Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-05-09

give aid. in the silaation in which your !
confidence bad placed me. toward taking
care oil the great interests Of the country 80
they should be affected. for gsod OF evil. |
by the policy and measures Of the exist !
ing administration. That duty ] have
sought honestly and iesrlessly to perform.
In what msnper a, has been done. is now
before You. for your deliberate and en-
lishiened judgment.
The presidsGtial election have eonsid-
cred rs matter belonging exclusively 10
the people, in their own high sovereign
capacity. In their hands. aud 10 their IN
biased iecision have been Wiling to
leaveit. ln no possible contingency, un.
der the provisions Of the constitution, could
! as one OF the SenatoIs o. the State, have
anything 20 do nth IL. On the contrary,
the Constitution expressly excludes "any
Senator or Representative from being an
e!ec,or" or President l have. therefore,
Acclaimed from taking any part in its dis
cussio1, or IN the arrangements connected
w,,h 1t. a one Of the people, l shall be
prepared when tho properhno arrives for
decision, 20 take that course which, accord
ing to all the lights then before me, shall
eonscicatiously believe the bes: interests
and the permane nj freedom and happiness
Of the country demand. la tho mean
while. l am uneom sliiied 10 any Of the
candidates. And lis precisely because
am 80 uncomn,itted. and have refused to
commit myself, thar all this storm Of de.
nrncia,ion. by which your good opinion
OF me has been sought 10 be shaken, aa,
been raised against me.
III had been willing iogive an uncon-
di,ional pledge ,ovo,- for Mr.. Van Buren, $
reelection TO tho Presidency. 20 sink or
swim With him, and TO suppod his ad.
ninistraiion, righ, or wrong, I might havs
been r. eleo;el. Without difficulty accord
ms 10 the authoritative exponcn, Of the
views Of bis party IN Virginia. 10 the
Senate of the 4. ).
But could gave: no such pledge, fellow
citizens, without bet:sying and dishcnoriag
you, a. well ms degrading myself a Rep
tesen;ative OF the sovereignty Of Virginia.
IN the highest council Of the nation. i,
seemed 10 me. should be free aud uniram-
meiied 10 assert. under all circumstances.
the sacred ,cneis ofherpo.iiical faith. lie
should s there the vigilant sentinel Of her
| rights. the faithful guardian other interests,
tho fearless champion OF her principles,
and no. msDscled beforehand by pledges
OF 6OUEdGy th!enigrSS TO DO the bidding OF
Executive power. | have always been
wiling 10 render and have rendered a
candid and honest supper, TO such Of the
measures OF the administration as appeare d
20 me consistent with Republican prinoi.
Pies and the true interests OF tho country:
but those OF an opposite character, have
'elt myself called on. by every considefa.
ton OF honor and patriotism. 10 resist 10
the utmost OF my ability. Every reflect
ing mind must have observed. with pain.
lul anxiety. the rapid growth of Execu-
tive influence, within the last few years.
sustained by system OF purity discipiins.
aud Of organised denwHciriion through he
Press, such as have never existed. in an Y
other country pretending to freedom. un
der the sun.-li At shall be permitted to
continue, 1t RUS; bring every other De.
par,meni of the government, and the
people and the States themselves, 10 the
fee, OF Executive power. and finals ex-
unguish every sentiment Of independence
and public virtue in the land. /; is fol
the people themselves 10 say whether this
shall be. ltis much more their cause than
that OF any individual, who may have
been tingled out Us the victim, whose
blood is 10 cement :h!a gloomy fabric oil
party despo,ism and tyranny. For N.Y..
sell. humble rs am. feel iha. nv own
fate is in this instance indis.oiubly bound
10 that OF the free institutions Of my coun
try; and il II am 10 fall victim TO power,
the cause OF liberty and truth will fall
with me, aud he, who is buried in their
ruins. Is happier lar than he Who survive.
them" WM. g. RiVES.
CaSlle-Iiil. Altemarc Co, March 18th. go