Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-27
ASHLAND, Sd Oct. 1851

ASHLAND, Sd Oct. 1851.
GENrLEMEN:.-I have the honor TO ac
knowledge the receipt yesterday, Of tho
address which you transmitted TO me, from
a number Of gentlemen in the city Of New
York Emanating froma source sohighly re-
pcctable and imposing, from friends and
fellow-citizcns so numerous and dnteligcnt,
and to whom | am under such great obi
cations, | have perused it viii profound
attention and deterencc. After adverting
to the present state Of public affairs, to the
spirit adverse to the measures Of compro-
mise adopted during the last Congress,
which prevails 10 certain quarters, TO the
necessity Of unremitted exertions 10 pre-.
serve our glorious Union, and to what has
been so seasonably and well done, with 50
much ability, eloqaence and patriotism, by
some Of our eminent countrymen, you IN
vite me to leave, for time, my quiet a.
bode here, 10 appear in your great city, and
to address my fellow citizens Oh the actual
condition, and menacing dangerof ourcoun-
try. rr-.r
feel, gentlemen, with the greatest in
tercst and the deepest sohcitude, the full
force Of all that you have expressed; and
I would gladly comply with your wishes,
and even dedicate the remnant Of a life,
the largest and best part Of which has been
spent in tlie public services, to the cause Of
the Union. il the state of my health would
allow me, and if believed that any fresh
exertons of mine would be useful. But
! .l. l,,.x .f, tho l,s, ~,
gross, during which my arduous duties We're
greater than | was well able to encounter,
my health has been delicate, and it has re-
mained SO throughout the past summer
| hope that it is improving, but it still re-
quires the most assiduous care; and | en-
iertain serious apprehcnsions that i'll were
TO accep. your invitation, and throw myself
into the scenes of excitement incident to it,
my strength might fail me, and my present
debility might be much increased. There
is no place, | am fully aware, whereI should
| find more ardent and enthusiastic friends
in one party, and morn courtesy and res
pect in the other. than in the commercial
metropolis of the Union. Whilst am
constrained with much regret respectfully
to decline the meeting you propose, avail
myself of the occasion to present some
views which have taken Of public affairs,
and which / trust may be received as a
substitute for any oral exhibition of them
which could make before large con-
course OF my fellow citizens in n. York.
1t wns not supposed by the authors and
supporters OF the compromise, IN the last
Congress, that the adoption of the series OF
measures w hich composed 1t, would secure
the unanimous concurrence of all. Their
reasonable hopes were con6ded TO the
great majority Of the people Of the United
States, and their hopes have not been dis
appointed. Every where-north. south,
east and w7cst--an immense majority OF
the people are satisfied with, or acguiesce
in, the compromise. This may be conf
IDENTIFY asserted in regard TO thirteen of the
slaveholding States. and thirteen if notfour-
treh uf,hc free States. In few Of both
CLASSES nf the States, and in some particu-
lar localities, dissatisfaction exists, exhibi-
ting itself occasionally in words Of great
vialepctand n,en,perance; but tits feeling
IS. 1 trust. where it has most prevailed,
gradually Welding 70 an cnllghiencj sense