Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-05
POLITICAL.
t,,o,0 n, yMad,sonian u RsdatSdag Ersnins
, THE PEOPLE of THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL
r CAwrHoS, Secrttdr

-. ,r,r ppopt pF THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL Dis
~. r,;,;,.rs. /, is proper that should plan
The event which has suddenly ana une3Prceoy 20
solved the ties which a'ey bound US '"ge'hef Us co"
s,i,uent and Representative nave oeen ifahs'sHeu
r,,o, ono nost 10 another, hut have not abanoohe"
- ,,;ce In consent,nc to The change, have M
snrsbension that have. The slightest degree, I'M
,a,red that confidence which you SO generously re-
r.d :, mo feel conscious that, with tut know
sd,e &c oI the crcumstances you would gree win ne
;, hsLevtoo Tint as ciiZ"n OF The Un'ieo o'a'es'
od "a von, Rporesent,t,ve, have done my duty. II
M, r,,l FIR CONSERVATIVES to ask their constituents
10 excusp th-m for accepting Executive appointments
but nnder the peculiar circumstances OF our reiauo'
and with your knowledge OF my 'en-1epea'eo conVe'
tions of representative PoPr'ey on snch occas"ns'
While have moi lsl at liberty TO ds'egaro the cais
Of private friendship and OF public DUTY on TINS
sions feel that cannot take ieaVe OF you "''nou'
the assurance that, in attempting 10 oschnrge ngh
Execnye trust in the present unexampled STATE OF our
Ca. have been influenced by no selfish or person
/ Al mo,,ye II is known tn MANY OF you that mao
onp since declred my purpose Of fetfing rom P"oe
life nj The close of ihs present Congress Inc conn
dance of the President, ard The partaity OF otner
friends induced them to think That could Possiby rem
der some aid in the public service OF time ana un"e'
circumstances which, trust, will prevent the most I'M
charitable from imputing TO me any o'nef motive tnah
q sense OF duly NJ.
plan hope satisfactorily, that there wns nothing ~
Tho relations between you and myself to forbid the step
which have taken. There was certainly nothing w
the personal or pol teal relations between the resi-
dent and ysef hch could under The circumstances
IN a bcb he is placed have justified me, had turned
daar e,r,o b,s invitation 10 his Cabinet. They have
been always kind and intimate and frequently conf
dent al.
In leaving the House Of Representatives, | can ap-
neal 10 s journals md 10 you as witnesses, lhal nave
em,loved the humhle means within my reach I, re-
strain the abuses of the F~dera Government and TO
Wind Gaze The rights of the People While there had
no agency IN any -rs 10 procure the election OF any
man t the Presidency My short experience IN the
councils of TINS Government has confirmed The appre-
tensions have long ensrtalned from that tear may
now be- considered the business Of President making
have long seen, that the country had little TO gain or
In lose rom the mere election of The defeat
of another; that Government, properly considered,
could command any permanent interest IN the eyes
or the affections OF tn People merely from caprcious
preferences preudces for or against mere lndVidu-
als that parties the agents of eiorm the Govern
me nj should themselves be controlled by higher mo-
Of patriotism than these before they could accom-
pit their great end the public good have regarded
men os agents, and iher elevation as only the
of securing and principles not as the
either of Government Of party organ'za'ion-
With hese guides, have generally pr"frssed II be
party man, though have never been ambitious OF The
the reward of q partisan.
