through
out far the greater part 81 his distinguished career
pi the services o your illusous guest. shuu ld be
most willnr on all proper uccaS DusO unite in suit
able manifestations OF that sentiment. But public
duty with personal feeling al this partlcnar
Juuctulc, To give peculiar intensity TO that ncllna-
non.
The position Of Mr.. Rives, and of those who acted
with hi daring tie late and preceding sessions OF
Congress, one oismolound interest 10 all men,
whose patriotism IS ct sUlt that recognizes higher
allegiance 10 country than 10 purity. II We were
simply called on to decide whslher these individual
citizens shall heHcetuth be eAiled from the public
confidence and from public tnst, might await the
verdict OF our country men, without very painful so
hcItnde as To What that verdict might bebecause it
might be, elter The one way or the other. without
ANY very important detfmeut the general interests
OF the Republic. II the public mind be IN so dis
tempered doudion,as to decree the ostl aeism the
Conservative party great as that party undoubtedly
u.s. III III tasl Tue ana CDUSaucy OF us mem
bers.) we coudyet console ourselves with the reflec
ton. HAT we lave men enough to perform those
high functions for which they have, so honorably to
the nselves exhibited their qualifications.
The great question now actually depending. Is Of
far more important and comprehensive character
The gentleman whom you propose to honor, has
offended men IN power, IN hls-hat, being called
10 decide between the ascortaued and undoubtcd
will oil his constituents on the one hand, and the
conflicting opinion OF u.eSc men the other he
hls chosen cary ont the principle Of representa-
tatlye responsibility to the constituent body-and
has done so the more readily and ably. finding
himself IN sn pol OF measures To which net only he
and his constituents, but these very same men, up
10 the date Of his offence. ploiessed common and
decided attachment.
lie has had the spirit and the honesty to render
this evidence # leprcsertage fidelity and personal
integrity, amidst scandaous and disgusting scene
Of general detection AMI recreancy, on the part OF
great number of those, with whom he had been
heretofore politically associated-and the consc-
qncLee mas naturally enough occurred, that the poll
tcans and presses, which but Yesterday regarded
or prote sed 10 regard, Mr.. ives not only one Of
t"e nest accomplished statesmen OF tie aae, hut as
man pre- ea.incnty qualified for the very highest
station in the Conledoracy are 0undtoday, evident
~ in that spirt VIII ch makes " one renCea8c leorse
than len Turks" to turn upon him, with lerocy
which tilds, in the enlarged capacity Of our Ian
guage, no terms OF yItuperaon, sufficiently express
slyc, TO convey the full extent ofthcir mccarthy ha-
red.
Through all their neither PAID or to be
p1ld-whethcr papers or pctsonS,-inPy call upon
Inc laHhtHl tard none of the lalhiu but they
Who "Grc prepa6G 10 SjhE or Sitinl 9th Martin
an BarcR, } to come orhto the sacrifice of your
guest aud his friends. They insist that on the single
ISSUE OF " hireS or BircS the election shall turn
Aud they persist in pressing this, the exclusion Of
All other tests, with pertIuacIIy which compels us
10 uoubt whether they rely most confidently on the |
uhhoslallng ohedenLe OF their own, or the fully mr.
ueachety oil eur party For surely they at least
must regard Us aslalSe to our own professions or |
sIy 10 the last degree, ilthey expect us to unite
WIN mem III so uua0ly Warfare. They are aware
tat we have som cause Of resentment against the
gentlemen who are now upon their tral but they
have certainly formed m extraordinary estimate Of
our c"hI@ciet, Iithey suppose are animated BY
sPf' "hIch constitutes the repIoach Of the most
saN'Se, state OF human eXistence.-dnd which could
only be expected 10 display itself, among MeR
Nheh actually surrounding the stake, aud excited
ny 'ie aillIcla stImuIauts prepared for The torture
ms issue IS forced upon US. We have no al
tentative The election just al hand must decide
$50 Lar as single election may declde) whether
senators ~ Congress the Representa- of The
StMes ana the people-bound to reflect then senti-
hchls give ELECT to their wishes and defence and
pfoeehonto tier nstitutiuus-or are to consider
themselves as the mere agents and adiuncts of the
edeIal hxeentive-appolncd 10 sustain Execu.
Hsess views, AMI to record Executive mandates
lhfh ict us, as men and iIeemon. meet il Mt ont,
-'Hd IT, ~ the huny and excitement Of the occa-