Daily National Intelligencer

TO THE EDITORS

Fairfax County, (Va.) Jan. 25.

I received a few days ago a letter from a friend of mine, who has considerable influence in the county of Loudoun, and has always before the war been a very firm federalist. He is a plain man, as you will see by his letter. He now for the first time intends to vote for a republican. The extract which I have copied verbatim, gives his reasons for differing with his party. I have myself thought them so good, and their coming from an influential federalist of Loudoun, may make it worth your while to publish it. If you should do so publish the extract from him only. I think it may have a good effect—the retrocession of a few more such men will put this great federal district right.

EXTRACT.

"It is true, my friend, that I have, until I differed in opinion from the party, always been considered as a warm federalist, and so long as they acted as independent Americans, determined to resist every encroachment upon our just rights by any foreign power, so long did I act in concert with them. But so soon as I discovered in them a disposition to submit to the insults and wrongs of foreign nations, I had independence enough to declare my sentiments freely. I was one of those who thought our government too slow in their resentment for the many acts of injustice committed against us by England and France. I was for resenting at once, with firmness and decision, every violation of our rights; and I am at this day fully persuaded, that if this had been done, instead of submitting for years to their insults and injustice, we should now be at peace with the whole world. The government of this country too long pursued a policy too pacific to sustain that high reputation we had acquired in achieving our independence. At the conclusion of the revolutionary war, we occupied a pre-eminent situation in the eyes of the world—we were thought not only virtuous, wise and just, but we were thought magnanimous, brave and powerful. But by an indecisive, supine, negotiating policy, we lost much of that character before the declaration of war. I cannot believe that there is one honest, candid American who will attempt to deny that we had just cause for going to war long before we did so: but I believe many honest, timid, irresolute men, who acknowledge the justice of the war, doubt as to its policy. I am not one of those. I think the war was brought upon us by the disposition of the government to put up with injuries without resentment. It is for these reasons I now differ in opinion with a party with whom it has been my pride to act in concert. It is true, my dear sir, that I shall not vote for the present Representative; I feel regret that I cannot do so, particularly as I have for a long series of years held, and still hold, the man in high estimation—but I cannot vote for one who will withhold every thing necessary for carrying on the war: on the other hand, I shall feel gratification in voting for one whom I have known personally from childhood to be worthy. A. T. Mason, I believe, has never been guilty of one dishonest or dishonorable action—there is not a single bad trait in his character—no man ever possessed a better heart, and few a sounder head: he, indeed, possesses all the qualities necessary to make a great man—either in the field as a warrior, or in the councils of his country as a politician. In private life, his virtues shine with unusual splendor. I do not hesitate to say I shall vote for him—nay, I shall use my influence in his favor."