Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-03-12
LETTER FROM Mr.. algFS,
cAsrLK HILL, Feb. is, 1870.


kDu tHQAtH ot nc NEaI are my views on iHf SUI
ject Of The pending Presidential election. and what
course, | think. ough. to be pursued in il by those
Of Us in general Of the replbliicon party, who have
been opposed to tho leading measures of the pre-
sent administration.
While my nams was recently before the Legisla-
lure, by the act of my friends, as a candidate for re-
election, 10 the Senate of the United States, | de.
clined an answer TO various communication from
members of that body, to give any pledge of sup.
port TO either of the Presidential candidates, as the
condition OF my election. | did so, because, while
il is clear thar, under the Constitution, a Senator Of
the United States can, in no possible contingency
be called on as such, TO give any vote or perform
other act in the election of a President, | believed
that the practice of requiring of those who might
be brought forward for the Office Of Senator, pledg'
es 10 support this or that man for the Presidency,
however il may be otherwise viewed by many hon
orable and patriotic men, is a practice fatally cal
culated 10 destroy the independence of the Legisla.
tive Department, and TO PROSTATE it at the feet OF
the Executive power, whose inordinate growth, and
overshadowing influence already threaten the very
existence of our free Institutions. In regard to all
those questions of public policy and Legislation
which were likely to come before the Senate OF the
United States for its appropriate and legitimate &C
ton, my opinions were fully known, or if they were
no, so. | was ever ready TO declare and explain
them to the best of my ability. in answer to any en-.
quiries which might be addressed to me. | bad
moreover, been very recently in the public service,
and my acts in the discharge of the trust confided
to me, which were neither few nor equivocal, nor
unattended with circumstances OF peculiar trial,
we're before the country, a~fording as it seemed to
me, the most authentic Interpretation of my prlnci-
pies, as well as The sutest guarantee OF my future
course.
For these various reasons I felt that | ought not
to give any pledge of support TO any ofthe Presi.
Dental candidates, as The condition Of my election
TO the Senate ofthe United States. and accordingly
declined TO do so while my name was recently be-
fore the Legislature, IN connexion with the election
for that office. These motives OF reserve have now
ceased. My name is no longer before the Legisla-
tire for that or any other office and, as in time
past, il has never been by any act or solicitation OF
mine, SO. whether it shall, at any time hereafter
be, will depend on the free will Of others, not mine.
And in the event. even, Of my nam being again
presented to the Legislature, by the Partially and
generous confidence with which my friends and fell
low.citizens have been heretofore pleased 10 distin-
eaish me, the Presidential slection will have been
determined, and we shall all, Of necessity, have ta-
ken our equal and responsible paris in it before the
Legislature, according TO their recent decision on
the subject, viii precesd 10 the election OF Senator
of the United States. Under these circumstances
| can no longer feel the slightest delicacy, as a pri-
vste citizen, in expressing to you freely and wjtii-
oul reserve my opinions on The Interesting question
you PROFOUND 10 me.
Year enquiry naturally divides itself into two
branches. The first is, can we support the re-eiec-
tion of the present Chief NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of us,
| mean, who have been IN earnest in our opposi-
ton to the leading measures and pa evailing policy
of his ADMINISTRATION Aud this question would
seem properly and plainly to resolve itself into ano-
ther. Has he abandoned or Withdrawn any of those
measures, to which we have been, and are still thus
opposed 7 So far from !; we have seen that, in his
recent Message to Congress, he has again brought
forward and urged, with increased determination
Of purpose, his now cherished Sub.trsusury scheme,
which, at the lime of his election, all his political
friends believed to be fraasht, and which we still
believe to be fIaught with the difest evils TO the
country. He has not only again earnestly recon-
mended this scheme, but he has urged its adoption
in the most obnoxious and Objectionable Of all the
forms it has ever assumed. | refer, of course, to
what has been commonly called the specie clause,
or rcquisition Of the public dues, in gold and silver
alone. This rigorous feature of the scheme had
been p~retermitted by the President, in his more re-
cent exposi,ions of it, and was believed to ba finally
abandoned by him but, it is now brought forward
in bold relief, it is understood, as the sine qua non
Of the new political alliance, which has been an
nounced to the country. And the President even
tells us that he believes no period will be more
aaspicious" for the introduction Of this hard mo-
ney policy in the operations of the Government,
:" han The preSeat'-when we know, that in two
thirds or three fourths OF the States, specie is at an
average premium Of ten per cent. above the com
mon currency! Most =" auspicious," indeed. Tor
the intere SITS of those who are the recipients and
benefciaries of the public contributions, but surely
not for the interests of The people, who are the pay
ers, immediate or ultimate, OF all these contribu-
tons.
la compliance with this Recommendation of the
Pre- sident, we have just seen the Sub-tressury bill,
with the obnoxious spscie clause, hurried through
one branch of the National Legislature, by a mino-
r;,y vote, in the absence Of many members, when,
if that body (the Senate) had been full, and its men,
BEES had voted in conformity to the opinions and
wishes, either expressed or understood, of their re-
~spective States, the measure would have been de-
featod. And Yet in the face Of such facts as these,
appeals are still made, in the name of a blind and
AFFECT party.allegiance 10 many who are truely OPP
posed TO this scheme, from a thorough conviction OF
It's most dangerous and fatal tendencies, 10 support
the reelection Of the President, by whose influence
and auti.republican contumacy, it is TO be imposed,
and permanently fastened, upon the country. A
poor attempt is now made TO give plausibility and
effect to this appeal, by representing the sub-treasu-
~ scheme as "a mere question Of expedleDcy, on
which men may agree to differ without compromise
of priaciple, on either side; and this attempt is
made, too, by those who have, themselves, but re-
Gently denounced the scheme, in the strongest
terms, as dangerous to the public liberty, BY giving
the President the immediate control OF the public
money, putting into his hands a fund Of corruP-
ton" and alarmiDgly increasing the power and in
huence of his oifice, already too great for a repub-
lic." Surely, when considerations such as these
are involved, the question is one OF vital and funca-
,..ntaI srn.ortnnr. In I'M. asppCt-gs a measure
alike hostile TO the public liberty, and warning up
on the prosperity Of the country, directly and indi-
ectly. in ali it, most essential int tssts,-the Sub
treasury Project has ever been viewed by those Con-
r. psbiicaas, who have given evidence ol
he sinceri,, Of Their faith by iesrisssiy ard n'JftH-
chiagly meeting the denuncialions which ITS pi",eS-
non has drawn down upon them. EhtFf'alnlue
such Opinions, csn they, as honest men ana as ire
men, 40 far surrender their minds and Ifeu "illst"