Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-04-04
POLITICAL.
TO THE PEOPLE OF yIR0INIA-.

w" 70 when your confidence has plse ed ,ns 20 tn,
t",e' ""u moi unwe'eoms sesncs ot private life,
nno myself pursued with a violence Of dsnu nsia
uon snd bitterness Of obloquy, which allow me n,
eno'ee out 10 appeal, Ia defence Of the character
sheh party prescription may stli have lsfs me- Il
me sober and candid judsmens Of my count " me u
u"no~ twenty two years since ] frat entered ,nts
'hs service Of the State which gave me birth a,
arepresentative Of the people, aud from that pr,ios
10 'h's, with hardly an interval, my time aud fcul
ties such ~ they are. have been tod 20 The
service. Humble ~ my exer,ious for tho genera
veal, DUNG that long period, may have been, and
Tar short ~ they have undoubtedly fallen Of my owr
wishes, have yet ha,,ered myself that The .es
and good intentions which acco n,painsd them, had
earned Tor me some ANAL share Of the esteem and
regard Of my fellow citizens. ! have sought and
nov seek, no other reward, Okce | have nov -
coveted, but the contrary have Oft On de line, n,
renquished, aud hold a. nothing hen put ia IN.
balance against an honest fame. aud the sprc Of
''rtnous aud enlightened people, Butte these, the
most precious possession u life apent in tho publ,
service, confess l am not in,sn,ibe-snd cauno,
consent TO surrender them TO The merciess proserip.
ton OF party. without an efor, AZ least TO dsabuse
the minds Of my fellow citizens.
Ever since have felt IL my duty 10 Inc country
unscr the solemn convictions of my undersa ing 10
oppose u fasone measure Of the Admins mr. AZ on
which beloved and still believe 10 he fauy hi with
tue gta,sst dangers TO the public liberty and happ-
ness, have been the object Of deep political resent
ment, and occasionally oil fierce and bitter denun-
eia''on. But within the last ice or four months.
'he storm Of denuneiaton has gathered new force
az" oeen directed with unspanns Jury against arc
during that period. the Rob spiel can Press VI
washington under tho immediate conir oil ofthe Ad-
m'o'sr'ton, has daily exered all i,s @diaboliczl
sources Of iaseood and defamation 10 blarken my
character, 'ssail my motives, aud nsrepresent my
conduct. II has culled from its sot abulaty Of
ouss all rs most hacknicd term AZ political vitu-
pera'on. such as Federat renegade, distyter, trai
n hipm
TO make II the object Of general oJium AMI uepto-
bst'on. Al the same time, the par ixaus OF tho Al
inin'strat0n o every grade. ia and al Con ress
have been taught that they cosld sender no HON.
age more acceptable to pow.r. than 10 discharge,
each one, his poisoned shaft at me. Tho whole pack
-" the hile dogs. aud ALL Tray, Blanche and
Sweetheart, have all been LEI loo use, and bark ed
IN this general :" hunt OF obloquy" az anst me And
last, though not least the most anc lent aud POWER
'ui press OF onrown State. lately agreeing with
me- too. IN my condemnation Of the leading and
test measure OF The Administrator. but dete mined
at all hazard, to" sink or sw,n wilh the men Of IT,
alter many salutations Of Art thou IN health. my
bio'het, accompanying the point OF liz has
at length openly proclaimed the ~dre,y OF It's party
IN the coming elee tions, to be Rises Rives."
The whole power aud influence 81 th. Executive
are thus combined TO pursue me- would seem TO To-
tai dnn,htiaion.
What crime have | perpeirated. frlc~-cizens
-"ha, he'nous offence have committed. 10 have
drawn down upon me all this fierce aud uureleuting
hostility I Have | msiepresrned ths sent ime MS
and opinions or betrayed the int erests Of my STATE
II will not be pretended. II 10 notorious that large
majority Of the people Of Wig MIA. ~ we'll 40 Of her
representatives in the Legislature Of The State are
firmly and decidedly opposed to that measure Of the
Administration. which have fell IL my duiy to rs.
sisi, to the best OF my ability.
Have | departed from any pruciple have here.
tofore held Have | aban.ontd nnytenet Of the
political faith have profrssed-lhe old Republican
creed Of Virginia! ! challenge The mos, searching
and vindicative scrutiny 10 point out solitary in.
stance Of such departure abanJo meat On the
contrary, the complaint against me 10, that have
adhered too sternly TO my principles which were
but recently the profrssed pnnc pies oil the entire
party ofthe Admns,ration-thu have mol changed
with the party-lhatl have MI been wiling IL suu-
render the settled convictions Of my understanding,
suen,s, 10 the mandates Of party discipline ard The
influences Of official power. 4" The he ad and front
Of my offending hath this e1tent-no more
To account for this impoliiit stsinness Of piinci
pie, men incapable Of approaching other motives Of
action, have insinuated that ] have prirae Srie(s
against the President, and have been influenced
by ambition. These charges fsles me u depart
from deicacy which have here ,ofure prescribed
to myself IN speaking Of ceiain ttAnsac,ion,. which
were however. kno~nto Others at the time Of heir
occurrence, and have thus become src ady, partial
" known to the public. So Gar frum having phi
cry thing in my personal relation with him 10 laIer
and TO crafty me, i'll were capable If being nfiu
enced by such considers IN tho discharge Of my
public duties There was nothing IN the way Of
official advancement, which | could have expected
desired, that was not, merely offe red but pressed
upon me. in The most earnest and f.dtering manne
by tho President, Al the 6rsi Oi organizing
his administration. I preferred the service Of my
State. where her confidence had placed me, 10 any
Executive station. and these Offers howevs, natsr-
ing, were respectfully declined.
In regard to ambition. If had entertained the
lofty aspirations which have been gratuiousy ascrib-
ed 10 by some, and capable Of We hing FOR =
moment. the pallry interests oil that AMBITION ainst
the great interests my country, how could have
more efectuay promote ish aims, than by
tinuing 10 act with the hume ous and powerful party
which then supported the ion, and ~hch
formed that time. admit ed majority Of the peo-
pic Of the United Siates1 ! had been associated
with that party in Of ts mos, vital and impor-
iant struggles. in defence, as believed. Of the lber
~, union and best interests Of The nation and the
taunts which are now dali addressed TO mo- " Of
tho bright prospects have forfeited by my inpoitc
| obstinacy, would seem to suhoi se Tho conclusion
that enjoyed at least. ucI, Of is favor and
as likely TO obtain its future support, IN cid Of the
| ambitious aspirations ascfibed 10 me, any other
man Every consideration ola personal ure. then
urged me TO sustain Mr.. Van B uren's ADMINISTRATION
| in whatever course Of policy il might adopt. IT
had been capable Of listening In The suggestions o.
selfish calculation when the hig hes, interests Of m,
| country sec med To stake, should have sup.
pressed the solemn convictions Of my gment, ant
in silence have reaped the rewad OF my acquiescencs
and serviy. knew, too, FROM the bleeding exam
pes before my eyes. what fearful liing il WAS to
inc ur the denunciation Of party. But The conscon.
satisfaction ofJoing what believed to 10 right. anl
f. l.