Richmond Enquirer

CORRESPONDENCE.

Scotland Neck, May 1, 1831.

Sir: The undersigned have learned that you have recently resigned the office of the Secretary of the Navy, are anxious to avail themselves of your services in the next Congress of the United States. They consider our country, at present, in a most perilous situation, and, calling for the best services of her most patriotic and experienced sons they feel assured that your offering to represent the district, will not only meet with the approbation of their immediate neighborhood and of your fellow-citizens generally in this county. but will be cordially welcomed by the great body of voters in the other counties of the district. They are confident of your success, if you will but consent to have your name used.

The undersigned will feel much gratified in having an opportunity of manifesting their undiminished confidence in your patriotism and public spirit, and hope it will not be inconsistent with your arrangements to become a candidate for the district.

The undersigned have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John Bishop,
Nicholas Gammon,
H. S. Camp,
Lem. L. Parker,
Benj. J. Spruill,
W. L. Tunstall,
James W. Cotten,
Saml. M. Nickels,
Asa Bishop,
Wm. Nickels,
Jos. J. Tunstall,
Wm. R. Smith, Sr.,
John H. Anthony,
Wyatt M. Ezell,
Whitmell J. Hill,
C. M. Clark,
Wm. R. Smith, jr.,
Geo. E. Spruill,
Hon. John Branch.

WASHINGTON CITY, May 10, 1831.

Dear Sir: I have had the honor to receive, through your polite attention, a letter addressed to me by sundry citizens of the neighborhood of Scotland Neck, proposing that I should become a candidate to represent their district in the next Congress of the United States.

I need not say, sir, that I have been deeply affected by this demonstration of the favorable sentiments entertained towards me, by the very respectable persons who have united in this expression of their wishes. The consciousness of having faithfully discharged duties, which may have been committed to their trust, is, oftentimes, the only recompense public servants receive for their best exertions in the service of their country. When that service meets the approbation of those, whose good opinion is valued, it gives a support in retirement—a reward at all times, which none can estimate, but those who have sought and received it,

I pray, sir, to return my worthy fellow-citizens of Scotland Neck, my grateful thanks for this decided manifestation of their approval of my official conduct; and to add, that though I had neither intended or wished again to engage in public service, yet after the strong expression of their wishes on this point contained in your letter, connected with other demonstrations of public sentiment throughout the district I do not feel myself at liberty to reject the flattering proposition they have been pleased to make of their support, &c. I am constrained, however, by causes which I cannot at present explain, to request that this be not considered as an absolute engagement on my part to become a candidate to represent the Halifax District in the next Congress. I shall not permit any doubt on this head to remain longer than will enable me to return to North Carolina, which I hope to do before the expiration of the present month.

In the interim be pleased to offer to the gentlemen associated with you in your polite letter, assurances of great respect and high consideration.

With much respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN BRANCH.

To George E. Spruill, Esq

Halifax County May 5th, 1831.

Sir: Having learned that you have resigned the office of Secretary of the Navy, we feel anxious to avail ourselves of your services in the next Congress of the United States. The propriety of your becoming a candidate has been spoken of extensively during the last week of our Superior Court, and we feel authorized in saying that your consent to represent the district will meet, not only with the approbation of our neighbors, but of your fellow-citizens generally in this county.

We have understood, from various sources, that it is the wish of very many of the most respectable and influential individuals in the other counties of the district. that you will offer. We feel assured that your success will be certain, if you will consent to have your name held up. We shall be gratified in having an opportunity and of expressing an undiminished confidence in your patriotism and zeal in the public service.

We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Rice B. Pierce
Thomas W. Lester,
Thomas Gary,
W H. Day,
Henry W. Gary,
John Purnell,
Hon. John Branch.

Enfield, May 24th, 1831

Gentlemen. A few days past I had the gratification to receive yours of the 5th instant, wherein you express a desire to avail yourself of my services in the next Congress of the United States; and in which you have been further pleased to urge many considerations why I should consent to have my name held up" among others, that it would afford you an opportunity of manifesting an undiminished confidence in my patriotism and zeal in the public service." I thank you, gentlemen, most sincerely, do I thank you for your generous confidence and support; and in the fullness of my heart, with a thorough consciousness of my inability to meet your just expectations, I respond affirmatively to you, as I have before done to many of my fellow-citizens. I do this with an approving conscience, and I dare believe, an approving country in the course which I have felt it to be my duty to pursue in my intercourse with the citizens of Washington city. during my late residence among them. I would fain hope that General Andrew Jackson may yet live to see the day when he will be convinced, I have not only (as he now admits) faithfully discharged my duty to the public, but at the hazard of incurring his displeasure, have tried to guard his splendid laurels, the common property of the nation, with. the fidelity of a