Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-09-07


SHERWOOD FOREsT, Va, July 27, $50.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 9th inst, in
vting me TO meet the citizens of Shenandoah,
Rockingham and Page, at New Market, on Fri
day the goth day of August, reached me day or
two ago, and take the earliest moment TO ac-
knowledge its receipt.
Did nv health permit, should derive the high
est qualification from accepting your invitation,
but IN ndsposition of many months continuance
admonishes me TO decline It,
| should rejoice to meet the Tenth Legion in
all it's streugth-to interchange salutatiOns with
the unbendng and infieXible advocates of those
principles, upon the maintenance Of which de-
pends, as soemnly believe, the perpetulty OF the
government, under which it is our happiness to
live. In this day and at this hour, necessity
greater than has ever before existed, demands a
Tallv on the part of every lover of the peace and
quiet of the country in support of the principles
which have canonized the Jeftersonian era, and
every banner should have inscribed upon 1t con.
federation against consolidation. The spirit has
been increasingly manifested, to convert the 60
vernment by broad and unwarranted construc-
tion of the Constitution into National and unit
system, wherein majority power shall rule SUI
preme and the States be reduced to the condition
Of mere Provinces of one vast empiTe-and this
spirit has of late years exhibited itself still more
extravagantly and dangerous in the bold and dar.
ing attempt on the part OF portion ofIhe inhabl-
tants of some Of the States, to interfere and con-
troll the internal structure of society in other
States-a matter in which the States are quite
as foreign TO each other as if they were seParat-
| ed bv bonndIess oceans. What can excuse much
less Justify such interEe renee other than the be.
lief on the part of those who guilty of it, that
! the government is national and not federative,
and therefore sub TO the unlimited action and
| control of congressional majority which they
| seek in every way to attain. But one other sup
position can exist, and that is that the agitators,
| upder the influence of morbid sentimentalism,
| earnestly desire the destruction of the Union
| a supposition should be unwilling to indulge as
| to any American born citizen or one capable OF
appreciating the important blessings whichUDiou
| bestows. Let us then with our united voices pro-
claim the great truth that the government is the
creature Of compact between sovereign States,
who have granted to a common agent specified
and limited powers to oe administered for the
common benefit, according 10 the letter of the
grant and not otherwise-and that what is stipu-
lated to be done is equally obligatory upon the
contracting parties, as the opposite.
That constitutional compact appeals to the
good faith of each of those States and its inhabi
/ tants, and upon its observance, the petpetuity OF
/ this great and glorious republic.
Il is because believe that franklin Pierce is
the true and faithful representative of these great
principles in all their essence and purity, that
cordially concur with you in the desire for his
i election TO the chief magistracy of the United
/ States, and that my heart aud judgment are in
strict unison with those of the unterri6ed Demo
cracy of the Tenth Legion
pray you gentlemen to accept my waFmesi
salutations, aud believe me 10 be truly, yours
&c, JOHN 44LEh.