Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-28
FROM THE NATIONAL ,SrrllroEscnn.
A LETTER FROM HON. WIN. c. RlvEs

Representatives of the United States in the Dis
trict in which lie resides:
CAsrLE HILL, January 4, 1917.
GENTLEMEN II had the honor TO receive YES
terday your communication of the 10Th ultimo, i'm /
which, as portion of the delegation appointed by |
the Wings of Bedford TO the Convention about TO |
be assembled for the purpose of nominating candi
date ior this Congressional district, YOU desire TO
DE informed il would consent 10 become 4 caudi-
date, should my name appear TO be object of favor
IN the Convention,
1 am most deeply sensible of the honor done me
10y this application, proceeding from gentlemen of
well known standing, in remote part of the dis
trlct, where my personal acquaintance is very linn
tied, and whose high Intelligence and patriotism are
sufficiently a,tcsted 10y the large and enlightened
views of public affairs with which they have becn
pleased TO accompany the flat,erng expression of
their wishes and sentiments in regard to myself
Under these circumstances ii would bc Il source of
sincere satisfaction 10 me- if could find il conss-
tent with other duties and feelings, which am sure
you Will respect, To yield TO the call you have made
upon me. But. after near thirty wears of NV life
devoted to the public service in one capacity or an
other. you will, persuade myself not deem it I'M
reasonable that now cherish an ardent desire for
retirement, the obligations to which, indeed. at this
time are doubly enforced by important fiduciarv
trusts IN which the interests of others are concern
ed, as well as by the duties | owe nv own family
am, moreover, well persuaded that there are both
yonger and "bettcr soders'' in the district less oh
noXious to the party rescn,ments which long con
neXIon with public life too frequently bcgets. who
would he able TO conduct the canvass with far bet
ter prospects of easy and certain success
My views of the interests Of the public cause.
then, no less than the urgent claims of private ,lu
ty and feeling mpel me to request NEST respectful
~, but ut the same time most earnestly and dcci-
dedly, that may be considered one of the hon
ored number out OF whom the Convention will
make their selection of candidate for the Fifth
congressional District. | have had my share of
the honors and struggles of public life and shall
ever cherish feeling OF deep and aticconate orat
ltuue 10 the voters OF this my native district for the
generous and stedfast support | have received nj
their hands. Mine now be the humber bnt NOT
less pleasing Office, Of the people, TO give nv
Jealous support to those whose superior merits and
the public confidence shall bring forward. IN their
turn, TO perform their tour of honorable service and
TO receive It's appropriate rewards.
agree with you, gentlemen entirely i'm the
views you SO iorclby express Of the present grave
ana disastrous position of public affairs Never
mas there been period i'll the progress of cur ns,i
'utions appealing more soemny to the reflective
PatrloSn OF The country. feel all the obligations
III imposes upon every good citizen and my voice
'hough In private station shall not be wanting in
arousng the common vigilance for the common
safety. We have seen 4 blind spirit of partv rare
urged on by Executive nsligaiion i'm a single SEES
SION OF congress. dwelling to the ground long e,-
coeval with the constitution, and Unidentified with
ule vital interests of the national prosperity The
'diih oi Ic4<, though proved by the best of all
tests, It's actual operation, to have been hiohly
sanitary and benIgnant measure, was ruthessly sac
rihced to appease the spirit of party vengeance. be-
cause 1t was one of the measures OF a Who Con
gress; and, on the other hand the same fell shirt
Wi'iuiiy restored TO the staue-bOol the udiuus Sub
treasury, which had been most signally condemned
and rejected by the deliberate sense OF the nation
because 4 Wing Congress happened TO lie the in.
strument OF executing the national Judgment upon
it.
Inc same pervcrse spirit, in its heedcssness or
It's blindness, has been as ready TO sport with the
external peace as with the domestic interests and
prosperity OF the nation. We were saved hy the
hrmness and wisdom OF the Senate from dcstruc-
tive war with England, into which the headlonr
ana short-slghted cOGnses of the President were
1ast hurryng us, only 10 be plunged by his unscru
PuiouS assumption of power, against the plainest
mandates or The constitution, into bloody eXpen-
slve. unseemy, and embarrassing war with the Re
public of Mexico. That the war with Mexico was
Drought on by the single act of the President in or
neiihS 'he hostile advance of the army into a ter
rtory claimed by Mexico and of which she held
and had continually held, the actual iurisdiction is
proposition too clearly established by incoutroyer
'aoie Ia IT'S to admit of discussion. lie himself i'm
PiiedIy confeSseS 1t by the studous and elaborate
dlSPlay OF alleged causes Of war against Mexico
set fJrth In his late message, which partakes far
more oil the character of manifesto to Justify what
ne had done, than OF an annual communication on
'he state OF the nation 10 the two Houses of Con
sleSS; suppose all this long list OF grievances and
complaints TO be well founded, although CONGRESS-
Iad slept over them, (and Mr. Polk roundly takes
them TO task ior having done SOD to whom did it
Deiong, under our republican system, TO adopt the
last resort ct nations for their redres-to the Prcs
dent or to Congress? The constitution itself an
Swers-Cong1cSs shall have power TO declare war
rom what source, then, GL0Ue the constitution did
Nir. Polk derive his authority to make war upon
Mexico! There is but one answer-his own Will
IN the presence Of 50 fragrant and dangerous an
,usulPatioh OF monaTchical pTerOgative under our
ihhiteu constitution, the free people of America
must nave degeneraed sadly indeed from their sircs
III they should permit themselves TO be Uaored by
any Executive proclamation of new code of con
StrucuVe treason, from openly and boldly express
sing thor opinions upon the origin conduct; and
tendencies OF this war of the Presidents own max
ing, In which the best blood of the country has been
already poured out like water, and which threatens
10 grind the faces" Of the people by accumulated
neot ana taxes without any definite national object
II us prosecution. While we ralIv 10 thc AaT of
our country, under all circumstances with ilial de-
YoiiofI, let us not be unnnGful OF what we owe to
us Iertes and lis free constitution. Foreign wars
nave often been made cloak for the Introduction
and establishment of arbitrary bower at homo
with this design, Charles H. of ENGLAND made tl,o
memorable war upon the Republic Of Holland in
IO/I, between which and the war we arc po,,,
waglng, by the act Of the President upon the Re
public OF Mexico, there is this amonrr other cir
cumstances Of remarkable paracl-that Cha,Ics II
opened the Dutch war with proclamation dcnoun
chg severe vengeance against all who should sneak
undu'lruily Of his Majesty measures as Mr. Polk
no" accompanies the Mexican with denunci-