The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-27
TO MY LATE CONSTITUENTS.
FELLow-C ITIzENs

TO MY LATE CONSTITUENTS.
FLLLowCITIzENs:
Il have ceased to be your Representative. The
President by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate having appointed me, the 9Th inst Minis
ter of the u States to Brazil notified tho Governor
of Virginia. and the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives the 10Th inst Of my resignation of the
seat in Congress TO which you, SIX times successive
ly, elected me.
In approaching the painful task of saying parting
wotd you before leave the country fer the foreign
station to which now belong, my heart swells with
| emotions which nor tongue nor pen can express
| You have done everything for me, and been every
thing to me- At the earliest eligible period Of life
you took me up, poor boy, without adequate merit,
and you have since upheld me by your gracious
confidence, though my faults and infrmites have
been many and great. Your favor has been a
failing source OF pride and preerment Your afiec.
ton has been silent and still; but it deep and
| full tide, upon which the bark Of my fortunes and
destiny has hoated in safety, upon the smooth
Of snug harbor, rage as the storm might without
You never left me-never forsook me. Come what
dd-err as might-let others revile as they would
though the rest Of the world may have been in
| arms against me-return when would--you were
ready to receive with open and to press
| me to your bosoms. You were to me as kind pa
rents guardians and frcnds--as the best of soyer-
eigns, the most gracious and liberal to bestow the
| highest honors and the most generous rewards We
| never knew each other as politicians and party
relations were those solely and sweety Of "Rsp.
reseaatiue and Constituents" You were just to all
my deserts, forgave all my alterations excused all
my infrmities, bore patiently with all my weakness
es more than rewarded all my services, and resented
and vindicsted all my wrongs. All! what have
done, what do to repay all these benefits con-
ferred-alI these blessings showered by you upon
mel have no goods to hestow upon the poor-no
ample fortunes with which to endow charities
point back to illustrous services rendered
you to our country to make you bless the day you
chose me for your Repr sentative. When | look
back upon the little | have done, am humbled in
the dust; and when look TO my means of giving
something to make up if possible, for my short-com-
ings, | only that have been too long in public
life to be rich in The good things Of this world No
il is time for myself and family that should retire
my friends, you all advise t-and the only legacy
have to leave you on my retirement is that which
the heart gyesa last ioord Of parting adr,ee and
sci. Would that could make it precious and prac-
tical-that could endear II TO you as keepsake, q
memento Of who has tried, at least, his very bes,
10 signalize his devotion TO your welfare, and who
has the most earnest desire TO you essen
TALLY by this very last act. What shall that "last
word" be- No selhshncss shall deface t-no party
topic shall desecrate this vaedctory 10 you, my old
cot sttuents and friends No passionate ii will be
piercing would make IL as "a two edged swoldn-
in sentiment elevated as the mountains, and sublime
your own old ocean. would have it startle your
attention and strike every and all your feelings
stern, severe, and plain utter it,
J :" Tar yourselves ~
( Az, bold as the word is in the mouth Of public
man, TO the ears Of suffering, bruised, broken Peo-
pe harassed by hard times and though it is uttered
with bleeding hear, and brmful eye-harsh as j,
= is, repeat it
"TAI IoURsELynsim
II had an archangcl's trump--the blast of which
1 could startle the living Of all the world would
snatch it at this moment and sound IT in the ears
ell the People of the debtor States and of the States
which have solitary, poor, "unwashod and uncomb
ed" child, untaught at free school
"TAX YOURSELVES lp'
= For WHAT
lst To pay your public STATE debt.
ID. To educate your ehiidren-epery child of htn-a
common primary free schools al STATE otorge
e That is my legacy Of advice 10 you before eav
my coun,ry's shores, to return, perhaps for
ever.
: Economy and Taraiion ~ should be the watch
j word and reply Of the Government and People o
every State In the Union. Nothing more is want,n,
to remedy the evils Of Hard Times
= The most awful calamity OF "hard timcsr is tbei
o depreciation upon public morals. They afford nave
the pretext and force weak men to dodet fheir b, -
They destroy confidence among those men who ar,
honest, and thus increase their own pressure. Blu
men Of stern integrity, of high honor, and Of bray
nerve, meet the difficulties Of the times, they look
debt and distress full IN the face, prepare to grapp
naniuy with them, and like proud and heroic free
men, with brows erect, come off more than conquer
ors-more than If covered with the sweat and du,
and blood OF thousand victorycrow ned ba
!, A true, brave, and an honest man rises with III.
crsi, in his own affairs. lie reduces expenditure,
he sells every unnecessary possession, he parts witt
every luxury, he saves every mite, he watches Gle &c
he works hard, and bears every privstIon until he i
free again, and until his honor is safe And az il il
o with true, honest and brave man. so should i, b,
with the State In Republic the honor Of the Stat
" Is more precious far than the individual honor of '
i cry man in IL and every true patriot in the Stat
h will be more jealous, tender Of the honor o
his State than of his own. He who deserts ia,
standard OF State honor, is the worst Of desert
ers, the bsscst Of traitors. Bear taxation then
lay II on heavy until every silver of the Com
g mon weaths debt is sunk, and every mor.ei o
public credit is saved. Look upon every dem
y gogue, Of whatever hue Of party, who comes befor
you denouncng taxation for the public debt, no mai
ter how what imposed as the deadc.t Of foes I,
the State--denouDce him a. one who would temu
you to di-honor. The madness of party will forge
not only State but individual honor; ii will sc, X 4
make capital of the If wisdom in the mer,
VI mode Of taxation Punish, beseech you, the Gu.
pnts, whoever they be, who would reckessy 6rupor
you indclibc shame and disgrace for tho mere form
sake Of taxation D.rust Ill attempts to disturb III,
operations ofs tar b. already passed. Dfsbeliev.
any set Of men who csme before you with false pro.
misses OF freedom from tar alton Listen only 10 those
sincere friends who will honestly tell you that YOU
rust be taxed, how much you ought 10 he t,yed and
who will counsel freely and fully with you before.