Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-25


is a surprise, or that such an evidence OF the
kindness of my friends, was, until this mo
ment, wholly unexpected, should but fol
low the examples which are before me, and,
while | depart from precedents which seem
to have been received and acted upon a e.
tablished,- Il still must be permitted to say,
in all sincerity, that have been wholly IN
prepared to meet so large an assembage, on
such an occasion, and to find myself one Of
those Immediately connected with cercmo-
ny, which you and others have made 50 I'M
posing.
Within few days past it had been init
mated to me, that it was the purposeo 81 those,
whose good wishes have been the only re-
ward have ever sought, to present me with
some token OF their regard but could not
have anticipated, even then, the bestowal OF
such a momento in such presence a thus.
Expressions, therefore, suited to such scene,
altogether fail me when the effort i made to
convey my thanks to those who have thus
honored mc-to those who have renewed my
obligations for past evidences OF their friend.
ship, and to you, sir, for the very kind and
cordial manner in which as their organ you
have been pleased to express their sentl,
ments, as we'll as your own feelings.
Some of this aSsemblage | am snre-may,
perhaps, know how grateful is the heart
OF that man who receives the apprOba-
ton Of his fellow men for the faithful dis
charge of the duties Of some public trust
as when his services may have been required
by his country in its counsels-either those
of the State u the Unon-when iii peace
or in war, he may have done but his duty ~
identifying himself with remarkable and
honorable incidents in his countrys history
But as a mere private citizen, | can lay ~
claim to such distinction, unless il be the
same to which any man may aspire who ~
proper spirit may have made some honest
effort to serve the cause Of his friends, which
they as we'll as himself have been led q
think was the cause Of truth and ~ patriot
ism. Grateful, then, may be the heart "
that an,-of any man, whose actions may
say of him, che hath done what be could.
Just one year has elapsed since, n this
Hall was assigned me the position Of cam
didate, for the highest honor within the gift
Of the people Of this Commonwealth The
situation was one which could not decline
rendered as il was, with 80 much unanml.
ty by body Of my tellow-ctlzens, Is reSpec-
table in the personal and political character
Of its numbers and certainly ~ large IL had
ever assembled for similar purpose ~ any
previous occasion. Yielding 70 their wishes
then, | at once entered a canvass unparalel-
led in length unsurpassed IN excitement
during It's continuance, yet emhltcret Az lts
close by no unkind feeling, Is It's progress
had been marked by 10 personal aSpcnlcs.
Ii il resulted, not Is my friends would have
had II, they will remember, also, how iorlorn
the hopes If many, and how distrusuui y!
the issue were the expectations Of all in the
beginning Of all save that faithful few who
thought they could not remove mountains,
vet believed they could overcome numbers
if consistency and principle Were looked
upon Is elements in the contest But, ID All,
vas indebted for the kindest couUcscs-
for the most cordial support, and !or tie most
unfaltering principle from the beginning III
the close. And that, SIR was my reward.
ample as it was. For myself may say,
however feeble o. unayailinS my efforts !
never, for one moment ceased 70 make them
nor for one moment doubted their success
that my calculations IN regard to the result
were not altogether 1T fault, believe, All
now, will be ready 10 admit.
But my connection with that canvass, rs
YOU, sir, have said has been the occasion 81
calling forth this expressive evidence, Of IN
oyel-apprcciation, am sure, III services rem
dered by me, without any hope On cXpecta-
ton Of reward; for those services were given
to cause which am still ready 10 defend,
now that | am but private i'll the ranks
II
each one If her people principles which
were Immediately connected with tine best
interests Of the whole State, and not remote
IN with those Of the entire Union. As my
time and ny humble abilities were chcertully
devoted to such cause when Al the head ~
the column, So again, when il the line i the
time shall come to make It necessary To de-
fend either the State 81 the Union against
dangerous political hcresicS from within on
from actual assaults from without ! shall hc
ready, hope, to bear the part " 4 citizen sol
der in the conflict. And, ,lr il the condition
Of the country shall ever demand t-a~ the
plate Of the Universities ofOxlord and 81 Cam
bridge were offered To be melted down and cast
into the nations treasury t. be used n defence
Of the liberties Of England, now almost two
centuries past-so shall this be appropriated
in defence OF the honor and the rights IT III
ginia, should the occasion arise tomorrow ~
two centuries hence On this condition sir
| accept H. if you will permit me, and my
children and their descendants shall have be-
fore them some evidence II the purposes 81
d trust, created it Is true, by others, without
limitation, but with the condition annexed
by myself This shall not IL the mite con-