Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1858-12-02
PROM TINE PsksIDEsr.
WAsuiScrsS- Nov 2

WAsntSCrsS, Nov %, 1883.
Gsnfl<SsSs: l have had the honor 70 re-
esivs your invitation TO be present, on tho
25tb inst, at the centennial aupiverssvy Of
the capture Of Fort Duquesne and I regret
that the pressure Of public affairs, al . period
30 near the meeting Of Congress, renders il
impossible that should enjoy this privilege.
Every patriot must rejoice whilst reject
ing upon the unparalleled progress Of our
country within the last century What was,
NJ its commencement, an obscure fort for
beyond the western frontier Of civilization.
has nov become the centre Of populous
commercial and manufacturing city, sending
its productions to large aud prosperous
sovereign States still further vest, whose
territories we're then . vast, une1 plored aud
silent wilderness.
From the stand point at which We have
arrived, the past, 70 cast glance into The
future, aud TO speculate upon What may DO
the condition Of our country when your pos
tsrity shall assemble 20 celebrate the second
centennial anniversary Of tho capture Of
Fort Dequesns Shall our iShole country
then compose one united nation more popu.
lous, powerful, and free than any other which
has ever exlstedl Or will the Coufederacy
have ben rent asundcr aud divided into
gruPs Of hostile and Jealous Statesl Or
may 1t not be possible that ere the next eel
ebranou all the fragments, exhausted by
intermediate conflicts with each other, may
have snEliy reunited and sought refsgc IN
der the shelter of one great and oyersbadow.
ing despoiisml
Thsse questions will, firmly believe, under
the providence Of God, be virtually decided
BY the present generation. We have reach
ed crisis when upon their action depends
the preservation Of the Union according to
the letter aud spirit Of the Constitution
and this once gone, all 10 Loaf.
regret to say that the present omens are
far from propitious In the last age Of the
Republic it was considered almost treasopa
bic TO pronounce the word d,s.ios Times
have since sadly changed, aud nov disupion
Is freely prescribed as the remedy for evan
sscent evils, real or imaginary, which, If lief,
TO themselves. would speedily vanish away
IN the progress Of events
Our Revolutionary fathers have passed
away, aud tue generation next after them
who were inspired by their personal counsel
aud example, have nearly all disappeared.
The present generation, deprived Of these
lights, must, whether they will or uoi, de-
eide The fate Of their posterity. Let them
let them 'esist every measure which may
teDd TO relax or dissolve its bonds let the
citizens Of different States cultivate feelings
Of kindness aud forbsarance towards each
other and let all resolve TO transmit It to
their descendant IN the form and spirit they
have IDherited 1t from their f0refatLers aud
all will ihsu be well for our couutry IN fu-
turs times
shall assume the privilege Of advancing
years IN referrisg TO another growing aud
dangerous evil In the last age, sitbough
our fathers, like ourselves, were diyidedinto
political parties which often bad severe con-
hiois With each other, yet We never heard,
until within recent period, Of the eu ploy-
mcrt OF nonsy to carry elections SLOu.d
'his practies rporeass until the voter. sad
their Representatives in the State AND Nal.
ionAl Legislative shall becom ipfsetei the
fountain Of free government viii til be
poisoned at ltE source, and VIC Iuast "a l. as
history proves, III . military drsIu,lsn
a Democratic Republic, all stree c.uuoi
long surylco unless sustained bJ pub4,c viz.
tue When this Is corrupted, aud Abs PEG.
pie bseom vspAl, their Is . ssuksr a. bs root
Of the tree Of Liberty which must cAHss Il, to
Nither apd TO Ole.
Praying Almighty God that your remote
posterity may continue, century sfter cen.
fury, for ages yet - come, TO celebrate the
Anniversary Of the capt IRE Of Fort DuqGs.ns
In peace aud prosperity, uEdsr The GaEnsT Of
the Constitution aud the UuIoa, ! remain,
Very respectfully. your 'r'sGd,
JAsEs BUcdASAN.
To Russell ErreiI, J Hero ip'ttr,
James l.. Barr, q lMcKusght, JIG b, ekofen
VIM. u Darlington, sad r By ain,
esq,
CoMMHitf Of InrNL..H