The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-29

waregret thst our limits do not enable
NJ 10 publish In full tho admirable letter OF
Judge Monroe, formerly Of Kentscky, TO
Major-0sn Bretkinridge, declining nomI
nation for Congress from the Ashland dis-
trict BY Convention of the KentuckiAns I'D
GeouKiA. Whilst wc deeply regret that the
sssyices Of aatixcns 50 inustyfous Tor Wis
dom end vlrtae cannot bc secured 10 our
nailonN councils, the reason nc givo' 'o'
declining the proGered honor are sueh = 70
inerssse our admiration Of the uprightness
a>d eo,scientIousness Of the man. They
At IN brief tnnt wheahe left Kentucky he
expstr,Ated hi(nseif from the United States
without any Intention Of ever returning, and
proceeded 70 Virginia, where he was born,
and where he expects to spend tho remainder
Of his days. He Is, therefore, not an inhabi-
tant of the Ashland district nor Of the State
of Kentucky, - required by the now per-
manent Constitution Of the Confederate
States and statute Of the Legislative Council
Of the ProvlslouAl Government OF the State.
/ This Constitution declares that mo person
uhall be representative" In Congress "who
"a not when elected be IN inhabitaht of
~ State in which he shall be chosen" II
3 Inc that kentucky, having been admitted
! - q Confsderacy, the Provisional Govern
- appointed Judge Monroe by its Legis
Council member OF the Provisional
- Of the Confcderacy, and lie took
- md served until the close of the
onAry Government. But the Con-
Non OF tho Confederate Provisional Gov
ftment did not require that member OF
~ Congress should be an inhabitant of the
Itnts he represented, nor prescribe for him
A2uy other qualification, nor mention the
node OF appointment by the States. He
sWiilIngly served his State Ito which he pays
! noble tribute) in that Congress, because
there were no Constitutional impediments
in the way, and, he adds, were it consistent
with his honor, he would accept the present
nomination.
We find the voluntary expatriation of
Judge Monroe, from Kentucky, cloqueDtly
referred to in Pollard's "HistOry of the
First Year of the War" The historian
says that the scene of the remuneration
of allegiance, in the presence of Con-
federate Court, by this venerable jurist,
who had been driven from bis long-cher
ished home, and was now on bis way1IgsMir-
yinia, where rest the ashes OF dozen gene
rssions Of his ancestors, was one of peculiar
augustness and interest "The picture Of
the scene WAS alone sufficient TO illustrate
and adorn the progress Of great revolution.
Driven from State in which he had lived,
the light Of the law, irreproachable as man
beloved by his companions, honored by his
profession, and proudly abjurinp an allegi.
ancc which no longer returned to him the
rights Of citizen" No man has suffered
more : no man bears more nObly his suffer-
lnes than this great and pure man. Bereft
Of his estate, his gallant sons killed and
wounded In tho service of the country, his
heart knows no abatement of its lofty reso
luton, and, In tho evening of bis days, he
begins the battle OF life over again as mem
her of the bar of Richmond. We congratu.
late that bar upon the accession of one Of
the Arst lawyers Of this or any other coun
try, snd Virginia upon the restoration Of q
citissn who would have grsced her brightest
Aistoricai annals.
Tho words Of wisdom contained in ths
subjoinsd paragraphs are at this hour mos
Timely: $3.50
vsuld aay 70 the distracted councils OF The
Coufeiesscy: "Be just. Never sac vihce the homo
Of the Republic under plea of necessity. This IL
the tyraniU plea, and all false. Nothing can be
necessary OF sypedient which IL dshoDorable OF
unjust. ytzhoeA with It's consequent character, l.
Itself pbwev, Ind an Indispensable means Of OBJ
tanning the favor Of a just God
But GOULD not - into Congress without VIC
aiiOn Of the Fundamental law of the Csnfederncy
which hive again and sgaim sworn TO suppQTt.-
Tel these things 70 those patriotic and eWI'an
men who have nominated me, so that they may
choose another without distraction. God protect
you and them. TH0s b. MONROE.