Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-11
Mo- 90.

V"-ci'iZens OF common Country HAVING
an e9nai stake IN The general welfare with
other men, many at them distinguished nv
toe confidence and respect of their country.
men in public trusts of every grade of i'm
por'"nce from the highest TO the lowest. and
whose patriotism, intelligence and virtue
cannot be questioned, whatever differences
VI opinion. on other matters. may prevail,
Is II not then 10 dishnnor the soirit of ,b.
age, IS II NOT to insult, the understandings of
'hehepu6iican portion oi our fellow citizens
10 attempt TO invoke their preiudices aroinsi
on 'n'iividuai, no, because bis opinions or
MS nets nave been wrong in themselves but
because IN The maintenance o!those cpiniops
he and the Wings have acted together. "a
'hey must OF necessity have done. if they
acted at all, in resisting measures which
both OF them believed TO be fatally iniurioo.
10 inc best interests ofihe people,? For one.
! shall never he deferred by the 6rufum
J"tmen OF any such denunciations. from
reading, hrm!y aud fearlessly, the path Of
principle, withersuever il may lead me in
The honest and faithful discharge Of INV dntr
10 the country.
Still. another charge alleged against me
IS that have entered into new combinations
ana engagements in reference to the Presi
dential election of 1910. This. like all the
oiher insInuations and accusations brought
against me, is holly destitute of foundation
have had nothing to DO with The nexl Pres-
idential election. have had higher and
more appropriate duty, in my estimation, 10
periorm-to wit: to give my aid, in The Sill
na'ion IN which your confidence had placed
me. toward taking care oflhe great interests
OF The country, as they should be affected.
"r sooa or ior evil. by the policy and mea-
sures OF the existing inistraiion. That
duty have sought honestly an fearlessIy 10
perform. La what manner il has been done
IS now before you for your deliberate and
enlightened Judgment.
The presidential election have cons;dar
Ell as matter belonging exclusively Ia tho
people, IN their own high sovereign capaci.
". 10 Their hands, and TO their unbisssed
decision, l have been willing 10 leave In
no possible contingency under the provis.
IONS OF the constitution, could as one of the
senators OF the State, have any thing 10 din
with IT,. On the contrary, the constitutions
expressly excludes "any Senator or Repre-
sentative from being an eIector' of Presi
aeht' nave, therefore. abstained from las
King any part IN ills discussion, or in the ar
engagements connected with it, As one of
The people, shall be prepared " hen the pro.
per time arrives for decision, to take that
course which, according 10 all the lights
Then before me, shall conscienf iously be-
lieve the best interests, and the permanent
freedom and happiness of the country de-
mand In The mean while, am uncomnit
tea TO any of the candidates And il is pre-
cisely because am 80 uncommi,ted. and
nave refused TO commit myself, that aiI this
storm OF denuncia,ion, by which your good
opinion OF me has been sought TO be shaken.
has been raised against me.
III had been willing 10 rive an urco,i;.t
i'onal pledge 10 vote Tor Mr.. Van Bnrcn,s
re e'eclion 10 The Presidency, to "sink or
SWIM with him, and to supper. his admin
is''asioh, wright or wrong, | might have
been reelected, without difficulty (accord.
ing "a The authoritative exponent of the
views Of his party in Virginia 10 to The
Senate Of the u. 5.
6ni could give no such pledge fellow
CITIZENS, without betray ing and dishonoring
you as wei as degrading myself. Rep,
iese"ia'!'e al The sovereignty Of Virginia,
IN the hig hest council Of the natinp. il seem.
ed 10 me, should be free and untramme,lea
TO assert. under all tie sacred
tenets OF her politica! iaiih He should be
we Y'giianl sentinel OF her rights the faith
'hi guardian ct her interests, the fearless
champion hi her principles, and not mana
cied beforehand by pledges or or bound b,f
andeHtures 10 do The bidding Of Executive
power. have always been willing 10 ran.
der ana have rendered candid and honess
support 10 such of ibe measures OF the adj
nln'Straiion as appeared 10 me consistent
with Republican principles and the true in
'eTcsis OF The country hui those of an on
poSite Character, have felt myself called
on, ny every Consideration If honor and uai
iIo'isfn, To resist 10 the utmost OF my ability
livery rejecting mind must have observed.
win painful anxiety tho rapid growth Of
Executive influence, within tie last few
wears, sustained 10y a system Of payty disci-
PINE, and OF organised ienuaciction through
Me (ress, such as have never existed. in a.
ny other country pretending 10 lreedom. IN
der The sun.-if il shall be permitted 10 con.
'inue, II must bring every other Department
OF The government, and the people and The
STATES themselves, 10 the feet Of Executive
Fo"er, and finally eXt;nguIsb every senfi-
'nent ct independence and public virtue in
The land. II is Tor The people themselves TO
say whether this shall Re. II is much more
Their cause than that Of any individual, who
may have been singled out as the victim,
whose blood is 10 cement this gloomy fabric
oil party despotism and tyranny. For N.Y.
self, humble as sm, I feel that my own
late is in this instance mdissoiubJy bound 10
That Of the free institutions OF my country
and if 81 am TO fall victim TO power, the
cause Of liberty and ruih Is i'll iall With me,
and be, IS ho is buried in their ruins, is hap
pier, far, lhsn he who survives themn
WM. &. RiVES.
Castle. Hill, Alternate Co III ar. Is, '39
*Bolinbroke's Dedication Of his di-eerIs-
tiOn on nartiea In Sir p,,;.o,, w .Ioojo-