The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF FREDERICK, BERKELEY, HAMPSHIRE, SHENANDOAH AND HARDY, TOGETHER WITH THE SEVERAL TOWNS.

Esteemed Friends,

This will be signed by your old and long tried friend, and a name which I trust is still remembered with a degree of regard by many. The representation from Virginia to Congress being enlarged, I offer myself as a candidate, and as the districts are not yet ascertained, and I am obliged for a short time to attend to some remains of my wrecked fortunes at a distance remote; I address you by this letter, as many respectable inhabitants are added to our numbers, who may not be informed of the following facts. Full fifty-three years have I been amongst you, and not to enumerate the several places of public trust which engaged my attention more than forty-seven years of this time, shall only recall to your minds the early period of 1765, when you called me to the legislature. In this arduous business, your generous, and for the most part, your unanimous suffrages, more than twenty five years, were my consolation, which, with a consciousness of heart, that your rights both religious and civil, were at all times very dear to me, and that I had supported these rights with spirit and firmness, was all my reward. When Berkeley and Shannandoah were formed out of Frederick, my finger pointed out the lines, and my pen wrote the bill for division. This division was equal--it was just. This space of twenty-five years took in the revolution from Brit to last. In this important struggle, my zeal and perseverance was uniform; and when the Virginia form of government was under deliberation, I was nominated by a numerous and respectable assembly, one of the committee who framed that free constitution. Regardless of my private estates, till the happy close of this momentous contest, when, by the divine goodness, victory and liberty declared for the American people, I looked back to my farm well nigh desolated. This, with the loss of ten thousand pounds, specie value, by the Continental money, occasioned me distresses great and many. These I sustained in silence, without involving any on my behalf, having rendered complete justice to almost every creditor, and perfectly secured payment to all. I have neither sought after or acquired, place or appointment of profit. If I possess a virtue, it is that of a patriot, so far as my mind can investigate the term. None have I distressed, nor at any time retaliated, what might have been considered as an injury. Thus have I, in very artless terms, held forth to you a narrative of facts, and might add, that none have made requests to me in vain, when there was a possibility of complying with such request. That, if now you honor me with your suffrages, there will be ample field for junior patriots, when I am no more! "Old age and loss of fortune are what remain with me. May you ever continue to be the prudent, the free, the generous people. In every circumstance you have my real good wishes, and with sincere regards, I bid you Adieu.

R. RUTHERFORD.

Berkeley County, 11th June, 1792.