The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-28
To THE PEOPLE OF THE FIFTH CON
GREs SIGNAL DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

II is proper thst should explain the event which
has SO suddenly and unel peeedy dissolved The ties
which lately bound together as eonsli'u' mt and re
preventative. / have b.ea transferred from one posi-
TO another but | have abandoned your service
In conserving to the change, have no apprehension
that have in the sghies, degree, impaired that con
6dence which you SO generously reposed in me.
feel conscious that with full knowledge Of all the
circumstances, you would agree with me in believing
that, as citizen of the United States, and your
Representative, have done my duty. IL is not usual
for repre- sentaves TO AK their constituents TO excuse
them for accepting Executive appointments; but un
der the peculiar circumstances of oar relations, and
with your knowledge ofmy of,en-repealed convictions
freprese NATIVE proprety such occasions while
have felt at liberty 10 disregard the calls of private
friendship and of public duty this occasion, fee
that cannot take leave Of you without the assurance
hat 10 attempting TO dlscharges high Executive trust
in the present uneXampled state Of affairs, have
been influenced by no selfish or personal motive. i,
Is known to many of you that had long since decsr
oil my purpose of retiring from public life at the cIoss
OF the present Congress The confidence Of the Pre-
sident, and the parality Of other friends induced
them think that could possibly render some all in
the public service, at time and under circumsan noes
which trust will prevent the most unchsritable from
imputing to me any other motive than a sense Of
duty.
The circumsta noes TO which have alluded will
plain, hope satisfactorily, that there nothing in
the relations between you and myself 10 forbid the
step which have taken. There was certainly no.
thing IN the personal or political relations between
the President and myse which could under the cir
cumstances in which he is placed, have justified me,
had turned deaf ear u his in ,itation to his Cab'
net. They have been always kind and intimate, and
frequently confidential.
In leaving the House Of Representatives, can sp-
peal TO its journals and to you witnesses that have
employed the humble means within my reach to
s ain the abuses of the Federal Government ard 10
vndicate the rights ofhe People. While there had
agency in any efforts to procure the election OF
any to the Presidency. My short expert
snce in the councils of th. Government has
confirmed the apprehensions | have long
tertained from what ! fear may be considered
the business of President. making | have long seen
that the country had little 10 gain TO lose from
the collection of one man or the defeat of another
that Government, properly considered, could mol
command any permanent interest in the eyes the
affections OF the People merely from capricous pre-
erences or preudces for against individuals
that parties as the agents Of reform ia the Govern
ment should themselves be controlled by higher mo-
ves OF patriotism than these before they could
complish their great end-the public good. | have
regarded men as mere agents, and their elevation as
only the means OF securing measures and principles
not the ends either OF Government Of party or
ganzation. With these guides have generally pro
fcss'd TO be a party man. though have never been
ambitious of the merit or the reward of a partisan.
cherished the hope, in l84l, that the long desr,
eG and often promised reiurm Of the Government
about TO be effected not by the results of sin
lyle election, but by gradual reform in political par
ties themselves In attempting TO maintain, as the
representative OF the late 18th district the principles
which, in common with SO many of you, had zeal
Aously advocated prior to my election found my sell
separated, in party sense from those with whom
believed was united not merely by party name,
but by m,tyes Of action which could be strength
ened or impaired by the availability of party name
or candidate. ! was forced to choose between my
party associations and my political principles. dis
not hesitate. As private citizen could have Sc
ect between the alternatives with impunity. As
repre- entatiye, however, and as one who though
the favor of the People had enjoyed their confidence
to an extent which ascrbed to my views of public
policy, far more than TO any personal claims which
possessed TO that favor, felt bound to present
Wysef last spring before you candidate for your
suhrages l did not solicit these suffrages on the
ground Of any personal claim whatever. Still les,
did court them on the ground Of my devotion to any
candidate who might solicit them hereafter for tn.
higher AID more responsible Office Of President.
a-eiare myself emphslcally the advocate of certain
political prlnopies-rncples Of legislation and Of
administrative policy which | believed paramount
and which desired 10 practically enforced in all
the Departments CT the Government ] hailed IN,
election, therefore, not a personal triumph over
my competitor, but as an evidence that the People
represent, aCreeGm
with me IN The principles which protested
will avail myself Of this occasion 10 reerate nv
devotion 10 those principles which have so often ard
publicly advocated through good and through evil re
port, and Inch have exposed me, with many Others
to the reproach Of being a5stractionsis. / believe
they are the only principles capable Of restraining free
government within the limits Of its trust and guarding
efiectually the rights of the People. With heart,
good Will have endeasored to aid in correcting the
abuses Of the Federal Government during the short
time have been associated IN lis councils Among
The chief OF these, and the fruitful source Of nearl,
all the rest, considered the dangerous principe OF
construction, by which those invested with authority
4 IN any Department of Government assumed to en-
large their discretion beyond the terms and obvious
meaning oil the Constitution IL the Government has
Jailed To iswer any Of the ends for which il was
Horned IL Is better and safer TO correct its defects
snd even solve the doubts TO its objects by the
agency OF those who grnated the trust than by the
trustee. The princpls Of justice and virtue which
control individuals are the true principles OF Govern
ment They are few and simple. They are the onl,
foundations OF republic.
declared, IN lS4l, that did not wish 10 see the
PRESIDENT surrounded by party that wished to test
| The problem whether our Government could be ad
minslered Without party ehieanery or political or
ganzaion pledged IN advance 10 approve or 10 cen
sure public men and measures regfet that the ex
pertinent has so far only encouraged the opoion
too prevalent before, that the energy of our nstitu
tons resides in parties and not 10 the laws. The
constitution ana The People ] regret hat ma
IJoriios are supposed TO possess more virtue aud
heaoy than the measures by which they are 10 pro
mote The public good But parties alone canpo, de
.stioy The Republic. II not beneficial they orc car
tainiy not dangerous, when organized ar /, con-
centrate public opinion on the MEASURES which sb,I
lie adopted, rather than on the men who are to ere
cute tLem. Elections may be decided by large ma
rities, these majcriiies may change like like the =,
ricious breeze, yet nothing msy I've determined a. .,
he policy Of Government. Mere Presidential car e
oi all others, are most dangerous. They must sacri
nee me IN eress o. the many The ambit on of The
few. They degrade the $ andard of .,stcsm.nsb; II