Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-11-11

ments for the dlsfHfereStgd candor when
dictated your communication, and 10 be-
half Of my own imbecility, imPlore that
charity would be the last to imPeach or
assai. II
word or two more, gentlemen, IN all
good soberness. shall close what have 10
say on the present occasion. Ihey are
called for by considerations altogether To-
reign 10 my political creed, whatever u
may be, and cannot be omitted by any one
who feels tina, office can never be honor
,bly held. unless il be honorably sought
for and honorably obtained.
Considering tina, we are uncompromis-
ing political adyersarles--for such TO me
YOU will admit, are the whole thirteen of
the sef-consti,uted and august inquest |
am now addressing-you have dscenily
yelled but hardly excused an exiraordlna-
ry liberty by the elevated position you
have been pleased to assign me. Ii re-
mains TO be seen whether stand alone be-
fore patriotic inquistion, or who IT is,
friend or foe, that shares with me the
honors Of your scrutiny. You doubtless
know Of some who have placed them.
selves stealtliily, if not publicly, in the cat
egory you have imposed upon me, and as
am bound to believe that you are /" all
all honorable men," trust you will
not have failed 10 visit these with SINH
liar searchings. Although some OF them
may be of the bottom--the very bottom
Of your counsels-the sacred ottice you
T have honora6ly and voluntarily assumed,
will not excuse the least Partially. They
should be held on high, as am, SO that a
lust and equal exposure may parn the pub
lie of their men, and enable midday am,
btion to scan by times, the steel il may
: have to encounter.
Whether or no shall be candidate
for one OF the vacant seats in the Senate
of the United States, now at the disposal
of the Legislature Of Tennessee, may de-
pend upon more uncertainties than the
contingency Of life itself. | will, on that
score at least, endeavor to measure my
ambition by the desires Of those whose po.
ltical for,unes-good or bad--suit me in
inltely better than yours: and whilst |
am free TO admit that a majority OF those
friends may command my name, can de.
clare, in equal frankness, that poor and
humble as am, my enemies possess nei-
ther power to deter, nor wealth nCr honors
enough to purchase me. The closeness
and the ferceness of the contest may
warm my courage and stimulate my exer-
tons, but the pride Of success shall never,
assure you, tempt me to violate any sem
timent of propriety.
assert no uncommon sagaclty, when
profess to understand the promises, the OBJ
legations, and the political attitude ofevery
individual member composing the honor
able body with whom you are acting.
A similar knowlcdge-less acceptable TO
your taste however than mlne--excted, no
doubt, the solicitude which led you into
this extraordinary correspondence. With
out intending to rebuke that soliciiude, or
without designing noao to charge any one
Of you, or any particular member OF your
political family with unworthy attempts
upon the unsuspecting integrity of your
brethren Of an opposite faith, seize the
occasion to declare, solemnly and public
ly, that would not ply the fidelity of the
humblest among all the representatives Of
the People, though my election might hang
on vote, and | could successfully accom-.
pish the foul seduction. hope, aentle.
men, it may be in your powerful of you
Ito say as much in equal and unfeigned
sincerity.
1t is true, gentlemen, as you assert,
that you constitute majority Sin the Sc
nate Of the General Assembly Of Tonnes
see," and consequently hold the power
for two years to come to enforce the sig
nifcani threat which points the last para
graph Of your letter. 1t is equally true
that some people have prophesied the ex
ecu,ion of that threat; but | have not
been Of that number, and am still slow to
believe in any such purpose. The force
of the threat does not therefore annoy mo,
nor would its unwse fulfilment injure me
more than it would yourselves, and every
other good citizen in the country. The
chief blessings that flow from this happy
Government belong, without distinction,
TO all men Of every party, and their loss
If the fated hour ever comes-must OF
course be q common calamity. AS their
existence was co-eval, so their duration
can only be co-existent with our Constilu.
ton; and that cannot long survive, unless
the sacred injunctions ofthat ever-glorious
instrument are cherished and obeyed by
men of every political faith. In the midst
Of party in its most malignant forms, |
have never despaired Of that Constitution.
Nay, more, gentlemen; though the fiery
demon of faction should break for a sea-
son the chains wherewith reason in its
most torgetful moments has hitherto bound
her down, and stalk abroad through the
land, scattering anarchy, discord, end
wanton misrule, should not then alto.
gether despair.
AS nation we arc yet too young, and
rs people too virtuous, to disregard the
precepts Of our forelathers, and blindly
and forever cast away the rich legacy, the
price Of so much blood and suffering,
wherewth they endowed us. The Con.
sti;ution, Of which am speaking, COM
mands you to elect two Senators, 10 repre-
sent and protect the interest Of the nation
and your immediate constituents in an ap
proaching Congress. Al all events, it i'm.
poses upon you the obligation of faithfully
attempting selection; and, ardent and
determined AS some of Won NAV be in nm