Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-12-25
JUDGE CASTOR OF NORTH CARO-
LIMA.

Among tho great and good men of this
Republic few stand so prc-cminent as the
Hon. WILLIAM CASTOR, one Of the Judges
of the Supreme Court of North Carolina.
When the Wings of the old North State
were casting about for two U. S. Senators to
succeed Mcssrs Brown and Strange, the
name of JUICE CASTOR suggested itself at
once. A request was accordingly addressed
to him that he would consent to be put in
nomination for this honorable Office. In an
swer to this request Judge CASTOR wrote the
following beautiful letter:
NEwDEnN October 81, 1910.
DEAR Sin had the pleasure to receive on Tues.
day last your friendly and very ahcctionate letter of
the 2ls, inst 1t is impossible that should not feel,
me the request that should permit myself to be put
in nomination for the appointment of a Senator in
Congress. AS a manifestation of your attachment,
and of'hc esteem and confidence of the great body OF
the Wings of North Carolina, in whose behalf you
write, beg both you and them to be assured that
prize it highly l confess, too, that although my
mind was fully made up before received your letter.
and although had previously made known this de.
termination to other friends who had addressed me
on the subject feel embarrassment and pain in being
obliged to say to you that must declines compliance
with your wishes. l am apprehensivc lest my, con.
duct should appear morose and uncourteous-lest
should subject my self to the imputaon of nsensibly
to kindness or of indifference to the public welfare
Suffer me to say that either of these conclusions
would be unjust. With all my exertions to tame
down feeling to the standard of reason, find my
heart yet throbbng any indication of The favorable
opinion of my fellow citizens ard that heart will have
wholly ceased to beat before cease to take an interest
in the happiness of this glorious Union, and especially
of our part of 1.-THE good old North State.
After so long retirement from the turmois of po-
lca life, to re-enter upon them at my years would
probably be TO sacrifice my happiness and as appre-
| hcnd without obtaining the only equivalent that can
be offered for such sacrifice, the consciousness of
fulfilling duty. The situation which now hold from
the kindness of my fellow-citizens has become per-
fectly agreeable me. find that it suits my health,
keeps my intellectual powers in action without over
| burdening them, and gives me leisure and relish for
domestic enjoymcnts and my agricultural pursuits.
1t is kind of intermediate estate between the hustle
of temporal and the calm of eternal existence,
genial to the contemplativc character of age. 1t OBJ
tans for me what the wise soldier of Charles w. when
he resigned his commission declared necessary
AHquidtemporis interesse debet riam morten, que "
Besides believe that the faithful performance of the
duties of my present office is rs important TO the pub
lie welfare any services which it would be in my
power to rendern the political station to which you
invite me. To give wholesome exposition of the
laws, to settle the fluctuations and reconcile the seem
ingly conflicting analoges Of judicial decisions, ad
minister justice in the last resort with a steady hanc
and an upright purpose, appear to me among the high
est of civil functions. And so long as God spares
health and understanding to perform these faithfully
how can better servemy country?
Now, my good friend, have the kindness not only to
allow the Just weight due to these considerations, bu
to lay them before others (whose personal paralit,
not like yours be strong to acquesce readil,
in conclusion adverse to their wshes) in such terms
as may secure for them fair hearing. And partcu
larry beg of you to say to your feowmembers from
the West whom you represent as peculiarly anxious
give this proof of the regard in which Their
held that no Office which it is in the power of tn
state to confer call forth my grateful acknowledge
ments more fully or more warmly than the assurdnc
they have thus rendered, and in which wholly con
fide, that 'their People esteem and love me-"
Truly and afiectionately yours,
WILLIAM CASTOR.
JOHN GRAY BYNuM Esq.