Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-04-23

ment. demands more Of moral courage than any
ether act in the life OF public man. Ii can only
be done by high natures and ought only be done IN
matters Of Egh public importance. Such was the
crisis in which your guest was called upon to act
and be did worthiIy of his own fame and OF the
illus,rious commonwealth of which he is high or
no nent.
Be pleased TO accept my unfeigned thanks for
the kind manner in which you are pleased to speak
of one 20 humble as myself. | brought to the ser
wee Of The public very little besides hears devo-
led to its welfare. If this conceded to me,
have received the only reward which have anticl
pated desired.
With great respect, your obedlent servant
WADDY THOMPSON.
Bvthe Hon. Waddy Thompson offs. c. Ri0es
TaLllaadge and Legare-Aa illustrious trio OF pa
trjots scholars, and gentlemen who dared to pre-
fer The interests of their country TO those Of their
party.
WAsHfSeros NAVY YARD, April 9Th, 1910.
Genae,nen--I have had the honor TO receive
your letter of the LIST inst, informing me that a
large number Of the citizens Of that part OF Virgl-
MIA have rendered TO the Hon. VIM. c. Rlves, a
public dinner on the 18th, and that you have been
depu,ed 10 tender to me the hosptatIes OF that oc
casion.
In returning to you ara tltDst Nuoh 1SA ioitC
sent nv sincere thanks for this unexpected though
not the less highly appreciated mark OF attention
permit me to you, gentlemen, that The cor
alterations which you say have prompted the invi-
ration, and particularly the sentiment of personal
gard and eateem it conveys on the part OF many
of our citizens amongst you are not less hatterng
10 nav pride as an officer Of the Navy than CRAFTY
ing to my feelings man and they will not tail
trust, to operate Us an addilionai incliement 10
every effort my part 10 retain their present good
opinion, and to justify their favorable expectations
for the future
1t is very true as sou remark, have been long
absent from my early associations but, although
the many and various changes OF scene, OF cireum-
stances and associations peculiarly incident TO the
wandering life of sea-oficer which for more than
Thirty years have ardeutly pursued must natural
" have a tendency to weaken ties of q mere perso-
nal character, they have not been, and never can
be- able to change my affections tor the land OF my
nativity; and conscientiou,iy believe, that dear
Old Virgnia" has son who can, with more
truth than cam say to her in the language Of the
poet
Where e'er roam, whatever realms see,
NJ, heart, untravell'd, still will turn to thee"
For the distinguished gentleman, in honor Of
whom the dinner is gwen entertain, not only the
highest respect, bu~ also a very great personal es'
TEEN. | do not hesitate to say that there IS no man
in the country whose elevation to the highest otice
10 the gift OF the people. would give me so much
pleasure as would that Of VIM. c. Rives but
have always been Of opinion, that eiiicers of the fe
deral Government. and particularly OF The Army
and Navy, should have litte as possible TO do
with politics. and least abstain from mingling III
The party contests OF the day. haze, heretofore,
acted upon this rule, and intend to do so for the fu
ture. Your entertainment is one OF decidedly po-
iitical character and, were | to attend 1T, should
subject myself least to the suspicion of being
party man This ! am DESTROYS Of avoiding, and
therefore, feel constrained to forego II pleasure
of participating with you in the festivities OF the oc
casion referred TO-.
have The honor to be, gentlemen, with the high
est respect, your most o1edient servant,
j. II. AULiCK.