Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-01-23
A LETTER FROM Hos. WIN. c. RIYEs.

HIVES, lale senator Oh lHe Unlleu states lToH Tie
State of Virginia, by requests addressed to him to
become a candidate for election TO the House of
Representatives of the United States in the District
in which he resides:
CASTLE HILL, JANUARY A, lS47.
GENTLEMEN / had the honor to receive yesterday your
communication of the 18th ultmo, in which, portion Of
the delegation appointed by the Wings of Bedford to the Con
venon about to be assembled for the purpose of nominating
a candidate for this Congressional district you desire be in
formed if would consent to become candidate should my
appear be object OF favor in the Convention.
most deeply sensible of the honor done me by this ap
pcation proceeding from gentlemen of well known standing,
part of the district where my personal acqualnt
very limited and whose high intelligence and patriot
ism sufficiently atested by the large and enlightened views
Of public affairs with which they have been pleased to
pany the atenng expression OF their wishes and sentiments
in regard TO myself Under these circumstances would be
Of sincere satisfaction me- if could find consis-
tent with other duties and feelings which am you will
respect to yield to the call you have made upon But,
after thirty years Of my life devoted the public service
IN capacity another, you will persuade myself not
deem unreasonable that now cherish ardent desire for
retirement the obligations which, indeed at this time
douby enforced by important ducay trusts in which the
Interests of others concerned well by the duties
owe my own family. am, moreover well persuaded that
there both younger and bette soldiers in the district
less obnoxious to the party resenments which long
nexon with public life too frequently begets who would be
able conduct the with better prospects of
and certain
My views Of the interests of the public cause then, less
than the urgent claims of private duty and feeling mpel
request most respectfully but the time
and decidedly, that may be considered of the
honored numbered out Of whom the Convention will make
their selection If candidate for the Fifth Congressional Dis
ct have had my share Of the honors and struggles of
public life; and shall cherish feeling of deep and af
iectlonae gratitude the voters of this native district for
the generous and stedas, support have received their
hands Mine, be the humber but not less pleasing of
ce as one of the people, to give jealous support TO those
whose superior merits and the public confidence shall bring
forward i'll their turn to perform their tour of honorable
vice. and TO receive its appropriate rewards.
agree with you, gentlemen entirely in the views you
orcby OF the grave and disastrous position
public affairs. Never has there teen period in the pro
OF institutions appealing emny to the reec
tive patriotism of the country feel all the obligations it i'm
poses upon every good citizen and my voice, though in
private aton shall not be wanting arousing the
vigilance for the safety We have blind spi
r of party rage, urged by Executive instgaon, in
gle session of Congress- eveng the ground estab
hed and weltried systems of national policy coeval with
the constitution and identified with the vital interests of the
national prosperity he tariff of 1882 though proved by
the best OF all tests its actual operation, to have been highly
saluary and bengnant measure ruthessy sacrificed
appease the spirit OF party vengeance because of
the Of Wing Congress and, the other hand,
the fell spirit wiuy restored to the statute book the
odous Subtreasuy which had been most gnay condemned
and rejected Ivy the deliberate of the naon because
Whg Congress happened be the instrument of executing
the national judgment upon it.
The pervese spirit in its heedessness its blindness
has been ready TO sport with the external peace with
the domestic interests and prosperity of the nation We
saved by the fmness and wisdom Of the Senate from de-
structve with England, into which the headong and
shoTtsghted counse OF the President fast hurying
only to be plunged by his unscrupulpus assumption power
against the planes mandates the constitution, into bloody
expensive, unsecmy, and embarrassing with the Repub
lie of Mexico. That the with Mexico brought
BY the single act OF the President ordering the hostile ad
of the army territory claimed by Mexico, and of
which she held and had continually held the actual urisdc
on is proposition too clearly estabshedby incontrovebe
acts 10 admit Of discussion He himself mpedly conesses
by the sudous and elaborate display of alleged of
against Mexico set forth in his late message which par
takes far of the character of manifesto Justify what
he had done, than annual communication the state of
the nation the Houses Of Congress- Suppose all this
long list Of grievances and complaints be weounded, al
though Congress had sept them, and Mr. Polk roundy
takes them to task for having done whom did belong
under our republican SYSTEM to adopt the last resort Of
ons for their redres-to the President Congress The
constitution itself wes-COngrSs shall have power de-
clare From what source then, aboce the constitution
did Mr. Polk derive his authority 10 make upon Mexico
There is but answer-hs will.
In the presence Of fragrant aud dangerous usurpaon
Of monarchca prerogaye under limited constitution the
nee people Of America must have degeneraed sadly indeed
from their se if they should permit themselves 10 be gagged
by Executive proclamation of code of constructive
from openly and boldly expressing theiropnons upon
the origin, conduct and tendencies Of this of the Pres
dents making, which the best blood Of the country
has been already poured out like water and which threatens
to grind the faces OF the people by accumulated debt and
While we rally to the flag of our country, under all crcum
stances, with fa devotion, let not be unmndul of what
to its liberties and its free constitution. Foreign
have often been made cloak for the Introduction and
bshment of arbitrary power at home With this design,
Charles H. of England made the memorable upon the
Republic of Holland in 1872, between which and the
wagng by the OF the President, upon the Re
public OF Mexico there this among other circumstances of
remarkable parae-hat Charles H. opened the Dutch war
with proclamation denouncing vengeance against all
who should speak undutuy Of bis Majesys measures
Mr. Polk now accompanies the Mexican with denunc-
alton traitors of those who shall presume differ with him
in regard to the rghtfulness OF its origin.
need not remind you gentlemen, how the language
OF official denuncaton and menace employed and with
what effect to silence the noble advocates Of the rights Of
america in the British Parliament, at the period when
took equal and independent station among the nations of
the earth. Lord Chatham stood up and declared, with the
majesty OF freebom Britain, that though the liberty of
speech was imputed crime, it liberty he should
continue TO exercise, and by which the Minister if he
wise, would profit" Edmund Burke with the irresistible
Of and oquence combined dsspatcd the
nsoen sophsm by which Mr. Polk seeks screen him
self from responsibility and st the freedom of opinion
by triumphanty replying that con the principle of this
gumen, the msches suffer from an Administration
once gct into 1od, and then their p0,cr safc and an
acl cf fobGrion passed far all their misconduct"
Let not Mr. Polk, them indul the and presumptuous
that because he has gotten
Gus, and probably proraced war; he will thereby escape in
quy into the official acts by which this Of things has
been produced The time has come if ever, when of