The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-04-04
LETTER OF RICE ". PAYNE, ESQ.
PARIS, Fanquirr Co.; Va, May IS, 50.
To the Editors Of the Virginia Sentinel
Please publish The following Ietlerand obligp,
Your obedirnt servants,
LEWIS EDMONDS,
THOS. NJ. SHEARMAN,
WM. G. BYRD,
WM. KENDALL,
WRnrNrov, Va, May 18th, 1856

A
GENTLEaES Your letter OF the lnts 80
staut. Informing me that hv resolution adopted
in Democratic meeting. recently held in yonr
town, you bad brea appointed committee TO
invite me to address ny frIIow-ciizenS in that
part Of the County, on the subject OF Know
No'hingiSm, was received or Yesterday.
hasten TO say to YOU tina: ] am truly gfati-
fed by this additional mark of ia avorablr con>id-
Grafton on The part Of those Of MY country-meu
living most remote from my homr and to
thank you for the kindly terms in which you
have seen fit to convey to me this invitation.
From time 10 time, invitations have been re-
ceived by me from different quarters, totake pant
in the public discussions Of thr day, bat have
in every instance been declined. from necessity,
no less than from inclination. The quiet pur-
suit OF my profession Is more congenIal 10 my
tastes and habits, and lis duties spare ne but
little leisure. assure you, however, that the
Galerina form in whch YOU have been author
izrd 10 present TO me this invitation from a
body Of gentlemen opposed 10 me IN political
sentiment, Know Nothingism eHceptrd) strong
ly inciiUeS me to toreoo resolution OF some
year<' s'anding,-not again 10 mingle publicly
in the contests Of political paltirS,-f my ru-
gagcmenS would permit me TO appoint day
for meeting YOU before the election.
BE assured that Snch inclination would be
greatly strengthened, could really think With
you, that anything ] might say could be pro-
ductive Of the least good
With undiminishpd faith ia the conservatism
and safety Of true Wing principles, amid the
strange confusion ard amrntablr wreck Of my
party, would esteem it great privilege TO be
instrumental in saving one Wing from the vor-
tex which has drawn 50 many into the great
malesrom of Know Nothing ism.
concur with you folly in the opinion you
express, that there are many in your communi-
tv, as elsewhere, who still cling 10 the Splrl Of
the old Wing party, and who are sorely trou-
bed aud prrplrN-d BY the disorder and contn-
sion that has arisen upon the sudden and violent
disruption Of that patty, whose principles they
sul cherish, and IN whose ranks they were
once 50 proud to stand With my convictions
however. which, 10 be candid know no change
or shadow Of turning, ! cond not with any sun
cerity or propriety, advocate the abandonment
Of bis principles by any Whig, however iso-
lated he NAV stand as to party, hv The adoption
of the Democratic creed. But ! can, with all
propretv, enlreat every Wing who neither at-
iliaipS nor sympa,hispS with the new order. to
repudlate the Winchester Know Nothing tcike,
at whose head stands the name Of one who, in
mockery, sill styles himself a Wing. would
90 fortbrr and say, better far that all snch
Wings, still firm and trne TO thrir ancient faith,
true 10 their country's best interests, and true TO
Southern institutions, should VOTE, if they vote
al all, for Henry A. Wise, III" Democratic can
ddate, than for Thomas S. Flournoy.
1t is most cheerfully admitted that the form
er is far more acceptable than hiS oPPonent,
who has proved himself capable of sacrificing
on the altar of sell-promolion, that party at
ahose hands, in days past, he bad sought and re-
c.,iyed position and honor, and of Prosliutlngi IT'S
great principles to an order newly arisen from
tie shades of night, and commended to aim