Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-01-10
To the Trccmcn ofthc tate Fifth Congregational
District of Vermont.


FELLOW CITIZEN As the incumbent of an
office is always considered as desiring to be elect
cd once more unless he publicly declines, and as
| have now arrived at an aGeiha requires rcp0Sc.
and vet not so old as to be insansblc Of my infrm
itics deem this a suitable time to make known ID
YOU as now do and to those who with YOU con-
stue the Fourth Congressional District that |
shall not be a candidate at your next election Pub
lie men are ap, to talk of themselves, wherefore |
proceed Allow me to remind YOU that four
times at dhtrcn, periods within the last quarter OF
century, Vou have chosen me- and three times
have been elected your representative in Con
grcss Once your voice was overrulod by those
who were then comparatively strangers TO me.
This was soon after the census of 1920, when,
Vermont having lost member by the new ap.
portionmcnt the election was by general ticket
These repeated marks Of respect and attachment
manifested whenever my friends have presented
me- as candidate for your suffrages, have given
me feelings Of the deepest gratitude for what can
be more gratifying than the continued support Of
constituents as enlightened as any others, and Of
patriotism pure the mountain air they
breathe.
Please now, gentlemen, accept my warmcst
8, ~ - Co." h, ,'oii ""d
have been nothing more than you attentive repre-
I
/ | have attended and the portion thus far Of tn,
present sessions, a kind Providence has given me
such a measure of health, that have not beer
abscn, from my scat in the House of representa-
tivcs a sigle diy nor any material part ola day
This, together. with the incidental duties Of IN,
station, and votes given in all eases according Il
the best Of my judgemcnc constitute the substance o
the services have rendered you. | wished
could have served you better have never mad
a speech in Congress 1t is known TO you all tina
my life has been chiefly devoted to my profession
and to many of YOU that IN carly life | had no ast
for politics and of course never had more than
commonplace knowledge of public affairs, sucl
us every man who loves his country should nc
quirc; and knew that had not a snficicn, fun
OF Information, manner attractive enough 4
oDlighton or interest the respectable body of whic
was a member And as to speeches made 70
Bunkum as those are called that are spoken nc
to be heard but to be sent home and printed in tn
District papers, their delivery is always distressing
to all concerned Besides, when | came in,
Congress there were, and there have Away
been many able and eloquent debaters, but the de
mand for good iNrn'rs was gfeat, and the SUI
ply small and being ambitious ofdisinction. an
having the vanity to believe myself tolcrably wei
qualified f,r this arm ofthe public service, cor
cIuded to Join the small but silent corps of heaj
ers and took my seat accordingly among the s
lent and limiting members in that part of tn
Hall since called Sleepy Hollow"
Although 1t may not be appropriate, yet,yo
viii permit me, in taking this my final leave
for some Of you we'll remember tina, this is NJ
the first time that | have declined being cand
daiol to also thank rou for the very liberal sbar
OF patronage which YOU and your ancestors hay
given me in my profession. for the somewhat'pr'
G. tracted period Of iorysiX years, since came
+ monC you Stripping lawyer aged twenty years
e Finally may the al-wse being who contro
! the destiny Of nations protect aud perpctuate OF
free institutions and uay the God Of Heaven ha
ten the time when Slavery shall exist only onI
a in the Internal regions, where il originated ar
/ where is inflicted for crime and not for color,
JOHN ATTOCKS