St. Mary's beacon., 1861-09-12
co1,.us.dArxD.

Nesrs. Edaors.-The very fniterins
and to me. I conf.ss. grstiayinss nannel
in which my name. in conjuuctSso witt
my colleagues. c. I. Durauf. has been
presented to the public. in your issue
Of the 29'h ultimo. demands from me
the expression Of grateful acknoxl-ige.
meut. and. at the same tiu,e. aifords
nae an opportunity OF ann',uacing my
intention to withdraw from public life,
and Of stating the principal reasons that
influence ne in doing so
Iu this connection, it would be trifing
with the public patience to dwell ON mat
tiers personal to myself. and as affecting
my private affairs only-othrr and grav-
er reasons are present to INV mind and
have determined my action i'm the prem
iscs
When elected to the position ! now
occupy. in 1857. and again, il 1859,
the mos, farsi GIFTED Of our pu6lic men
failed to perceive either the, proximity
or the magnitude Of the dangers then
at hand. and which have ,ilsce over
whelmed, hot to say Frustrated, fhe pub
lie liberties.
Had it been possible for the voters
Of this county to have realiaed the dan
gers SO impending. aud the wight Of
responsibility they were alau7 e de-
volve on their representative ~ shc
General Assembly. the issg,es. which
then presented themselves, would hav.
had little influence in determining the
result of either election, and it would
have been as foreign to my wishes and
sense of duty to ask, as it would have
been to the interests Of my fellow citi-
xens to bcstow on Inc. their suffrages.
Under ordinary circunIstances-in times
of qaict, and of public and private pros
pcrity-it is cxcusable, in ambitious me
diocrity, to aspire to political distinction,
hut. in times like the present, when the
principles Of public and Constitutional
law are being frequently and boldly iu'-
pugned, and ought. therefore,. to be ably
and boldly detcnded--whcn scathiug
elOquence. power Of analysis and lucid
enumeration Of public rights, as based
on public and Constitutional law. avail
more than one hundred silent votes
feel, that to other than my guardian
ship ought the public liberties be COZ
signed, and other and more disciplined
minds ought to be invoked to keep
ward over the expiring liberties Of my
native land.
Having, in common Will, = majority
Of the Senate aud House Of Delegates.
rendered myself obnoxious to the cet-
sure Of vi,idictive aud irresponsible pow
or. and claiming no exemption FROM the
consequences that may attach to the
faithful performance of my duty. as a rep
rescntative from Saint M.ry's County, |
stand acquitted. in my own mind. (and I
hope also in public estimation) Of being
actuated by unworthy approximations, Of a
mere pei sonal nature. in declining re-nomi
nation to an Office, to the full and proper
discharge of the duties of which. in the
present deplorable state Of affairs, l feel
myself unequal.
To those friends. whosc'-kinds prefer
snces have twice elevated ME to position
far beyond my deserts. I return my heart
felt thanks, and to all my fellow citizens |
tender my grateful acknowledgements for
the lenient view they have taken Of my
many deficiencies, and Of much that may
have appeared ccnsurable in my Lcgisla-
tive career
GEORGE II. MORGAN.
Semtember 9Th 1861.