Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-07-18

WASHINGTON, ID. O., July IL, 1876.
james ~. GdHaher, Chairman a. W.
HACKS, Secretary j. E.. Duke, Capt.
David II. C0ckrtM and Geo. W. Haines,
Committee:
GENTLEMEN Your kind invitation to be
present at your grand ratification meeting to
be held in Charlestown on Monday, july
18th, has been received and it is with sim
cere regret that l find myself compelled to
say to you that previous engagements pu. it
out of my power to be present upon the iu>
teresting occasion referred to. Learning by
letters received from my friends that the Cir
cult Court of Hardy would commence on the
18th of this month, and a desire being ex-
pressed that l would address the people at
Moorefeld on that day, l have consented to
do so, and due notice of that fact has, l pre-
sumo, by this time been published through
out the county. 1t would be manifestly i'm
practicable for me to fulfill this engagement
in Hardy, if l attended your ratification meet.
ing on the 18th.
[ think the National Democratic Conven.
ton has made a wise aud sagacious selection
OF its nominees. The great demand of the
country now is for REFoRM,-reform in every
department of the National Government
Our Investigations, conducted for the last
seven months in Congress, show to what a
depth of degradation the administration of
our affairs has descended. We require now
in the executive chair a man not simply of
integrity and ability-for the party and coun-
try abound in such-but a man whom nature
has peculiarly fitted by all the qualities o: his
mind and heart to be a OF MA
TIoNAL ABUSES, and a ~restorer of the print.
tive simplicity and purity of the former days
of the republic. We have precisely such a
man in tho narcop &c SANfTyrT TTTDrC.
he is the natural foe of corruption he has
an instructive adherence of fraud, ~specula-
ton, and embezzlement, and he is gifted with
that manly independence, intense energy, and
indomitable will which will enable him to
grapple with all the responsibilities of his
high position. He will be in the coming
contest not the mere recipient of your favor,
but an active, intrepid leader, organizing and
rousing the party to certain and assured VIC
tory.
This is not the first time that I have APP
preciated the fitness, and expressed myself as
to the high qualifications of that distinguished
individual for the position to which he has
been now called by the democracy of the ma
ton. Invited to the city of New York in
December, 1874, to do honor to his election
as chief magistrate of that great common
wealth, l accepted the invitation, and took &C.
caslOn then, in remarks that have been pub
lished, to express my opinion that the evil
dence which his life had then given of all
the qualities of a pure and sincere reformcr,
entitled him to the thanks and gratitude of
the nation. Such was my opinion of him
then, and such is my opinion of him now.
With Mr.. Hendricks 1 an we'll acquainted,
having served with him several years in Con.
gress. lie Is a man of integrity aud ability,
liberal in his ideas, firm in his principles. and
a man around whom the democracy of the
country might rally with entire safety and
success, either for the first or second Office in
the gift of the people.
With such a ticket, I have no fear rs to
the result. From every portion of the coun>
try, we have the most encouraging informa-
ton of a decisive triumph; and if the frauds
and corruptions which tor the last fifteen
years have marked the republican party, and
a small portion of which We have uuearthed
by our investigations during the present ses-
sion, are not sufficient of themselves to ex>
clude 1t from the further confidence of the
American people, the DAILY exhibitions OF I'm.
beclllty, persecution and repulsion from office
of honest officials, sympathy with the public
pIunderers and robbers of the country, which
the head of the republican party constantly
presents to our view, ought to be sufficient to
excite the indignant resentment of an out,
ragged people.
Regretting that previous engagements de-
prive me of the pleasure of being with YOU
next Monday, and of ~mingling with a people
whose companionship is to me always a source
of the highest pleasure, 1 am,
Very truly and respectfully yours,
CHAs. j.. Faulkner.