Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-16
For tbs Enquirer.
To The PEOPLE OF HALIFAX AND hsch'
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LENBUkG.
Fe,low citizens: Having accepted the nom'-
nation of the Democratic District Convention
Of tho third Congressional District, and become
a candidate to represent that District 40 'ne
mart Congress of the United States, and feel
ing unwilling TO cling 10 my present station
whilst canvassipg for another, Thereby notify
yor, Of nv intention 10 resign my seat in the Sc
nate of Virginia at The end Of the present ses
s,on. give you this notice, to enable you 70
look out for another candidate TO succeed me II
time for the regular Spring election.
I assure you that no overweaning amoiuof
has nrompted me to desert your service 10 tne
Senate. and become a candidate for what Is
considered a moro exalted station. dld mol
seek the nomination Of our Congressional DIS
trict Convention, but exerted myself TO procure
the nomination of others. My Halifax friends
who attended the Convention, were expressly
instructed not to present me as CANDIDATE, an
less under the conviction, after deliberate 10.
yestigation and consideration, that the use OF
nv name was demanded by the wishes and inle'
ests of the Democratic party. too nigniy
appreciated The honor which you ooniefIeo
upon me in the last Springs election, ana iei'
too deeply impressed with sense OF tne ooii'
cations which owed you, to seek reiiei from
YOUR service so soon after my election, for Inc
sake of any higher honor or Office, or even Tor
the sake of my private interests. NY WISH was
10 serve out my time in the Senate. But since
nv Democratic friends have determined 10
make me candidate for Congress, With .ull
understanding of my wishes as here expressed
to YOU, feel bound to accept their nomination,
and to engage in the Congressional canvass
with ali Of The zeal which ! feel for the
triumph of Democratic principles and mea-
sures. The few Wbig friends who voted Tor
me last Spring Il value them the more 9e-
canse they voted for me, unswayed by the 10.
auences Of the great mass Of their pariy,l will
not complain Of me, if they will candidly an
,wer 10 themselves this question: Would not
they have pardoned brother Wing for pursl-
ing the same course, under like circumstances
need not ask pardon at the hands of my
Democratic friends. They have had 10 the
history OF the past conflicts Of parties, end in
the PRACTICAL operations of the antagonizing
principles and measures Of the Democratic
and Wing parties-they have now in our exalt.
ed national character at home and abroad-ln
the present upexampled prosperity Of the coun-
Try, and In the blessings and transcendant ad-
vantages enjoyed under Democratic men and
measures too many incentives to stand BY the
banner of their party, to censure mo for enlist
ing under it, in accordance with the expressed
wishes of the party, through regularly organ
lied Convention.
II would be uDbecoming in me TO speak OF
the manner in which have performed my Sc
natorial duties during the present session, any
farther than to say, that have striyen to re-
present you fssrlessly and faithfully. Being 10
q minority upon the Internal improvement and
State Debt questions, involving the veal or wo
of the present and after generations, could
effect nothing farther, than falrlyt represent
your wishes and interests, according to my un-
Outstanding of them-to implore those who
agreed with US, though ina derided and brow
beaten minority, not to falter in the mainte-
nance of their position, and 10 warn our oppo.
nents of the danger Of forcing upon US the alter
natives of submitting to grinding oppression on
the one hand, or ruined public credit on the
other.
It's astonishing to see with how lille scrupe
or hesilancy, Tens OF thousands are expended;
millions authorized to be borrowed, and millions
upon millions OF after liabilities incurred under
our present Legislature. All this is done under
The preence OF developing the resources OF our
renowned old Commonwealth" and promoting
the prosperity of our people. cannot give ere.
dence TO such prelences or promises. No arith-
metic that | have ever learned-no deductions
that have ever arrived at, from any tair calcnla-
lions of osr resources, or from any fair reading
ofthe lessons ofexperence in this State or in 9th.
er States, has ever inspired me with any hope
Of such results as are promised by those who are
running up the Stale debt SO enormously for In
ternal Improvements l cannot believe that il
is either wise or just TO attempt TO "deyelopc our
resources" or "build up our fallen fortunes" by
10 many and such gigantic schemes as are now
being fastened upon us. Lam persuaded, that even
such Improvements as are needed, and woald
otherwise be successful, will fail by The facility
with which competing schemes are gotten up
and BY The extrayagapt use 81 the. public money
and public credit, BY those who put themselves
forward az the peculiar friends Of Internal I'm
provemenl.
forbear to descant upon other subjects be-
fore the Legislature, having already written
more than I had intended l again tender you
my thanks for your generous support, and re.
main yours, respectfully,
THos. a. AyERETT.