Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-10-16
LETTER FROM sENAToR ma.


- EFrom the Charleston Mercury, October 81
Among the letters read at the Brooks dinner
which we hndi the Edgefield 4dpsrtiser, is the
following from Senator Mason, of Virginia What
it says in reference to Federal affairs is eanally
bold, true and worthy of the past course of that
distinguished statesmen:
SELMA, Frederick county, Va,
29th September, 1856.
Gentlemen: have had the honor to receive
your letter of the 18th instant, Inviting me, on
behalf of the constituents of Col. Preston s.
Brooks, to dinner to be given to him, on the Sd
of October next, in Testimony OF their complete
endorsementof his Congressional course
1t has been my good fortune TO have cnioyed
the acquaintance of. Your able and iuStly-honor-
ed Representative, on terms both of social and
political intercourse, from the his entrance into
tho House of RepreSentatives-and know of
none whose public career I hold more worthy
the full and cordial appreciation Of his constitu-
ents than his.
lie has shown himself alike able and prompt
to sustain the rights aud the interests of his
stituents in debate and by vote; or TO viadicate
in different mode, and under circumstances OF
painful duty, the honor of his friend. IwouId
gladly, therefore, unite with you, were it in my
power, in the testimonial proposed by his gener-
Gus constituents; but regret that the distance
which separates US, and my engagements at
home, must forbid it.
feJhapS ltIHay not ne unacceptable, IN closing
this letter to say few words to my felIow.citi-
zens of Edgefieid District, whom you represent,
on the condition of the country.
None mistake, or in the South, can re-
main insensible to the times that are upon us.
The issue until now avertcd) between nu.
uerical majority the one side, and sworn
faith TO written compact on the other, is abou:
to be tried. The Southern States represent the
minority, both in States and in people, on this
issue Not their property alone, but their hon.
or and safety are at stake in the result; for
look on the pending election Of a President in
teresting chiefly to the South, Us it will be a
type of opinion and purpose at the North. Rea-
son and argument are cxhausted-we have done
whatever lay with us to bring the majority back
within the pale of constitutional power; and
can now only await the popular vote.
Should it be found to stand by, and to uphold
the constitution, then We should once more look
forward with confidence and hope to the contin-
uance of a Union established in mutual and pa
:riotc sacrifices and having its sanction In fra
ternal faith.
But in reverse of all this, should dominant
sectional vote be directed to bring into power
those pledged in advance to break down the bar
riers interposed by the compact of federation,
for the security of one section against the other
then, in my calneSt Judgment, but one course
remains for the South.
1ma'eili;Ets, G5so'ate and eternal ssparation
Better, far better, TO stand toward the North
ern States as we stand to the rest of the world
"Enculies in war, in peace frienas'-than to re-
main haitlnS under a common government, enc
mics, under the guise of peace, or friends at
war.
Again regrctting, gentlemen, that cannot be
with you. ain, with great respect
j. NJ. MASON.