Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-11
~ The following letter from Dor q,

him to visit their town during his an,icipa-
ted sojourn at MarshGeld:
WASHINGTON, July l4lh, 1851.
Gcntlemen:--I have received yourfricnd-
| ly letter Of the 4th Of this mouth. and am
highly gratified with the patriotic sentiments
expressed therein. Indeed, should ha, e
expected nothing else. because such son
tments are worthy Of those Pilgrim Faith.
ers from whom you are descended, as well
as of the general character Of your commu.
nifty.
1t viii give me much satisfaction. If cir.
cumstanccs should allow, toacccpt your in
vitation to pass day among you.
In the mean time, shall be most happy
TO send to each Of you, such productions Of
mime as may fully explain my sentiments
in respect to the great questions Of the pres
eni time.
With some Of you have the pleasure
of being personally acquainted. as | have
often been in yourgood town Of Dennis, as
well as all the other towns on the Cape
| see also attached TO your letter many
names not personally known to me, but be-
longing TO families with which | have had
acquaintance in former times. | have al
ways found the air ofyour country delight
full in summer, and there are many sea
views remarkably fine; and | suppose
ought TO confess, also, that in these my
pleasant visits, did not entirely neglect
the streams, so highly estimated by the
anglers that have thrown the iy in them
Gentlemen: The nature of YOUR popula-
ton is somewhat peculiar. | have often
been struck by the very great number of
sea captains, as well as other mariners
which the county of Barnstable and the
ncighboring Islands furnish. On the Cape
and onthe Island have frequently convers.
ed with persons who seemed as well ac-
quanted with the Galapagos Islands, the
Sandwich Islands, and some parts Of New
Holland, MS with our counties of Hampshire
and Berkshire.
Twas oGcccngagcd in the trial ola cause
in your District, in which question arose
respecting the entrance into the harbor Of
Owhyhec, between reefs of coral rock
guarding ii on either side. The counsel for
the opposite party proposed 10 call witness
scs to glvelniormaton 10 the Jury concern
ing this entrance. ! at once saw a smile.
which | thought understood; and sug-
gestcd TO the Judge, that very probably
some or the Jurors had seen the entrance
themselves; upon which seven out of the
twclvcJurors rose and said, thatthey were
quite familiarly acquainted with it, having
seen it often.
The occurrence, ] dare say, is remcm-
bered by that most worthy man and emf
nent Judge. nav living as ] am happy to
know. and enjoying III advanced life the
affection of his friends, and the respect OF
all who know him; | mean Judge Putnam
This incident shows the nature Of the en-
ploymcnis pursued by your neighbors and
yourselves.
With the more elderly gentlemen d
your county, ! have had the pleasure o
frequent conversations concerning carly
revolutionary Dmcs, and especially respect
Ing that extraordinary man, james Oils
| have been where he lived, and examined
such of his papers as could find; but IL
DE latter part of his life he destroyed most
Of his correspondence. Mr.. Tudor has
written very good history of his life, and
you all know the emphatic eulogy pro
nounced on him by the elder Adams. viz
that it was James OTIS who set the ball OF
the Revolution in motion. Warm eloquent
and highly imprisoned in the cause of lib.
erty, his brilliant life was terminated by d
stroke ofhghtning.
None were earlier to begin, none moro
persevcrinely maintained, more zealously
struggled to maintain the cause of the Rev
olution, Than the people on the Cape. All
the region about James Ofis, and the
Thomas and the other true hearted patri-
OTIS Of those times. is 10 me sort Of classic
ground. Remote, without large cities, scat
tered along an extensive coast, there was
yet, l think, IN no part of the country, a
more iervcnt devotion to the patriotic cause,
than WAS manifested by your ancestors.
Gcntlcmcn, ATM sure YOU ascrlbe quite
too much merit to my efforts in behalf of
the Union, and Of the Constitution | eau
only say, l have done what could, and
all that could; and that shall not sackcn
nay hand. Perhaps, it is natural that you
should be attached to free and regular
Constitutions of Government, since all know
that the first written Constitution in the
country was composed and signed on board
Of the Maynowcr, " lille she WINS riding al
anchor in ono Of the harbors Of the Cape
Your own prosperity, gentlemen, the sue
cess of all your leading pursuits, the pros.
perity Of your country, and Of the whole
State Of Massachusetts, are at this moment
living monuments Of tile benefits conferred
by the Constitution of the Uninied States,
and the administration Of tic Government
undert.
Yohr soil has always been free soil; as
such you and your ancestors have culriva-
ted it for centuries; it needs no new chris
tcning; but what the people Of Massacbu-
sets wanted, and your county among the
rest, before the adoption Of the present
Constitution, was FREE SEAS, free seas on
which their industry could be displayed,
and their national rights protected.
BY the blessing Of Providence they have
enjoyed this freedom and this projection
for long course of years, and have -four
ished and prospercd under them beyond
all former example.
What if your soil be not Of the richest
quality, what if it be not fertile like Wes-
tern New York and the Western States,
still hardly know part Of the country in
which the people enjoy more substantial
comfort. ] have traversed the whole, from
the outside in ro,incetown 10 the line
OF Plymouth, without seeing an instance
OF ragged poverty or Of absolute want
our labOrs are on the sea n n more EN-
phatic sense than can be said Of any other
people, your home is on the deep. New
ertheless, the home Of your families; the
home Of your affection; the home 10 which
you return with SO much gladncss Of hesrt,
is in the various towns on the Cape where
all your treasures be"
j trust that there is not man among
: & y IL -