The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-12
aAuBuRN, CuLrEpprs CouNrY, |
.s,-.,,. VIRGINIA, January, -

aAUBURN, CULPRppER County,
10 .t.-..,. VIRGINIA, January,
"DEAR Sir: I have received the lettsr o.
Mr. ST. in which he urges in very earnest
terms thatI should accept seat in the
Senate of the United States, at the hands
of the Legislature now in session in Alex
andria, an election which he seems to
think l. have no right to decline, as the
friends of the Union everywhere desire It.
"Permit me 10 say, my good sir, that l
duly appreciate the honor designed, which
is far beyond anything I have reason to
expect, now or hereafter, from any other
source; but high and dignified % is the po-
sition of United States Senator, which in
ordinary times might reasonably satisfy the
ambition of any moderate man, yet 10 the
preseut condition of the country, and OF the
State of which am 'natios here and to the
manor born,"I could not with propriety,
and with my convictions of duty, accept
any appointment at the hads Of either OF
the numerous goDsrnnents now exercising
legislative powers over any Of the dismem
bered fragments of what once constituted
the proud and revered old commonwealth
of Virginia. .~.z.-,.-.-.
"In taking the position have done in
reference to tho rebellion, l have been ac-
tuated by no sordid considerations, and by
no selfish desire to advance my political or
personal fortunes; but It has been forced
upon me by the clear, aHctouded, conscien-
tious and oueruhetm1g convictions Of my
best Judgment, free from all passion, preju-
DICE or ambition. Be
"From the present aspect Of affairs, as
they appear from the stand point occupy,
it looks as if the day was not very far
distant when l(f ever may be of some
service in healing those dissensions and dis d
fractions (growing out Of the grossest mis-
representations and frauds) that now divide
the nation, the state, and almost every 10
cality, to greater, or less extent, and which
though smothered for the time, have never
vet been extiuguished: but this can only be
done, If at all, by adhering firmly and con
sistently to the opinions and principles of q
long life, which have grown with my growth
and strengthened with my strength until
they have become part Of my second ma =
ture. In other words. | must permit no
shadow of suspicion from any quarter, to
attach to my unselfsh patriotism or the
integrity of my purpose
which the acceptance Of Office might sub
ect me to-. 49, t.... ..'
"The extent Of my aspirations for the
present, is to return "good for evil" to this
once venerable and venerated, but now
poor down'trodden, shattered, heartlessly
sacrificed and dilapidated old Mother Of
States, that has been reduced to her pres
ent miserable condition by her leading and
trusted statesmen, who, with miscalcula-
ton upon miscalcuation, and blunder upon
blunder, with every prophecy and promise
unfulHlled, have qeen cropping their way in
Siberian darkness, and with the most mex
cusable ignorance after phantom, engen-
dered by q cor, ded and diseased Imagination,
which was excited by heartless selfish
ness, and insane ambition to perpetuats
their own power that has been without
parallel in the history of the world.
"I am aware that my counsels for the past
three years have been spurned and derided,
and my person even threatened with vic
lence, by many who once looked with a
more charitable and friendly eye upon my
suggestions and advice. l have reason to
think this hallucination is passing off, and
is being rapidly disipated by the terrible
ordeal to which the fortunes of the South
have been subjected, and it may beat
least am not without hope-that at fu-
ture day may in some 'oay stand as link
between the North and the South, by
which the chain that once bound them to-
gether may again connect them, and to this
complexion II must cpme at last; for neither
passion nor prejudice, nor suffering nor
want, nor hunger nor pride, nor strife can
endure forever, and the time must come
when men will look at things as they are,
and no longer close their eyes at bright
mid day, and swear the sun does not shine,
because they desire to shut out the light.
"For these and other reasons not neces-
sary to enumerate here, must beg to be
excused for respectfully declining the high
position to which it is proposed to elevate
me. Very respectfully, is
Your obedient servant,