Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-04-22
FOR TIE yiRGINIhS.
To Me people Of AmRcrst c0nnin.


To the people of amherst county,
FELLOW CITIZENS Next 10 the faithful dis.
charge OLA public trust, it is incuInben, on Repre-.
sentative OF the people to satisfy them that he
las discharged it faithfully at least, by a candid
statement OF his conduct, and The reasons for it, to en-
able them to form enlightened opinion unon for
themselves. Such is my motive in laying This address
before you. To desire the appreciation olhs fellow
men is Affecting common to ALL To d 'sire Il . appro-
baton of constituents, ofthose who have confled in
his honor. integrity and principles transact their
affairs watch over their interests and give effect TO
their opinions IN the public councils, is the first i'm
pulse OF the honest Representative as that appro-
baton, when secured is his hig and most valued
reward. claim no exemption from error nor have
the presumption to say that have erred but
! can say with "A clear conscience that have acted
10 he best OF my ability, and with exclusive eye
10 he welfare OF my constituents and the honor of
Virginia.
The attempt 10 elect Senator of the u. States
which occupied seven days, and was Intellectual, at
last, has caused strong sensation throu hou the
Commonwealth and ! shall limit this address 10
the consideration of my course on that subject
holding myself, however, in readiness to explain my
votes on all other subjects opportunity may occur
went TO Richmond, determined To elect a Wing,
il possible 10 the Senate of the u. States. To pro-
mote this object, attended three meetings of the
Wing members of the Assembly. ] soon became
convinced that Wing proper could not be elected.
The Wings were so in the two Houses. The Ad-
m'nlstrafIon and Conservative parties were Sc To
elect a Wing, aid was necessary, either from the
Conservative or the Administration party. Every
Consecutive was elected under e1press and un0aai-
jed pledges to vote for Mr.. Rives. They could not.
vote for a Wing without being recreant TO their
own honor, and false and treacheious their con-.
stltuens. Could we expect aid from the Admins
tralon paity-they, whose avowed rule ofconductis
TO sink or swim" with NJ. Van Buren! We
could not, nationally. Before the election came on
such calculation would have been absurd and in
the teeth OF the well known discipline of the Admin
lSfalon party, aud that maxim Of "snking or swim
ming with the President, which, always acting up.
on, they have recently core unblusbing'y to avow.
After the election did come on, the Administration
party, to twenty ballots or more, in succession, voted
for their candidate, Judge Mason when. finding that
Mr.. Rlves was likely to be elected, Mr. Voolfolk
one OF their leaders, nominated Mr.. Tyler with the
sole view to embarrass the Wings and defeat
Mr. Rwes. At a subsequent stage, Mr. Watkins.
another leader professed willingness to vote for
Mr. Johnson and did vote for him. with the well un
1efslood object OF alarming the Conservatives into.
The alb ndonment OF Nh. Rves. None of the rank
md file followed these leaders, except Mr.. Waite,
VINO voted once for Mr.. Johnson, thus clearly show
ng that the whole was a manuuvre of the Loco Fo-
-os designed TO accomplish tlco purposes. The
Irst TO alarm the Conservatives into voting for their
candidate, Ma on; the second to throw the blame
II defeating any election the Wings, by seeming
o ANXIOUS to make an election, to be willing even
o vote for Wing Senator. Thus | understood
t; thus more experienced politicians Than am.
understood II and thus the public at large now
mo- .iand 1t. The pretended willingness Of Mcssrs
\ atkins and Voolfolk to elect Wing. was mere
Iece.o management to turn the flank Of the Wings,
nd elect Mason, make the Wings bear the re-
possibility OF leaving Virginia for nine months with
at one Senator. When Mr. Voolfolk nominated
lr. Tyler, Mr.. Watkins did not vote for him; and
hen Mr.. Watkins nominated Mr.. Johnson Mr..
oololk did not vote for himi Nor did more
IAN one of the party follow either of these nluen-
al leaders These facts establish in the cearest
'anncr' that the Administration party intend
to vote Tor Wing in good faith, and that no Wing
ould have been elected.
Inc extreme anxley'of the partzans Of Mr. Van
uren to defeat Nh. Rlves, and the fiery hatred they
Inhibited towards him, went far to convince me that
lie Wings could entirely depend upon him in their
feat and patriotic object of reforming the crying
Equities Of the Federal Government. 1t showed
TAT the V. Buren party considered Mr.. RIves an
Ierny TO their Chief: fhat they knew he would not
'nscnt to :" SINK swim" with him III his pur-