Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-04-18
ADDRESS or VIM LUCAS, ESQ.
To tAs vossr, eJiAs s.It,e.il CO.rys.,.oa.i Dsse,

FELLOW -CirrxESs-In obedience TO the DE-
mocrstc Convention. recently held NJ MauiI.. =.
burg, am now before YOU the candidate OF the
Republican Party in this Congressional distinct !;
and avail myself Of this opportunity TO apprise
! YOU, that Il J. my intention to wait upon Won IN
due season. la he meantime. / beg leave to de-
clare my poliIlcii creed, and to express, IN the
ireest and fullest manner, my views touching the
| present ail-imPortani criSis- This course seems
/ peculiarly proper, aud indulge hope shall!
be honorsd with diSpaSsionaic hearing.
| am frank then To ayow, that belong to the
Jetcnonian School-waS bred ia the fai,h-grew
up in 1t, and have the strongest desire and hope
to 1--we and die IN It. Ia the trial. therefore, To
which am now called, 20 forth IN the strength
# those principles, uuder the Republican ban
( ner, which has heretofore iriumphed in this dis
! tfict. appeal fer support under that standard,
and under no other; and call upon only the GOOD
and troe, TO rally round it. soleufnly .pled,iny
myself, To stand IN the breach. and bear \, afoat
as lor; as one hrm and devoted Democrat re-
/ mains, willing To stand BY me. And Al the mr.
| ~ Will he united. l promise victory now a. ia
dimes past,-thc bragadceios and Qui1ot,. nou-
tishings OF Wing editors, especially, to The con-
uarr. Notwithstanding.
| The Republicans have the strength and be-
! lieye have union. | &c nothing and know of
nothing IN divide the party at Tins momenrors
crisis Our bond of union. ! should hope. IN
deed, would be now sealed aiTesh how II ever
when the news OF triumph upon triumph, from
every quarter, IS pouring in upon US. Now too,
when -e sec the same old arch enemy j. 10 the
held. The same, that vas overthrown by De-
nocraey IN $500. and IN every battle from that
day 10 tbs, save one, when bargain end intrigue
| prevailed. The very same, only rallied under
| new name, and that with only n few recruits
! Whigism Is but Federalism in disguise, and that
J n union of every sort of ISM opposed 10 Demo-
| macy. Fellow a Ar 2.
and AVOID this freedom and plainness, bat feel
should be false la my trust, my principles my
parry, and 10 myself, were | to Re beating round
| the paint for let me tell you-thc issue and on
ly issue IS, between the two great conicnding par
ties that have always divided the country am
sure, moreover, that all the Staunch and true
pre.eT this open and honest baitie-cry To the dis
homes; STatagem Of eleciioneering moun,ebanks.
| hight no false fight, and under no false coiurs
| do not hold my politics a subject OF traffic, as
some do. j stand forth n a Democrat because
! cannot, AMI VIII hot support any other than de-
mocraiic principles and INSIST that Republic
CANS should not expect 10 have their principles
carried cut, unless by men of the fuil fanh -
Halfway Democrats stop al the pinch ThcSe
things called pledges, given by INSCRIPTIONS car
didaieS 10 vote against their own sentiments and
punciP,S,ii instructed, are worth nothing on the
day OF irial. When the tug ol partv-war comes.
these p!edsing gentlemen are generally sick or
missing, or false. Such devices are used by the
pracIised, ariful eeciioneerer as tricks 10 catch
The ignorant, the unwary. the wavering; and they
ser'c as an excuse for those, who are, al heafi.
aeaius; their party, but ashamed. openly to own
It, BECAUSE restrained, perhaps, 10y narrow, sell
iSh policy.
make no pledges to The Wings 10 draw upon
me their votes. could no, carry out their wish
e. and principles. leave iiine-servinq 10 others
Nor shall speak abou, ITS "being no matter
what mans individual sentiments are, il me is
honest and will pledge himself To carry GU, our
principles aud wishes" II is not TO be believed
that representative has no conscience Of his
own. no principles of his own, and no consiitu-
uonai opinions Of ms own. am not made Of
such siuh, and thank God am not could
not think of taking scat in Congress and swear
aug 10 support the Constitution. after had been
pledged To do the will OF federalism IL pre-
tended could, say tina, 40 man ought 10 yoie.
Tor me, or rely upon any pledges might MAJ g
10 that effect. ask. II NJ all 10 be elected. 10
be elected Democrat, dyed IN the wool; AZ
Democrat who can honestly and zealonSlv car
~ out Democratic principles. You may pnt a
> horse or an accommodating politician. who be-
longs 10 any and every standard that pavs best.
IN the tread mill, for such animals have nothing
10 do but go round, and Will work if you are al
ways present TO watch and crack the whip.
But have yet 10 become a convert 10 The poll
districts, or Federal Wings to represent Demo-
cratic Districts, relying on mere words. or ink
shed ia pledges, that they will faithfully repre-
sent their constituents IN all things. when you
know, At the same time, they cannot do 40 no.
neSuy. We have too many admonishinz exam.
pies on THIS head. Nine times out Of ten We
nave seen, That when the work OF party came to
he done, these pledged gentlemen foryo. or diSre-
garded thcir pledges. The great test question
then after ell is-nOt who will pledge himself
but who - the man, who is already pledged By
his wel-knovn principles TO carry out his and
your principles.
confess, aud even nv political enemies will
admit, that am truly Of the Democratic Rspub-
lIean party. and one who never lost the faith
one Who never apostahsed. And I will add
never sought Office, and am in my present posi-
ton Without my own solicitation. That never
yet bolted-have stood firm in every conflict N
my county and district, IN the thickesi Of The bat
tie, going the whole fer principle. union and VIC
tory. NO matter who was 10 the field OF chosen 10
bear the party standard and though proud az
the commission conhded 10 me now. and grate-
i1i Tor the honor. feel prouder stiil 10 know. I
nave no sacrifice Of principle e. make. Pcrson-
ally, care hule for defeat or victory can
say, at least, and claim crcdcnce with those
vino know me beat, that 'sif - bat a secondary
consideration. My greatest solicitude arises from
the reflection. that a. the chosen candidate of nv
party, II am defeated. 70 is the cause. We
must "sink % swim" togeiher
Passing on ihcn, point a. the crisis, and ap-
peal 10 Republicans 20 look % H. The cau,@
The whole cause. IN Virgibia and throughout he
Union, Is staked and ia danger. The Struggle L
for power minor questions arr nothing.
The choice q President mas D. thrown upon
the HOUSE q Representative. and The presen,
election. N tins single district. fur augbt We
know. may settle, whether Van Buren, on CLAY
shall b elected hat j.. wheiher The Republican
oT Federal Wing party shall ruic the country.
view, therefore, The election IN tins district.
as connected. necessarily, with the great qnes-
iion uho shall BE- The next president and thaf as
involving AL other questions, which have ever
divided. and still DO divide, he two great par
tics. and Of course a. iBFolying all our prinei-
pies The present parties, 7 DO consider the
same. now. IN principle, ss they have always
beea, thoufh one has changed rs name
u The Wing party succeed. while u WI corne
~ under ~ present assumed cognomen. 10 will