Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-11-25
MR.. TYLER'S LETTER.

The following is the reply of the President to
the letter from New Kent County, Va, inviting
him to public dinner
CEDAR HILL, New Kent Co., Nov. 1871.
Gentlemen: Few things would afford me more
pleasure than to meet my friends and old consti-
tuentS O! this county at the festive board, in pur
suance OF your polite invitations but the necessity
which exists for my speedy return to the Seat of
government, places 1t out of my power to do so.
j can, however, do no less than return to YOU,
and those you represent, my grateful thanks for
the kind sentiments of regard and confidence,
which you have been pleased to express towards
ancient county, hi the ueGfilayJ.hn as,anI..ef,ds
long ago as twenty-five years, they did me the
honor to confer their almost unanimous suffraues
upon me, as their representative in Congress- the
political principles which then avowed, have
Deen the same which, since my accession to the
Presidency, have dared to vindicate and main
tain, at the expense of the bterest denunciations
which have ever heretofore assailed a public
functionary?
The same opinions as to the power of Congress-
to charter National Bank, which then avowed
In the presence of your fathers, and of many who
still survive among yon, and which, as your Rep
resentative, strenuousy urged in 1919, are still
maintained with abiding and undiminished con-
vlcton. was then sustained by the people of
this district with almost entire unanimitv, and
therefore take leave to say, that if any of them
are converts 10 new opinions, they might at least
have granted to me, the Chief Magistrate,
bound by oath to support the Constitution, the be-
nelt OF the new lights of reason, which have
been shed upon them before they united with 9TH
ers, In spirit OF unqualified denunciation.-
What would they have me do? Would they
nave me sacrifice the consistency Of my past life
Tor party ends! Or, what is Of far more impor-
lance, both morally and politically, would they
require OF the Chief Magistrate Of this glorious
Union, to surrender all claim to their respect, by
violating his oath of office, in order to CRAFTY the
moioch OF party! If they would have so great
sacrifice, then am proud to say, they will not
receive 1T at my hands. | censure no man for
his opinion on this any other subect-butw while
award to him the right to think for himself
should he not exempt me from ACCOMMODATIONS
because cannot think as he does?
beg you to be assured, gentlemen, that the
invectlves to which have been subjected, have
in no degree disturbed my equanimity. Amid
tne torrents OF abuse, no matter by what motives
dictated, which have been uttered against me-
"my pulse has kept healthru music" as if
nothing had occurred. The LIGHT reflected from
burning effigies, has only served to render the
path OF duty more plain In that path shall
walk, my confidence being placed in the patriot
ism, discernment and intelligence Of the Ameri-
can people, whose interests are always best sus-
tanned by a firm observance of constitutional re-
quirements.
tender to you, Individually, assurances of
great personal regard.
,, JOHN TYLER.
To Edward G.. Crump, George Williamson.
John G. Crump, William X. G.. Douglss, and
Cbesley Jones-Committee.