Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-17
FOR the ENQUIRER
WI, r .,;,o W NJ, 1914

TO the Delegates and theIf JleTHaeS 10 inc DeWOcFatC
Repu6lieaa Contention about to assemble IN Baltimore,
from the Sirth Congressional District IF Vrgaia.
Gentlemen: |, with yourselves, was generously Sc
lected bv the District Convention which convened in
the CITY of Richmond in January last to carry out the
will Of the Democracy Of this District in the Baltimore
Convent in The choice of suitable candidates for
the Presidency aud Vice Presidency Of the United
States.
Much as desire TO mingc and interchange my views
and opinions with you on this momeEtous occasion, II
is utterly impossible, on account OF the situation oil my
family, TO commune with you in person. as well rs the
Represe natives of the Democracy from all portions
of our glorious Union. Under these circumstances, ii
IS duty | owe TO you, tn myself TO my country, as
we'll as those Immediately represent, 10 "defne my
POSITION, and give the reasons which have led TO the
same.
Having been an ardent and JEALOUS, though neifi.
Gent friend Of Mr. Van Buren, from the moment he
was brought before The American people for the most
exalted station in the word-and, far as recolecl,
the first man in the county in which live-to avow
publicly my preference for hIn-and, again, after he
was defeated by the frauds and corruptions of s40 and
when i, seemed TO be the Simultaneous wish in every
part OF The country, that lie (hlf Van BUREN, was the
man 10 rebuke the reckless conduct of those who had,
by foul and daring deeds brought lasting disgrace on
our be!oYed country, had thus looked on him, almost
up to the time Of writing this letter, he choice OF
large portion Of the Republican party. Butnow, on the
eve OF this great crisis, looking with deep interest 10
the developments Of public opinion from almost all
quarters Of the country, | am admon'shed that we
should pause before lose all that's dear TO reemen
I, is with the greatest pain that | am compelled un
der deep Of the obligations that owe my
try to say, that much | admire the character Of
Mr.. Van Buren,, both public and private, yet his pre-
tensions, at this time, are unavailable. Having ENJOY
ed personal acquaintance with Mr.. Van Buren,, !
have ever thought him accomplished gentleman
of fascinating manners-in intellectual power, Of
The first men OF the age-remarkabe for his great
knowledge Of manknd-one of the greatest Statesmen
in the Union, we'll devoted lover of his country
and her institutions-and in every way most su,a-
BILE man TO preside over free People. Bnt the voice
of the Nation at this timo 10 against him.
Let US, then, gentlemen, sacrifice our own personal
feelings Aye, Sirs ard to our country and our
countrys cause, the patriot, Van Buren,, will sacrl-
fee himself on the altar Of his country! Apart from
the wishes Of the Republican Party, lie never would
have consented 10 have been Candidate; and now at
this late PERIOD if any considerable portion of his friends
think with me- have doubt he would be glad 10 be
rel,ev we'd from The position in which he is placed.
The question: then, will arise, where shall We
find candidates for the two Ciices-that Of Presi
dent and Vice President of The United States: AS
to the latter, public opinion from all quarters OF
the Union point to Richard NJ Johnson of Kentucky y,
TIE Hero OF the Thames His deeds Of valo! and OF pat
rotism, recorded The hearts OF his countrymen.
His VIII be presented for The second oicn in the
pitt of his country-rnd for the first office in the Re-
public, another veteran soldier, in the service of his
country at tine that tried "mens souls alude
10 the warrior and the Statesman Commodore Stewart,
v no, in our struggle for liberty and "salor rights,
covered himself and his countrys flag with imperish
able glory A son of Pennsy lyana, the Key Stone of
the Federal Arch-a son of that noble, dsin,eresed,
gallant State, that has done much for The cause Of
human llberiy--so much for the cause of Democra
cy-and who, on all occasions, had rather sacrifice
herself, than her country's honor should be tar
nished Srs, may not the light of day dawn upon us,
if this nomination be made . There other dis
tinguished men before the country-aye Sirs from
"the sunny South, too, that we nigh prefer But is
there remote probability Of eec,ng either of them?
None whatever. The Democratic Party have host
Of names mig mention, who have done much for
the bleeding of our country but Stewart and
johnson have not only done the same, but, in dark
and gloomy hour, CALAMITY borne themselves in the
"batls and the breeze, poured out their blood like
water, ready TO spill the last drop at their
,rys call They beat back the invading foreign foe
they can now, with the aid OF the unconqueruble De-
mocTacy, beat back the Federalists, the enemies Of
liberty and the invaders of the Constitution, that ark
of our safely Make this nomination, and we are safe
1t will be responded to by the inmates of every log
cabn in the valley Of the Great Nlssissppi-from The
Rocky Mountains to the Seashore-from the nndula
ting bill and dale Of Texas, TO the granite hills of
Maine and New Hampshire, with one general and
simultaneous shout for Stewart Johnson, Liberty and
the Constitution
have thus, gentlemen, to avoid the charge of being
unwilling to divide the respops hy with you in the
station in which we have been placed, given you in
concise the course that have marked out for
myself Should you, in communion with The delegates
oil the great family Of the Democracy, come to cthsT
conclusions, will cheerfuly ncquiesce and do all IN
my power the country from the hands OF those
who have trampled public liberty under foot, and
brough, lasting national disgrace on our country.
With the most profound respect yours,