Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-21
To JAMES LYoss, Esq.
TO THE VOTERS OF BUcx SHy az LVS'''''


Fellow Citizens lit is known 10 many of yo that du.
ring the last spring expressed desire 10 retire
The end OF The presen; session from your service. In
nouncng thus early my desire be considered
candidate Tor reelection hope may be excused for saving
few words personal 10 myself When you generously and
without solicitation, threw upon the responsibility of
representing in the Legislature accepted tho trust with
many msgvings OF my fitness for the station but with the
conscientious determination faithfully upon all occasions
reflect truly your sentiments IT, in the discharge of the
high and important fun cous Of representative have been
so fortunate as TO merit your confidence shall carry with
mo iro The retirement into which CO. the proud coosoa-
tim that my humble services have been appreciated by &C.
and conhdng constituency il has been nv fortune
10 serve youn the most critical period In cur political hsto
~ Questions oi grave Import have arisen affecting the
equality of the States and the epeuity of the Union The
agitation Of tho slavery question in and out of Congress
has resulted in Compromise which Wills, il does NOT COM
mend IT'S TO the leo favorable consideration Of the South,
srn people, yer lnasmuch as IL tcncle accented
An adjustment OF the Question: ought in nv ooinon 10 he
regarded and scrupuu.y and faithfully carried out by every
section OF mo cIniedeacy Nothing now in my opinion
short 81 faithful execution c. The Fugitive Slave BILL In
every particular can keep States Of this Union together
In voting for U. 5. SENATOR constrained 10 cast nv
vole Tor me non Jas VI Mason as one OF series OF
calculated TO mprcss the North with the fact that vr
gnla nad taken her position and meant 10 maintain it, at
all hazards and 10 the las. extremity In that conclusion
am happy dnd that borne ont by some of the ablpsi
Wings of the House-en whose devotion Wing priacI-
es sabove suspicious. Again on the eve Of the election
teleeaphc dispatch received in Richmond announcing
the ad that Vermont through her Legislature hod repuda-
ted the Fugitive Slave Bill. With that fact staring mo 10 the
face, what oug, as The exponant your feelings OPT
MONS TO have done2 Vote against the author Of very
bll-asaust the man whose friends prepared upon the
floor the House OF Delegates 10 give satisfactory
ance that e vas devoted the perpa,uy OF the Union and
that h. had faithfully endeavoed carry the nsuc
lions OF TIA Legislative for which had voted? cannot
bring nv hind 10 the Conclusion Ina, there within Tho H.
mirs OF M county, single han who were he familiar with
tho cirsus'ances By which surrounded, would have
acted crrenty II waino question of Wing or Democrat
II was question between the North and the South-ono
paramount TO all the peyesues which had heretofore diy.
dcd the people OF this country into parties.
We now have practical isue with the North-a platform
upon which all can stand AMI would be uawe in the ex
trsns 10 change shift thaposiion hence am opposed
10 tile doctrine of nonnercourso and National Con-
vcnoIs, as remedy agaiaa Northern aggression and
wren those questions up 10 consideration shall uness
instructed 10 the contrary vote galnst them ,hnx see
in them the germ of disunion-tk fell spiri, which, IL mu.
a will s,d &c consequences Hnre direul than war pes
ence end famine Let faly the strong arm Of the
Federal Government 10 pro.ec; our rights before we
Let 1--WE ad ard comfort"
patriotic friends Of the North sho gre s,riynr TO u
hold The Constitution and maintain tho INTEGRITY of the
Uncn But IT. after all ef,rts i've hs Union they
prove unayang, upon the aggessors tst tie responsible
lily.
Feowcilzcn, permit me in concluscl TO return you
tho only consideration in my power my shcere thanks 70,
he oen-rcpeated manifestation Of regard nth which YOU
h,v0 honored me; and 10 you that, the hea aud
exeersn incident 10 canvass unkind feelings have been
engeodered hsy have been forgotten by ,lh the occa
sion tha. gayp thsn sxistsoes. W. W.rORBES.