New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-04-19


The following letter from Col. Preston Pond. 3Jr,,
to number of the citizens of Madison Parish, III IL
sponse to an invitation to address them at the Amer
lean Ratification Meeting to be held in Richmond on the
21st ins breathes such an excellent spirit that
transfer it to our columns with much pleasure
CLINTON, La, March 20, 1856.
Dear SlrS: Your kind favor of the Sth ult, has
just come to hand and hasten to reply. The cause
IN which we are mutually embarked is one of the
most noble q and glorious which can engage the ener-
gies of the American mind or arouse the emotions Of
the patriot heart; and it would be source Of The
purest pleasure if could feel myself entitled to the
very high and distinguished compliment which YOU
have SO kindly conveyed to me in your letter. If
deep and earnest devotion to the principles Of The
American party-ifa sincere and strenuous effort to
vndcate their trust and to render them the trumph
ant and ascendant principles of the American Gov.
ernment entitle an individual to the esteem and con
fdence of his fellow citizens cannot permit the coj
liant Americans OF Madison to confer upon me an
honor the distinction Of which has been So noby won
by themselves. ~. .&EE z - -
am aware that our defeat in the late contest was
chiefly owing to foreigners and to foreign influence
and that, as consequence, / was prevented from
occupying the position to which you allude NV
defeat was matter of minor importance to the great
and irreparable wrong inflicted upon the great (and
God grant it may be triumphant) genius OF Ameri-
can character and American nationality. In such
issues men are nothing principles are everything !;
and If the political sacrifice of ten thousand humble
individuals, like myself could insure to the native
home, q character and a native land which he and
his children could call their own, the cost would
dwndle into nothingness, when contrasteCl with the
benetlcence and splendor Of the result Believe ME,
that have no regrets for myself ! fell upon the
field in the faithful performance Of duty which was
assigned to me, and am ever ready to do battle or
make any sacrifice of personal aspiration to redeem
my native land from that infusion of foreign power
and influence which must prove fatal to our national
existence, unless speedily and eectualIy checked.
am glad to see that Madison is putting on her armor
tor the coming contest, and assured that she will
do her duty well and faithfully. dss5
. It is source of regret to me that cannot posi-
lively accept your invitation to be present at your ra
tifcation meeting on the 2lst of April Our court
meets on the first Monday of next month, and win
be in session on that day. There are several import
ant cases conided to my which will be tried at
this term and it is out of my power to foresee at
this time, whether my professional duties will or will
not give me leisure to attend your meeting. 1 can
only say if it should happen that my professional en-
gagements do not prevent, will be with you on the
2lst. Do not. however, make any certain reliance
upon it, for it is barely possible that this pleasure will
be permitted to me. OF one thing, however you may
be sure that when the clash of the battle comes this
fall, you will hear from in the first ranks of the
onset, bearing onward and upward the glorious EN-
blem of American truth, principle and power
Believe me, very sincerely yours, z. A.
P. PoHD, JR. (
(, and others -Ff =. Z '--T5T-'%