Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-21
Letter from Robert T., scott, esq.

MS name 10 DE Drought Dclo!e thlS b!su'e'
Us candidate for Congress, Mr.. Robert h.
Scot. has written the following letter, which
will he read with interest 1t is a straight
forward, manly, and Independent letter,
characteristic Of the man, and while some OF
the views expressed may not meet with the
acauescence Of all, toe author and letter viii
be none the less appreciated.
! OAKwooD, Dec. 18Th, ISIS --Nessrs. \.
n. Warfed and others: GENTLEMEN II re-
ceired your communication Of the lOih in
siau', OF yesterday, and return my acknow-
leisments for the kind feelings that p!omr-
tel it. Similar propositions have been made
to NE from other quarters, and my name has
also been several times mentioned in the pa
pers in the same eonnexiop.
! II had any desire for seat 10 the House
/ of Representatives, engagements, private and
professional, put it out Of my power to de-
vote 70 a canvass the time which the extent
of this Congressional District would neceS-
sarily require, and, without IN active can
vase, | should DO injustice both to my friends
and their cause. But, in truth, | have no
such dcsire. When this county, composed
part Of Wing District, and we had Wing
party in active life, several times declined
nominations by conventions Of my political
associates, when 4 nomination was equiVa-
! lent to an election. preferred service in
| the State Legislature, when opportunities for
usefulness there presented themselves. In
common with my feiOw-citizens of this part
/ of the State, felt very strongly the want OF
system of roads adequate to the traasp9r'
tation Of tho products ii our soil TO market,
and | devoted my labors to supply that
want. When that was accomplished, vol
uota!ily retired from the Legislature, and
! have never since felt a deeire Tor political
station.
But, apart from these considerations, | do
not think that, with my opinion OF orr pont-
/ ical servants, and my views o! the political
exigencies OF the country, | would, in any
satisfactory manner, represent this Congress
si0nai District Certainly, in respect TO past
! issues, have differed very widely from the
gentleman whom the voters Of the D.strict
have honored with their confidence, and |
do not think that we are likely TO concur as
; 10 many that are to arise in the future.
The field is already occupied by two gen.
tlemen of the same political party, whose
opinions as to our Federal politics are sup
posed to harmonic with those OF tie ma
( iority Of the voters, and ii, in this condition
! Of strifs in the party, | could bO successful
10 running in between the two, could not
regard tn Success as desirable. To be tie
| y, -. h.yn hn ~ fit = = a
of the voters, and 10 he elected so rs - CT
Joy proper representative independence as
to the duties pertaining to tho station, would
tend very greatly TO make seat IN the Ma
! tiorai Legislature honorable and worthy Of
ambition. But in the present state OF cur
politics, this Seems possiblc--portyi' 10
usurps the place Of patriotism; ldOla;ry TO
party dogmas takes precedence oE statesman
ship; and the rel rcscn'atirc "ho would keep
his place is under tie ever pressing nCcc-si'
~ Of taking observations Of these, and shitG
iug HE course according 10 the quarter in
which they appear lie must suit scribe i'm.
plctIy to platforms constructed for e!ectlon
emergeuci es, and Ingeuious!y fashioned 10
meet the llcting cEigeuc!es Of different
localities. ~ be popular with the d)mna"t
party, he mGsc too often become the P.cai'
dents man, and, 81 Whatever sacrifices, obey
his diotaiious. Whenever the President
deems it necessary, for party ends, to start
new issue, he must be ready to embrace
il: hn must lie cJutent t. treat the Donors
ard emoluments Of Office &c spoils of victory
TO be distributed amoag followers as rewards
for party services; lie must exercise most
unrelsnting tyranny towards all persons OF
opposite political Opinions; he must tolerate
forced contributions for election purposes
from the official deleLd ants in ell OF the cx-
ccutye depar:meDts; Go muet surrender
hiUsc!f to his party, aud give Up for It's al
yanCenent what IL duo TO taH country. Nj
mus: convictions OF duty OF sentiments OF
consistency BE- allowed u stand as mpedI.
mcnis 10 tae way; the behc5.a Of party rise
superior to these, and tiiad obedience is ex'
acted TO its inexorahle DEGREES.
Under these hard conditions OF service, p
scat 10 Congress would possess no attractions
for oc; ana il my ambition laid in tbat il
Teciiou, you'd not subscribe 10 thrm &
win the favor Of the Minant maj)Tiry.--
Mr. d. know that | would lie mOrc !yr.G
nate with the opposition.
FIR many yeas pa,t, the expressing to!Irt
of POLITICAL dscussy N have related 70 til
institution Of slavery, and on some Of these
there has seemed to exist common senti
ment with all parties in the siaTehUiding
States. But have not, in all cascs, united
in this sentiment. For the most part,
have regarded the agitation Of the question
Of slavery as unnecessary anI D;seniesOus
and have strongly Reproduced tbs action o.
parties upon it. logOiying coaslIcratious