The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-01-27

fellow citizens TO occupy so prominent a
place as that in which your Governor
and General Hunter have placed me As
l told your foretathers in my first az,
dress, Il rejoice that the state of your
| concerns external, as we'll as internal, no
longer renders the pursuit of my inclina.
tions incompatible with the sentiment of
| duty or propriety, aud am persuaded,
whatever partially may be retained for
my services, that in the present circum-
stances of our country, you will not dis
approve my determination to retire"
| have so determined, with a full
knowledge of the late recommendation
of your Governor, with whom l heartily
concur. 1t might be supposed that |
should feel somewhat embarrassed at the
public manner in which my retirement
is alluded to in the Governors message
l do assure yon feel noRc On the con-
trary, feel that under a true interpre-
tation of the Extradition Laws of this
country, (see Fugitive Slave Act, also,)
am required to leave you, and be re-
stored to my homestead,
1t has been observed By some inquir-
ing persons that my anxiety TO vacate
the honorable place wuich l hold in the
grounds ofthe Lindsey Institute, grows
out of fear that the present Legislature,
particularly the Senator from the 10th
District, will require me to take the So
called Test Oath" before / shall be per-
mitted to longer occupy that place l
claim 70 be a citizen of West Augusta
still While no such fear as that refer
red to actuates mo, il is true, when | re-
member the part took in the rebellion
of l776 | have thought if the Governor
should ever condescend to protfer me
that oath" that | could, under my pres
ent state of mind, do nothing but con-
scientiously refuse to take it. My friends
are. however, assured that the Governor
will not make the issue though should
il ever come, shall not fail to meet in
proper manner
For more than eighteen months have
been a solitary sentinel at your Capitol
Your Governor has frequently passed
aud re-passed NE without a word |
cannot feel at home here | wish to re-
turn to that sacred spot from whence |
was drafted by that heartless Hunter,
do not wish to appear bold before
my fellow citizens But you must have
noticed from the cast Of my COunteuance
and general frame that | have an iron
constitution, and you will remember
that the age in which my composition
was moulded has conduced TO bronze
my complexion, so that, those gentle and
delicate lines Of cmbraZOEmeut, which
usually illumiue fair features, cannot
now DO traced iu mine | DO most Ger.
- Il l., IN, l,n AT
the assembled wisdom of West Virginia,
although, as has been remarked, you
can't see it" Ny apology springs from
my nature. Had you followed, one and
all, the lessen gave you in my first ad'
dress-Lad you listened to me as | warn
ed you from the cursed fanatical clan,
ship OF party, and party ties, had you
discarded sectional prinCipl ple5-paCty &c.
ograpbical lines--the epithets, Northern
aud Southern, Eastern and Western,
ftom your political school books.-had
you taught your children and your
friends to look upon our constitution as
a covenant of cOmpromise-grown
not out OF law, but Of grace -
had you made the constitution of our
government at one time, neither a pro
tiou text book had you read the corstitu.
ton aud It's history more than you read
Webster and Calhoun Sumner aud Yam
cey and the satellites Of those political
lumiuaries, YOU would have to-day been
strong without wax in your members,
and wealthy without au attiuence OF
debt Hatred and revenge would not
now legislate IN the place Of good coun.
sci and peace Your friends and your
families would have never witnessed the
great out-pouring Of blood in the land;
General Hunter would not have destroy.
ed my household and stolen inc away, 10
suffer the insult my conveyance hlth.
er, and to be raised up il your midst an
old soldier. manned and impoteut for
good. But have detained You too long.
Therefore relying GA the generosity OF
Governor BOIemau aud the legal wisdom
oftLe Senator rtttered to, with conscience,
though hardened now yet void OF offence
III tie hope Of a speedy restoration Of
all my country and of ny place OH tue
pedestal FROM which was rudely torn,
| bid yOu all all aztec LlOuate farewell