Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-10

c~~,--- If Sire, * h45Gshrt at the reguest
qrh~ lhyq;Gs De Casa KrtgO.
SIR,
Having been absea, from Philadelphia
for these IS days past and travelled FARM.
va apart Of Virginia where | had no OPP
portuni;y 10 see the late newspapers from
,hc Ncrthward, 1t is but 10 day ON my re-
turn To Washington have been appraised
OF a publication highly injurious to my
character, which under the garb OF sworn
evidence, has been made by certain w.
Jackson Of Philadelphia in the paper of
which he is the Editor called The Political
Register.
Had the said evidence appeared isoIat-
. ed, with no other weight but the name of
the Editor and the circumstances of his
deposition, would hare treated his m lii
ciGus attack with the silence of contempt
rs all the facts therein related eUen 7uhen
true would not prove l had violated the
Jaws 9th country nor the duties of my
station, but q leuer IRON INC presiden; Of the
Estates To- jackson having heen circulated
along with his evidence, this Circumstance
alone, although The President does not eX-
press his opnioa upon the sublcct stamps
ti!is affair with degree Of Importance,
il WOULD have been otherwise Invested OF.
For this reason and for the respect owe
to The Prssldeu: Of The United States, To
This government, and TO myself, have tho't
properin thus addressing you, to enterin
10 the exploitation Of this transaction, in
Jocent in itself, conscnanl with the laws OF
t,;ecouuty,p proper in my station aud which
Cannat be dsigHred even by the artliice
g !Hsiaious Inatgnty.
IL country where the liberty of the
press prevails, lis use must be a shield of
Science, Is il is an Instrument OF attack.
This is consonant with Justice and congeni-
al with The principle of equal rigins, it i,
then legal 10 establ sh a defence by the
press against the attacks made through
the medium of tn press. THIS sacred
principle Of se,i-dJience is as inherent to
political states, as il - to individuals, and
Mhgn an offence is thus male against So
verCgn = hich cannot be brought into
court ~ Justice !, is not only The right but
also, il is the duty OF the representative of
tA4t sovereign OF nation 10 repcl The attack
with the same weapons, which are made
use of f,r hIs Injury
Were the foreign ministers to be tepriv-
cd of this right enjoyed byevery individual
who breathes tho AIR col the United States
they would he rcdaced 10 the sad conditi.
on oil a%,l lsuished sAEUes III the very cen
ire ol tac land OF liberty. For some time
p4st some nf the Philadelphia newspapers
lad published para graph, AID circulated
C0mmens about the eX.sinG difference
between The King OF Spain aud the United
= q i. = -,
S anCes nddrawiug false exclusions high
j. con;r4ry 10 Nie ch,qacter OF justice and
generosity So III Sn and 81 ,nagRaniSnously
ptuvCd by the king my mastcr; ! myself
vls pIin Ell Out as the author q. some let
tz,s i.om Cadiz aad Madlld, although
nrycrknew Of ih-m hut by the newspapers,
shd With the same injustice, an abusive pa-
raFraph asganSt the President was since
attributed - l:.e ihus the pubic nind was
POISONED with incoftect accounts and OBJ.
poEiod, concjnsiOnS--uadsr such CrcuW-
Stances :litYed then, and 6clicVe n2.J,
il vas ~ oUiy my r.5tt but also my dizzy
tocneck the torrent q impressions as COLI
traiy to ruth as TO the interest of nv coun-
tly. beng very wc'l acquainted with the
{ cat influence Of pio'ic opiaion IN po-
l',-t1I irpFG! natNl as - that ~ Rt'S O'NtcQ
!,s,es, with just intention ri bringing he
S us Of discussion under a iorci5lc
point of view which had been carefully
concoAied ard presenting them 10 tive pub
JIG eve urdcT new aspects, ard arprchcnd-
ing tnat tic editors vino had previously es-
pous=d parry on the question would re
lass 30 irscrl in their papers my intended
pubhcaGou, J thought that MIR. Jackson a.
Inong others w..uIdnotpcrhaps have the re-
luctance which anticipated IN The former.
! requested bim TO Call upon me anu nav
ins accedgd 10 my request, alter dssul-
tory Conversation about The news Of the
day, OF Nv. Pnckney has. e called for
his passports Guy approximations Of the
ras, stcyJ AID the detrinent which would
arise FROM q war between Two nations in.
wed ny their reciprocal interests To- the
preservation ofpsace, | told hin h. could
do more good 10 has country by adyocat-
ing peace, shan by The warliSe principles,
lie was prOcia,uing in his paper--i iwelt
w3jIe upon this topic and finished by
bringing forward the oniy otjcct Of our
me ,,in; aud telling him that ii so dispos-