Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-26

| -, p;dancy who has been ussailed by foreign in
| duence-by the nonied power at home-oy hauon'en'
votes. THESE circumstances, o'hers oeihg equai' e."
title him 10 some personal preference, and so Tar as
am myself concerned am happy 10 say, that private
feelnr and sense Of public duty will unite IN ms
favor. . a,,
cbccifullg concur ynar proposition 50 eehe'e"y
conCu-red IL all over The Unon, Tor Na''o"' S
lion 20 declare the vii ot The people IN feiaoh " '
candidates FIR the Presidency and ice Presidency
see no Other means harmonic "pnoi5 ana 70 pre-
vent the election from soiog to the II all OF Inc house
r. such u cunvention constituted IN the usua FORM,
there will no doub, be general submission by all the
candidates Rome was SIX hundred years DID, and men
owned armies before the candidates for the consushp
refused TO submit to the popular voice trust IL VIII
be much LONGER before Presidential candidates re-
fuse TO submit TO the same voice in our country
Respectfully, gentlemen,
Your obliged fellow citizen,
THOMAS n. BENTON.
To H. Boyce and others, Committee.
WAsM!SGroS, Jan =, 1913.
Gentsuen-- have your favor inviting me on behalf
cf the Deeocraiic citizens Of The city and county OF
pbiiadeuhia ho friendly 20 the selection BY Ma
tional Convention of Martin Van Buren, rs the Demo
cratic candidate FOR the mex, Presidential term, to meet
,hcm Saturday evening next TO celebrate The Ami
versa.y ofthe battle of New Orleans
Nv well known attachment 10 and confidence IN Mr.
| Van BureG, both IS 4 citizen and statesman, must
satisfy you and those for whom you act, that could
not but take pleasure in meeting political friends of
sister Stale who appreciate him as do; nor can It be
necessary FOR me to say, that entertain the same pre-
ference on the suhject of the next Democratic nomi
nation for the Presidency, which is expressed in your
| letter.
II is true, tina, MIR. Van Buren, has once held this
hyh Office and it is rs true, as believe, that he
the service OF his country, 0nd lis political party, in
that elevated SITUATION he stricken dawn By his
political Opponents solely because he adhered, with
DEVOTION above selfish considerations, to the mos,
cherished aud vital principles OF that party. This,
belieye TO be, at this day, tie deep and settled conyc-
ton Of the great body OF the Democracy OF the coun
Try. IT, them the great principle which were wounded
by the blows aimed al him, and which were arrested
by his fall again to be revived and put in pructce By
the Democracy-f the sound and sale policy which he
was pursuing in the government of the country, and
which was overcome in his defeat is again 10 be adopt,
i'd and constitute the policy Of the next Democratic
Administration ii to NE as polite rs just, shat
with the principles and the policy, the faithful public
servant, who fell their defence, should also be taken
from under the feet Of The common enemy TO both, ard
he permitted 10 triumph vgilh them.
! rs mere consideration, connected with aii. Van
8uren, personally this is very small matter, how.
ever sensibly his immediate personal friends or bin.
self may feel as The political fate and fortune of any
one in this wide country, must be a very snail
matter in itself consdered-but to The integrity and
strength, and permanent ascendancy OF the great De-
mocratc party, il presents itself 10 my mind with en-.
largcd Importance II may be 10 determine, whether
/ he who bearing in his hands the highest political rns,
Of that party shall wisely, and firmly aud patotcay
adhere its deares, principles, and falls in their de
fence be raised again WITH the returning power Of
the party or is be left wounded upon the field, after
The enemy is driven back Ii be 10 presen! 10 the
minds Of all future Republican Presidents, the ques,
ton whether they shall practise fidelity TO the party
ard principles at Tie hazard Of their station, with
safe reliance upon its justice, when II Shall have the
. oower or whether they shall yield before powerful
political counter current aud save their places, rather
! han their principles.
/ In making these remarks, am sure | shall not be
suspected OF design 10 dispa!age any of the dIsn
gGished competitors of Mr. Van Buren, for This high
distinction. With all Of those gentlemen, SO far
know who they are, my relations, personal and po
| eel, are entirely friendly, ard, if ! know myself,
would not do towards either Of them act Of injury
or injustice. They have all fearessly and ably sus
tanned Mr. Van Buren, as President, the principles anc
I policy Of his Administration, and himself as cand
date Cor lection. II no higher motive impel!ed
nay appreciation Of him as statesman, and 4 man
#aud entle him 10 ny gratitude for these public acs.
IT, then, shall. 10 interfere with their claims
upon Tie country, ana party, in this expression o
my preferences for han, Gun only reply, that the
Trend who SEEMS TO me to have received the pEEPEs1
wounds IL the common cause, is Tue who CON
monds my FIRST attention, and, believing that friend
equal To the Others both in power and dispositions ia
sustain common principles, and serve our common
| country, he IL my preference.
r., in all this personal attachments, than pat.
ro.ic considerations hage controlled ny choice am
sure may be permitted 10 say, tina, am not Of
the fact, do no, know that am ever have been,
indebted tc Mr. Van Buren,, beyond the obligations
which h;s personal and political friendship have i'm
posed: and those obligations, whatever they mag be,
hive had apparent existence on his part, in all onr
personal ard political acquaintance.
! an,, however gentlemen, protracling my remarks
upon this point altogether beyond my inenIiou and
perhaps subecng myself at least TO the suspicion of the
( existence Of that influence seek 10 avoid. | will cen
cude therefore b. saying, have not doubt that, in
rronounSnc my preference as TO this nomination
speak the eengS OF lie great mass OF the Democracy
OF my State So far as my information enables me 10
form an opinion that ia Still should not feel al
Liberty attend meetings of the Republicans Of other
States attempt by any efforts Of mine to force the
preferences of The Republicans of New York upon them
e. Tar as nomination to Office is concerned, and when
those preferences in favor of fellow citizen Of the
State aad subject 10 TIC 1usrcon Of local personal
/ paralities.
In SO FAR your meeting has for lis object the cee
Jra,on OF anniversary among The pTondest in our
nation history, il would afford me the highest pleasure
to unite With you, bat | am sGre You and those for
my deiy if remain Mt my place here, and my hun,
bic eirs In refund TO him whose conduct and courage
gaze The anniversary TO his country, the fine imposed
upon Inn for the Gct
am, gentlemen,
With great respect,
Your fellow citizen
iSCned) SILAS WRIGHT, Jr.
! To the Committee, &c.