! cherished the hope in lo4l, that the long desired
und Often promised reform of the Government was
about to be effected: not by the results of single
election but by gradual reform in political parties
themselves. In attempting 10 MAINTAIN, as the repre-
sentative OF the late l2h district, the principles which,
in common with many of you, had zeaously adVo
Gated prior to my election, found MYSELF separated,
in party sense from those with whom believed /
was UNITED, merely by party name, but BY mo-
ves Of acton which could not be strengthened or I'M
paired BY the availability Of party name or n candi
date forced To choose between my party asso
ciaior and my political principles did not hesitate
As n private citizen, | could have selected between
the alternatives with mpunty As a representative,
however and who through The favor OF the peo-
pie had enjoyed their confidence IN an extent which
ascribed to my OF public policy, far more than to
any personal claims which possessed TO that Ia
yor felt bound to present myself last spring before
you a cand date for your suffrages. did not soil
CIT SURFACES the ground OF any personal claim
whatever SuIl l-ss did | court them on the ground
of my devotion to any candidate who mgnt solicit
them hereafter for the higher and more responsible
office Of President. declared myself emphatcaly The
advocate of certain political principles principles O!
legislation and of administrative policy, which be-
Inc led paramount, and which desired to see pracl.
cay enforced in oil the departments Of the Govern
ment | hailed my election, therefore, not as per-
s,pal triumph my competitor, but as an evidence
ira, The people, whom il was my high privilege to re-
present, agreed with in the principles which pro-
essed
will all yself this occasion TO reiterae my deyo-
ion {, those principles which have often and publicly
advocated, through good and through evil report, and
Inch have exposrd me, with meny others, 10 tne re-
pr, ach Of being 'abstraconIsIs believe they ar
the only principles capable OF restraining Tree govern
me nj within the lms oil lis trust aud guarding etc-
luay he rights Of the people. With hearty good wall
have endpnvnred to aid in correcting the abuses OF thr
F. dpral Government, during the short time have
been associated in its councils. Among the chief of
these end the fruitful Of nearly all the rest,
considered the dangerous principle OF construction, ny
which those invested with authority any u" par'men'
If Government assumed TO enlarge their discretion ne
yond the terms and obvious meaning OF the Ionsttu
uou If the Government has failed TO answer my o'
The ends for which formed it is better nnc safer
l., correct its defects and solve the doubts as Il
It's Objects by the agency Of those who granted tnf
trust, than by the trustee the principles OF Justic
and virtue which control individuals, are The true prn-
c'ples of Government They are few and SIMPLE lhel
are the only foundations of republic
declared, in lSIl that did not wish TO see tl'
President surrounded by party; that wished 10 tes
| the problem wht Their Government could be ADM
nstered without party chlcanery or political orean'zi
,ion pledged in advance 10 approve 10 censure pun
lie md asures ] regret that The experiment
has far only encouraged the opinion too prevalent
FORE that the energy Of institutions resides IN
parties and not in the laws, the Constitution and the
people. | regret that ma ures are supposed u pos
SIS more virtue and efficacy than the measures b.
" hch they 10 promote the public 60 d But par
ties alone cannot destroy HE Republic II not oene-
cal, they certainly no, dangerous when so orga-
nlzpd poblIc opinion, on the measures
which shall be adopted, rather than on Inc me" "h"
are to execute them. Elections may be decided ~
large major es. these maior,es may change Ike the
caprlcous bretzs, yet, nothing may be determined us
to the policy of Government. Mere Presidential par
ties, of all others, are most dangerous lhey mus
sacr,fce the interests of the many 10 the ambition OF
the few. They degrade the standard OF sta'esmans5,P
and poue the of public virtue and lntsi
gence by rendering Government mere Job Tor The
| d slrbution of rewards and punishments
len,ered Congress with these apprehensions leave
it with the proud consciousness iha, never acSnow
ledsed while there any bu, that of my country
that have done what could to preserve the Consru
ton. and u guard The public lihert es-Thoueh do
MT succeed To enlIile me II be regarded as a
public benelac,or, desire i, 10 be remembered, by
those whom | have represented, that in their nam
| proposed some measures whrchl deem Indispensable
10 the great work Of reform. Among these were the
entire separation Of the political press from the patron
age OF Government and the requ,silon on the Executive
10 report the Senate tie reasons Tor all removals from
office ] cherished hope, that The time will CONE
when the beneficial ecs of these reforms will be ieI'
Il Il will do In rr-