Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-19
DECEMBER 10, 1856.

and intelligent man, whether, if in this matter had
undertaken to refact the opinions OF my constitu
ency, was to speak for the State the 4 disrictl
In the 4h district fourteen other gentlemen receive
Al many votes as did, and in the fourteen oihs .
dlstrcte received the sama vote as the other four
teen did, and it was by the vote oil the State al
large and not of tho 4th district, that took nv seal
in the Electoral College. Who, then, were my con.
stuents the people Of the State at large the 4th
electoral district, which, Of itself, could have
elected me! These fifteen districts have no legal
existence as electoral DISTRICTS they merely idea
being adopted by the Democratic Convention. for
convenience in conducting the canvass aud dividing
out the labors of the electors. Suppose, between
rival asprants, tho State al args had preferred
and the 4h electoral district another citizen, which
preference should have sustained AZ q represen-
tative should have regarded the State preference
as al individual, should have regarded my ow for
as al individual had right TO ny "Sn honest pre-
ferenoes, ard TO speak them out, though no human
being agreed with me in them. urge these views
to show that 1t is not reasonable 10 suppose that
those who signed the memorial could have intended
to speak, act, for any other than heInaelyes not
knowing the preference of the State. Certain it 10,
did not
Ii 10 charged by some, with how much truth I
cannot undertake TO say that this thing concoct
cd and perpstrated under the dctation Of Governor
Wise. 30 far as ! am concerned, or have any know
ledge, this charge is without foundation. While IN
Richnond did not exchange single word with
Governor Wise upon this or auy other subject, ex
cept the usual sautations; nor did hear from any
human being who Governor Wise preferred for a
Cabinet or any other appointment. That Governor
Wise, either directly, or Indirectly, in the slightest
degree either influenced or controlled my action in
this matter, ! deny most positively. That any in
ducemcnts OF benefit 10 IDyeelf any person else,
We're held out TO me by Governor Floyd, his frsnds
or any other human being, positively deny. Up to
the time that the memorial was presented to Mo for
my signature, had not heard whisper that any
such movement contemplated. When it was
presented to me, which was some twenty or thirty mi
nutes before the adj uurnment Of the College, and
whie the sigusturcs to the necessary certificates and
returns were being taken, l signed the memorial
without even reading its contents or examining
whose names were affixed TO it. relying upon the
gentlemen who presented it, TINT they would NOT
nslead me, believing then, as | do now, that they
were Incapable Of any underhanded work. From
the time the memorial was presented, until its signa.
ture, two minutes did not eiapse tor was busy in
trying to bring the business of the body 10 close,
with view of returning home the next morning.
signed the memorial under the impulse OF those feel
ings which always prompt me to aid ln promoting
the interests and aspirations Of the worthy, and the
mertorous as far as ! can, without rejecting upon
the proprety or impropriety delicacy indelicacy
of the act lis cont ct with the aspirations OF others.
IL in this erred, II vas an error founded III those
sympaihies Of our nature, which the generous, the
liberal and the rnagnanimous will know how to ap
preclats aud e1teuuate. Ii did not deserve this
rude and liberal reprub.tun which il he's received.
II il was an outrage, il was an outrago upon NJ T.
Buchanan, aud elsei for the memorial whs ad.
dressed 10 him and to no one else. Mr.. Buchanan
would have known how to regard and trent the act
without tho aid OF those editors who have underta-
KEN in aivance 10 instruct him the improperly
and indeliCncy OF this act
Thst this memorial was in itself improper, and ii
our accusers will have it 20, ndelicate, admit, and
if had reflected a few moments belors It was DONE
| would not have signed it-nOt because OF the
person recommended, but because Of the mpropre
y uf the ITSELF whoever may have beon the sub
jrct OF il. But because the signers were
members OF the Electoral College than it it had been
done by the number of other citizens. The
President is himself the constitutional executive OH
Ger. Il is he who is TO the laws faithfully e1ecu.
ted and it ia he who stands responsible to the coup-
try for the ability, Integrity and fidelity OF his cabinet
oicers. He has the exclusive right 10 select them.
having the whole erpanse of the United States for
bis range and H the selection should be rs tree ~
air. Ills friends should not embarrass him by oo.
tru,ng their recommendations or advice upon him -
If he needs advice he can call for it, and call upon
those in whose recommendations he would choose
to confde regret the act, and had il not been sup.
pressed by my associates in Sin, who, like myself,
thought it best TO retraot their error, should before
now hav. withdrawn my name from il. regardless Oi
the aun,s Of that portion of tho public press, that
seem always ready, when opportunity oilers, to ridi
cue, sueer at and abuse me.
Uness, indeed, OF the opposition prints
darky nsnuate, the State is full of Caesars and Pom
peys each rvaiug the other. and seeking to divide
the Democratic party into many factions aud raG
ments there aspiring leaders, do not perceive
the utility of these rude and harsh denunclstions I"
men vino faithfully did their duty and are devoted to
to the success Of the Democratic party. because of 4
simple act of indiscretion prompted by the kindes
and most generous feelings Of ths human heart. II
understand the contents of that memorial rightly fol
never read it. I, neither placed Virginia in sup
plcstory or degrading posi,ion it was mere recon-
inendation Of man qualified for the office, If i
should be the pleasure of the President to appoint
citizen of Virgins. If this be degradation. it is moi
the first tm. nor will it be the last that Virginia viii
be degrade in the same way.
Ihaye thus frankly stated this whole transaction sc
far as had any connection With it-stated my view:
OF the whole matter aud acknowledged my error and
having done So 1 now Take leave of the sutj-ct for
ever. Very respectfully, j. GARLAND.