Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-10-02
letter from Hon. a. II, HI. Stuart.
STANTON, Va, Sent. IS. 1850.


Association, Washington. d. G.:
Dssr Sir-I had the honor to recsive by this
m'rning's mail your letter of yesterday, inform
ing m that had been Unanimously elected
an honorary member Of your organization,
which has for its purpose The cultivation OF
friendly feelings amongst the Virginlans resi-.
dent 10 Washington. AID tho extension ofsuch
aid to our State as W. can 10 tho present mo
mentous struggle" Ibas!en to tender ny thanks
for the honor which your association has done
me, and to assure you of my cordial mpatby
With the objects which i! has 10 view.
have now passed three score and ten yeara.
which, according 10 tho Psslmist, is tho allotted
space of human life, and though my eyes may
have grown dim. and my natural strength bs
much sbated, my devotion to ny native State
and to my couutry-my whole couutry--has
suffered 60 diminution. Although falrg
| health has compelled me to abstsin from active
participation 10 "lhs momentous political s!rug
Gle" which is DOW in progress, have not been
an Indifferent s2i c!ator CT passing events. ncE
insensibe of the magnitude Of the Issues TO-
vol7cd 10 tic approaching presldential election.
The choice O! chief magistrate OF country
Gu braciOg population of fifty millions of sou'5
| must at all times aud under ell circumstances
| be matter OF protouad interest. Ii necessarily
involvfs many questions ct public policy con-
uec.ed with Our foreign relations and with tho
ADMINISTRATION Of our domestic eff.irs.
10 former days presidential elsc:iocs turned
| 90 questions connected with taxation. currerc7,
iaanes, banking. interDal Improvement, the
production of domestic ia6uslry. ard ohsr
1 nh nd al mt
the coup'ry. While these subi4 gavo Use to
exciting confess, they CAUSED 10 serious ap2Ec-
hi nsion 10 tho public mind, Dioluss il was
known that if errors we're committee they could
readily he corrected By an appeal to the snuud
Judgment of the people at succeeding election.
Bur, untcrtuas;ey. 10 the pending tlectio0,
istu.s Of the nature above referred to seem to
have been studously pushed aside, AMI cthats
of lees practical, but more dangerous. character
brought prominently forward.
10 the earlier and batter days OF the Repu5-
lilo the great LEADERS, Of public OF zion Wed With
each other 10 iocuic ltiog sediments OF broad
aod catholic patriotism.
The preamble Of the Constitution OF tie
Uaited States recites that it was termed 10
establish ius!io', insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense. promote tho
general welfare aud secarc the blessing OF i5er.
~ to ourselves and our posierty.
Washington, in bis Farewell Address to bis
c0uutrymeu. urgaG them 10 cherish cordial,
habitat AID inmcysblo attachment to our ma.
lional Unioc-aolus 0nlog themselves to thlnk
a.d spssk of i. So tie palladium OF their polltl
cal safety aud prosperity, watching TOR its pres
eryation with ,slGul anxiety scountenano-
Ing whatever may tuy2eas evan asuspo!on that
i! may. IN ary event. be abandoned aod indis-
manly iruBniug upo1 the irst dawn!rg ofe7ery
ATTEMPT 10 a!ienate any portion OF our oountry
from tho rst, or 10 crteeble tho sacred ties
which now lick togsthor tho various parts.
10 the sam, great state paper tho "tather OF
his c,uDt!y. 10 pointing out the SOURCES from
which dagger TO cur Institutions IS 10 bs appre-
hended, tf.r5 10 tie jeslousits and heartburn
;ngs" which may be excited bcwaen different
portions CT the country, ADD proceeds 10 say
that "dss gang men DO enaesv3r % excite
belief in the Iaind OF the pcopls that there 10 q
real difarouco Of losal interest aud VieTs, aud
then 10 sdds, "Scu cannot shield yourselves
too much CT sin5. the aslousies and heartburn
inge which spIisg from ties, m's'eprtseUtas
ti.ns; they tend to render G.lcD &c ctcl other
taoss who ought to be- baud tuge!hse by ira.
terna tffso:ion.
Thcso were the tctchiuss tt Washington !;
Adams. j. tfs.s,o, Madison aud Monroe fell ~.
cd 10 bis foots.ers. And 10 la.cr years Jackson,
Clay, Webster, B.no0, C.ss. Dickinson aud
Fillmore sought to give emphts.s TO them by
their eloquent utttrarces
| And yet what melat loly spectacle 10 We
now witness? TIE sdnouitious of Ws6birg;oa
aod his ilIus;rious followers orc forgotten OF
deri3ed ID. signing men" do DOW endeavor
to excite belief in tho minds OF tho people
:ha. there is reel diffareno, of local laterss:
and views batReen different parts of our CON
mon country Roscoe CoDkling, the great
apostle OF sectional hatred, spokes man OF bis
patty, has the boldness to proclaim 10 the most
solemn ard imposing forms the uniyiag hos
| tiliy OF thoss he represents to nearly o1e hall
Of his countrymen.
As the organ and meathpieos CT his party,
to socks to array one portion OF the Uoou
against the other by exciting the belief tina.
| there is real diff>rsrc, Of local interes. aot
views between them !" Blaine, Cameron and
OTHER dtoiples of inferior ro.e.w derive tacir
| inspiration from the teachings OF their great
.sLer, with fuller voice and lover key, preaob
the same "Gcspel of i'll will Tho republican
press throughout the wide limits CT Gu: coun-
| try has spread broad cast among lho reoDl, tho
same mi chievou5 dognas
These "desigDiDg men, whose portraits
were drawn 10 sdgauc, by the master hand OF
| Washington, instead OF soeklog 10 allsy lho
angry feeling ongoudered by the recent uabsppy
civil war, and to restcr, "fratcrOal atis,tiou,
and thereby secure domestic trsrq Utility" aEe
seeking to ohrystaliz, aid perpetuate those
sectional animosi!ics which all good men would
like to see pass away with the occasion which
gave birth to them.
The great need Of our oouotry now il peacs.
The interests of all parts Of the Ualon require
tho restoration of fratornal feeling. and the re-
viva of Commercial intercouts, between them.
10 this way, only. can normal relations between
tho North aud South bs re.established, and tho
measure of cur couutrs's pIo:p,riIy be filled
to ovclhowing.
The leaders Of the republican party, however.
Seem determined that old WOUNDS shall be kept
open. They hold the Interests Of the country
| TO be subordinate to those Of psrty. They are
ready to sacrifice everything that is dear to the
heart Of patriot, rather than relax their grasp
| Oh mower.
Washington desired union FOUNDED 90 mu-
| tual respeo. and es.eem-a union OF eqa8's