The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-13
CEDAR Hill,
New Kent Co, Nov, 1871.

GENTLEMEN: Few things would afford me
more pleasure than to meet my friends and old
constituents of this county at the festive board,
in pursuance Of your polite invitation but the
necessity which exists for my speedy return to
the Seat of Government places il out of my
power to do So l can, however, do no less than
return to you, and those you represent my CRATE
full thanks for the kind sentiments of regard and
confidence, which you have been pleased to ex-
press towards me. Shall l not be justified by
the peopleo OF this ancient county, in the decara-
ton that when, as long ago aS twenty-five years,
they did me the honor to confer their almost
unanimous suffrages upon me, as their represen.
tative in Congress; the political principles which
/ then avowed, have been the same which, since
my accession to the Presidency, have dared to
vindicate and maintain, at the expense of the
bitterest denunciations which have ever hereto
fore assailed public functonary.
The same opinions to the power Of Con-
gress to charter National Bank, which then
avowed in the pre- ,ence of your fathers, and of
many who still survive among you, and which,
as your Representative, strenuously urged in
1919, are still maintained with abiding and I'M
diminished conviction. ] was then sustained
by the people of this district, with almost entire
unanmity, and therefore take leave TO say,
that if any of them are converts to new opinions,
they might at least have granted to me, as the
Chief Magistrate, bound BY oath to support the
Constitution, the benefit of the new lights OF
reason, which have been shed upon them before
they united with others, in a spirit of unqualified
denunciation. What would they have me do
Would they have me sacrifice the consistency
of my past life, for party ends2 Or, what is Of
far more importance, both morally and POLITICAL
ly, would they require ofthe Chief Magistrate Of
this glorious Union, to surrender all claim TO
their respect, by violating his oath of office, in
order to crafty the moloch Of party. If they
would have so great sacrifice, then am proud
to say, they will not receive it at my hands. /
censure no man for his opinion on this or any
other subject-but while award to him the
right to think for himself, should he not exempt
me from his denunciations because cannot
think as he does
beg you TO be assured, gentlemen, that the
invectives to which have been subjected, have
in no degree disturbed my equanimity. Amid
the torrents of abuse, no matter by what mo-
tives dictated. which have been uttered against
me, "my pulse has kept as healthful music"
as if nothing had occurred. The light reflected
from burning etiigies, has only served to
render the path Of duty more plain. In that
path | shall walk, my confidence being placed
in the patriotism, discernment and intelligence
of the American people, whose interests are al
ways best sustained by firm observance Of
constitutional requirements
| tender to you, individually, assurances of
great personal regard.
JOHN TYLER.
To Edward G.. Crump, George Williamson,
John G. Crump, William II. c. Douglass. and
Chesley Jones-Commltee