Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-05-21
the VICE PRESIDENCY,

II
| The ieusr from The vrx Psrsisxsr Of the
UHiied States, read 81 he LATE vAs Bpsxx Coz
times, and We therefore place Ia hefose our rea-
den. as follows ..rs..
! err or wAsnlNsros, ArsiI IS 1870.
! GENTLEMEN: The near approach Of
the National Democratic Coaveniion in
Baltimore, on The 9th Of May. induces
me 10 address you. The object Of that
meeting b 10 nominate candidates Tor the
next election Of President and Vice Pre-
sident OF the United States In relation
to the Presidency. l am happy 10 End j,
10 universally understood that there viii
be no division. The leading and ooly
point 10 which sny discussion 10 antieipai-
ed Is that Of the Vice Presidency.
From the situation in which 1 am now
placed, 1t seems to be proper that my sen
timenis end views should DO de6ni,ely
known. The FIRST question will be, wbe-
ther ths Convention will GO into the nem-
in alton.
On this poiot. IL is said. there will be d
difference Of opinion. Whether the Con-
ven,ion shall make q nomination, or leave
each State 10 make its own selection, 7
wph my friends TO understand distinctly
that that will be 4 matter with hich am
not TO interfere. will be perfectly sa-
tished with the course the Convention
shall adopt; and, IN any event. must beg
OF them not 10 suffer any feelings Of par
TALLY Tor me TO endangsr lie principles
which we are united in sustaining. by
sentiment has ever been, that In q Re
public no citizen has any claims upon the
People 10 election for any Office, irrespee:
tive Of the benefit and advantage result
ing to themselves. All Offices ought 10
De for the good Of the People. Snd not for
the iucumbtnts. If special services ever
| merit special rewards, those rewards
should be given in any other way than
that Which would endapger The great
| fundamental principles Of liberty.
Toregard highlyIesPohsiblc elective of
ice as areward for past services is ,orcgSrd
the elective franchise as foresialled by the
claim of justice and il 10 therefore rcpug:
nantt 10 Republican principle. II such
reisim may be urged in favor ofsny other,
on any occasion, / am conscious that my
humble services merit nothing beyond
what they have already received. So far
rs past services haze elected the princi-
pie. Of the man, they win be regarded ~
pledge for his future course; and beyond
this, they ought not 10 be considered, es.
4 Pecially in relation 10 myself.
! There rests no obligation on TIE part Of
my friends 10 me-. The debt Of gratitude,
IL II ever existed, has been more than
paid. All the obligation that remains is
from me TO them. The confidence " hieh
they have manifested. and the kindness
shown 10 me. have imposed an obligation
OF gratitude in my bosom. which can me-
yer cancel. There is at this tine q great
/ interest At stske. Il Is the supper. OF tie
principles in which We unitRd and upon
which the Government has long been sd-
minisieTed. Those principles have been
my guide for more than lhiriy-Gve years,
during which time I have been contin-
ally sfiost upon the tempesiuous sea cf
politics, life. They are much more dear
TO me than my own elevation, or that OF
any other person. desire ell Of my
friends in the Convention 10 regard their
preservation IS infinitely fEore ircorisnt
than the qualification Of any private
friendship.
| have not -olIcited reBominsiion, nor
shall decline il. am, a. ever have
been, in The hands Of friends and fellow
citizens. ], iS no less ny pleasure than
Il - MY duty 10 make the syowsl that I
viii 20 be entirely si their disposal, and
aball be perfectly content with their
award. IL. in their opinion, the great
| principles for which We contend will be
more likely 10 be secured BY The use Of
my name. they will use u: II. 10 their
I opinion. another selection will be- more
likely 10 ensure sueeess, they will make
another selection. II in their opinion. 10
make 90 bominsiion Of Vice President.
and leave tie selection TO the pleasure
and preference Of The Republicans Of the
several States. viii give most strength 10
our ffiends. tie Convention will take ihst
ooOrTe; and. in either event. shaIi con.
tinne 20 act With perfect integrity 10 iho,e
principles. and 70 the friends with whom I
have hitherto acted in sustaining them -
10 assuming this position. ! Do not wish
TO be usdefStood ~ declaring myself in
sensible 10 The hobeFs which arfse from
public confidence. can regard The rrsu
bui = u.isantbrope uho is perfectly isdif-
fsfent 10 The sppisuse o. the eensugs ~
his fellow ufs. II ia quality 10 which
! make DO pTeisnsion. Next "a MY twn
conscience. the many issiiaoniais which
have received ~ lks appgobsiion oF nv
lsllow-eiiizsnS i the richest reward for
my 9sst services 10 which ny tmtiti5n
ever sspiTsd. snd The feeling has beea
be pFiaeirsi s1ass. fos sSas Fssss pssi,
II ny eoniinua1ee Ia public ne. Il -
also ny greatest consoiaiion, cas- "a ny
pTeseni siiasiion. while y Sc bssh ny
constant effort 70 Asch1Eo isfs1poasib.e
duists with 6delify. hsss 80 ~ fecfssd-
ed Il least, e. 70 have syoided efasBse,---
] hsve heard q 10 disrosiiIon % male E
oidsrent sslseiion On the efo0sd ikal
these deiies are roi Satisfactorily peffoTsas
ed. Bot desFer ibsn 30 these considers.
lions. ere ibe principles insolssd N ne
apploscbina election. They oUght % ~
sasisiocd, silboni rtgsfd % any ietisi.
| dnal narllsl,lles 81 lsaLlne. anA naAal he