The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-06

lSigned by Samuel Turney, S. P. Hardwicke, Sam
ue ii Laughln, Thomas J. Matthews, A. John
son, Richard Warner, w. L. Ross, Sackfeld Mac
4n' John Miller, Robert w Powell B. Martin,
'ohn A Gardner Richard Warehouse
NASHVILLE, October 81, l64l.
GENTLEMEN have to acknowledge your letter of
the i9th instant, propounding for my consideration
sundry grave questions of public policy, and requiring
me TO enIghen your minds by "ful and satisfactO-
ry reply, or in The opposite alternative leaving me
anticipate the indefinite postPonement Of an election
winch involves the sacred rights of the People of Ten
nessee in the principal councils of the nation, and
Is mPeratiVely en lined by the letter of the Consti-
tuition.
may lament, gentlemen, but fear cannot relieve
the anxie'les which seem to emit your movements
and threaten to disaPpolnt the public expectation by
retarding the execution of great and important duty
TO promise otherwise would be TO speak against 1.-The
lights before me" and to labor against hope ITSELF
For years past, it has been my lot to struggle
fare where the country will bear witness scorn-
ed alike to stoop 10 concealment beg for quarters
During that eventful conflict in the length and fer
vency Of the repeated interviews had the honor Of
holding with some of YOU and in the frequent oppor
tunities you all had of reading and hearing my sent
ments, cndeavored TO proclaim my opinions and de-
clare my political associations after all this do
yet sufficiently understand each other it must certain
ly be the result of incorrigibie dulnsss somewhere
and as make 1t point never to be outdone in man
q
the fault to myself and you against an unpua-
ton which would wound the pride Of your constitu-
ents and derogate from the dignity Of the Senatorial
gown But excuse me now, gentlemen, if you please.
Frullless labor is apt TO discourage further tolls mat
ter where the difhc uty lies and feel myself compel
led in all due humility, to decline the explanations
have hitherto failed TO impress upon your inteecs-
Nevertheless, by your leave gentlemen, may tender
my profound Acknowledgements for the disinterested
candor which dictated your communication and in be-
i'm litU innIo hat fv |
would be the last TO impeach assa
A word or two more, gentlemen, in all good sober
ness shall close what have say the present oc-
casion. They are called for by considerations alto
gether foreign to my political creed, whatever it may
be, and cannot be omitted by any who feels that
Office can never be honorably held unless it be homo
raby sought for and honorably obtained.
Considering that we are incorporating political
adVersaries-ior such to me you will admit the
whole thirteen of the sefconstituted and august in
quest am now addressing-you have decently yelled
but hardly excused an extraordinary liberty by the
elevated position you have been pleased to assign
1t remains to be seen whether stand alone before
patriotic lnqulsition, who it is friend foe that
shares with me the honors of your scrutiny. You
doubtless know of some who have placed themselves
steathily, if not publicly in the category you have
| imposed upon me- and as | am bound to believe that
you all-al honorable men trust you will not
have failed TO visit these with similar searchngs AL
though some of them may be at the bottom, the very
bottom Of your counsels-the sacred Office you have
honorabiy and voluntarily assumed will not excuse
the least Partially. They should be held on high as
am, so that just and equal exposure may the
public of their men, and enab BILE midday ambition to
scan by times the steel it may have to encounter.
Whether or no shall he candidate for one of the
vacant seats in the Senate of the United States
at the disposal of the Legislature Of Tennessee may
depend upon more uncertainties than the contingent
cy of life itself. will, on that at least, endea
vor to measure my ambition by the desires of those
whose political fortunes--good bad suit me inf
nitey better than yours; and whilst | am free to adj
NIT that majority of those friends may command my
name can declare in equal frankness that poor and
humble as | am, my enemies possess neither power TO
deter, nor wealth nor honors enough to purchase me-
The closeness and the ferceness of the contest may
my courage and stimulate my exertions, but the
pride of success shall never, assure YOU tempt me
to violate any sentiment of proprety.
/ assert no uncommon sagacty, when | profess to
understand the promises the obligations, and the po-
tical attitude Of every individual member composing
the honorable body with whom you are acting:
similar knowledgeess acceptable to your TASTE how
ever than mine--excited no doubt the solicitude
which led you into this extraordinary correspondence
Without intending to rehuke that solicitude or with
out designing to charge any of you any
tcular member of your political family with unworthy
attempts upon the unsuspecng integrity of your broth.
rem of an opposite faith, seize the occasion to de-
clare solemnly and publicly, that would not ply the
fidelity of the humbest among all the representatives
of the people, though my election might hang on a
duction. Hope gentlemen, it may be in your power
all Of you, to say as much in equal and untegned sin
cerity.
1t is true, gentlemen you assert, that you cons
tute ma orty in the Senate of the General Assem-
bly, of Tennessee" and consequently hold the power
fol two years to to enforce the significant threat
which points the last paragraph of your letter. 1t 10
equally true that people have prophesied the exc
cution of that threat but have not been of the num-
her, and still slow to believe any such purpose.
l. Orce of threat mo- therefore
nor would its unwise fufment 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
of every party, and their lossif the fated hour
ever comes--must of course be common calamity.
As their existence coeval, their duration can
only be coexistent with Constitution; and that
cannot long survive unless the sacred nunctions OF
that everglorious instrument cherished and obeyed
by of every political faith. In tie midst of party
in its most malignant forms have never desPalrcd OF
that Constitution. Nay, more, gentlemen; though
the fiery demon of faction should break for season
the chains wherewth in its most forgetul mo-
ments has hitherto bound her down, and stalk abroad
through the land, scattering anarchy, discord, and
wanton misrule, | should not then altogether des-
! pair.
| As nation we are yet too young, and as people
too vrtuous TO disregard the precepts of foreta
theirs, and blndy and forever cast away the rich e-
gacy the price of much blood and suffering where
with they endowed us. The Constitution OF which
! am speaking commands you to elect two Senators,
represent and protect the interest OF the nation and
your immediate constituents in approaching Con-
gress At all events it imposes upon you the obliga
ton Of faithfully attempting selection; and, ardent
and determined as of you may be in an honest
desire advance particular friend at the expense
of an indefinite postponement of the whole qurs
ton, there must certainly yet be found of your num-
Der one man, who, nobly looking beyond party to his
country and the Constitution, will change that lean
majority of which you have SO mprudently and in
cautiously boosted.
If any of you, gentlemen disposed to complain
Of the channel through which these respects will first
meet your eyes you will find my apology in the Union
Of yesterday. Your letter, own-wilh many thanks
for the act of especial condescension delivered
in studied and decent form by three of its most
distinguished signers but | had scarcely time, from
other indispensable vocaons to pass hurried lance
its pages-cerainly no sufficient oPpor'u ity to
cnnsiIcr the nrk the Of such impnr-