Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-09-12
POI.
LETTER OF -. y. rRENTuss, OF u,.-,..,,,,.
Accepting TIE nomination Of Senator.
N1CksouNe. Angnsi 10. 1890.

N1ohsouHo, August 10. 1899.
Gentlemen II have been honofed by the reee,p,
OF your letter OF the 29h Of June transmitting 10
me copy of the proceedings of the Wings OF Madi-
son county, ut public meeting held by them "lor
! the purpose Of recommending a candidate 10 sue
reed The Hon. K. J. Walker IN the Senate of the
/ United States"
My own nomlnaton for tina, office of high honor
ana trust was entirely unexpected, aud graft
he'd and peIplexed me. | am not nsensbe 10 that
ambition which seeks the good opinion of others
aud Is grafedby its exhibition. even when coored
by Kind partialit, and friendly prejudice. Thai the
"hieso Madison deem me worthy OF occupying \
seat IN the highest debefati,e body earth. has
not Jailed 10 awaken the n,os grateful emotions.
But WIS pctplexed as To the course proper Ion me
10 pursue. had never INDUCED the vanity Of sup
posing thai my services could be al sufficient mpof
lance 10 require my continuance III political life
any longer than my inellnaons prompted Ac-
eofdlne'y, alter mature reelection. had lung since
determined 10 abandon. nj The earliest oppoitunty
al participation. except rs "A private ezen III pc
llhcal alia'is; III Tie contests OF which, even my
limited observation had discovered imbeelliiy too
frequently pass Tor capacity. hypocrisy Tor eandor
aud cold hearted seshness Tor ardent and d'sntel-
ested patriotism. Political science has become iof
the most part, the science OF deception. MOI only
nie The dictates ot reason experience set M naught
but facts themselves arc dehed. PHI, siea truths no
less than moral which have Tor ages been consider
ed lmpfe enable lall like beltaguefed cities before
the cunning devices ol modern political warfare.
The maueoenm oi history affords protection Ion
Tie remains o the past. Political sorccry evokcs
iiom them foul spllls which never aetuaed or con
uolied iheIf eNlstence-hnd the events ni n former
aye are compelled 10 bear ialse witness before the
present. What happened ,esttrda, is denied to-
day aud plain, modest truth is stared oui of eoun-
tehanee by andaclons mendacy. The conclusion,
therefore, Is not 10 be wondered nj, that III these
dark aud corrupt times, private happiness and pub
lie service are Incompatible.
TO abandon my cherished and rapidly maturing
plans OF future HE and amonished me OF the iash
ness oi again plnnglng among the wild breakers OF
public opinion where the barquo thai straight
forward almost To be swamped, whllo the tack
lne and veellng ca by adopting lisll 10 each sudden
change OF wind aud wave gains tie pofl III eaiely.
On the other hand could not forget the gatious
which bud me In beloved Stalc-ohligntlons
that shall never call upon me ID vain, when they
point out mode BY which can liquldae any IIor+
ton OF the heavy claim Mississippi Justly holds n
gansl me. Neither WIS regardless OF the gfail-
tade dur 10 the Wigs FOR the bold. unfing and
successful warfare Which they have wlged against
The patly III power pnrty under the baneiul in
lnence OF whose destructive thrnlirs and corrupt
practices The prosperity OF tins great nation has
"itheted aud died. Above all. remembered with
pride and exualion that The Wings Of Mississippi
had preserved the honor OF The State. when The op-
roslle party, Esau like, was biiranng II away lofa
mess OF political poilage. They. and they alone
are entltled 10 The immortal praise al having wnidcd
of the FIRST tralotons blow AIMED ut The elective
franchise. Was beneath then sietn response that
tie sefsIe tools oi The President shrunk abashed,
aud II was> unpn then mandate they surrendered
the rich jewel they had stolen.
Me the Wings have already honofed fu beyond
my humble deserts, and IN ,etlrlng from political
contests did not doubt that should be succeeded
by Those WHO would with eqna. zeal and amplet
capacity, Gghl the great battle ol principle
hesaied, therefore, nleeeRlng your eomhu=
ncatlon, mol hom any question ol my duly IN sac
riicing private and personal considerations TO the
success oi The good cause, bni from ieais lest The
pafilaIlties of my fnends Madison had betrayed
them into an inlndcluus selection. From the sub
sequenl action OF lhe Wings IN other Parts oil the
State however, ! have been lorced To the conclu-
sIon, that whether udclously or not they he desi-
rons OF placing in nomination. Beng convlnc-
ed Of the fact from proceedings OF various public
meetings as well ~ the general expression Of the
wing press, | do not hesitate any longer IN placing
myself in The hands OF our political friends. with the
distinct understanding, that lnasmueh as acecde
to their wishes not from soiives ii personal aggihn
dzement, but from sincere desire 10 do my dnly TO
the country so my name shall nj once be Withdrawn
from nomination, should subsequent observation III
dcate, as IL very probably will, some more arpropi-
candidate.
The reasonable license Of an episte will hardly
admit OF an extended exposition OF political doctrines,
nor indeed do ] consider II the most desirable
channel i5f their incubation. Neither do | deem
requisite for me. on the present occasion, 10 60
into any lahored dsqulsition upon subjects winch
have had the good fortune To discuss before TIE
people large ~ almost every county oil the state
| need only say thai my opinions Ia relation 10 INC
present administration and It's measures have oeeh
greatly fortified by The observation and experience
Of the last year. The developments winch have
been made IN relation 10 the conduct OF the ihahe,d'
affairs OF tie government have astonshed and shock
ed tie whole nation. II Is now matter mol "i
mere surnise uf partisan ngeclye but oil solemn ne
monstrallon based upon admitted aud undenable
facts investigated, yonohed Tor aud published under
the deliberate sanction OF The popular branch oil
Congress that the Treasury department Is rotten to
the core; that il is but the pander TO exec
utve power, and exercises IFS high functions
not Tor the good Of the country, but OF patty ~,
honestly, for the general welfare, but wiekedly anu
corrupty for the most sinister purposes. Since
Mr. Van Buren, asceuded the clair OF state, II haH
exhibited system of pecultion and connivance nn-
prccedenred in any pHernmenl. The cotrespon-
deuce between its chief aud his subofdinaies - oil
iensive 10 The moral sense. and insulting 10 The intel
lincnce of the people. Its open and unbusi1ing
profligcay would have shocked even the loose no
lions OF thai most yena oil ministers, Sir Robert
Walpole whose political ma Am was, ~ that every
man has his ptce." Corruption has been traced,
not merely to the doors, but INTO the very rccesses
of the temple. BY the foot prints upon The floor we
j have discovered, as did The Ch11eans OF old thai
The rich offerings lid by The people upon the shrine,
have been carried away aud consumed, not by the
god. bui by the Juggling priests
Under ordinary Circumstances, and IN ordinary
/ times the developments TO which allude would
have Frustrated any administration however power
full Unforunatel, tie deep distress which has per
vadod the country, and spread dismay and ruiz
through all the avenues of business. has IN some lie