The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-09-17
iGDs Gnquirer.
RICHMOND, l7b SEPTEMBER.
vINDlcArIoN OF Ma. JEFFERSON.

j
The Editor of the Norfolk Ledger has made few
ftrGlures upon our pieces this fu5ea, which are
not 10 much entitled to anfwer account Of their
intrinlie importance, from the ufe which may be
made of them by the Federalilts of the North. E
ven in this defperate naee of their ARGUMENT, do
not expect that they will have the magnanimity 20
yield the force Of truth and canddiy eonfels their
intakes We have no doubt that they will eagerly
catch At the figh,e fbadow Of evidence, which may
feemto ufy DENOMINATIONS perseverance in error
To them therefore the riefures Of the Norfolk Ed-
tor viii! no doubt be peculiarly acceptable. In the
mida of gloom, Jingle ray of light becomes
a iource OF conioation.
We thail however attempt to thew, that the obiec-
tons of the Norfolk Editor do not in the lgheit de-
gree invaiidate the ftrength of our argument. We
would thew the Federas Of the North that If they
would denroy the evidence which has been accu-.
inflated in Vindcaton of Mr.. Jefferfon, they mutt
feek for able advocate than the Editor of
the Ledger. We fhall fhow them that If more IA
tisfaaory objections be brought forward than
thofe which produced by their Editor in Virginia.
their hopes of making good their charges aganlt Mr.
Jeferfon, mutt be feeble indeed.
The Ledger fests with obvious mifake
4" The Enquirer has hnilhed the Vindication of Mr.
l. while he governor of this Fate" But the Edi-
than the four frR Nos of that Vindieation. The
5th number had not then appeared.
awe think, fays the Ledger vindication Of this
part of Mr.. Jeferfon, awork of(upererogation; why
70 ! &c Becaufe Mr.. J. was mpeached by Mr. Nj
cholas, aud was honourably, aud we have heard u
nanimouly acquitted of every charge laid to him
&c. &c. When his conduct was calmly Investigated,
70 far from blame being imputed to him, he was ho-
noured.' So compleat was his Vindication at that
TIME according this Editor, that attempt TO vim
dictate him would he matter offupererogatsn But
here obvious dilemma aries before the Editor of
the Ledger. Either his political friends think with
him on th. fubjea, they do not. IL they agree
with him in thinking that Mr.. J. is really guilty of
the charges which have been brought agaiuR his Of
fetal conduit, it is poor compliment indeed which
he pays to their integrity IL is iii a& representing
them as 10 many knaves, who to crafty invese-
rate antipathy, continually violating their con-
fcience, by cenfuring man whom they believe to
be innocent But If thefe men differ from the Editor
OF the Ledger, it is not lurey of fuperero-
CATION to attempt correct their INTAKES. Do thefe
men therefore the candour confels their
viaions, or evidence to diapate their errors' The
Editor OF the Ledger is welcome adopt whatever
ide OF the alternative he peafes.
"Do his defenders or friends imagine that they will
Periuade us that he was Tor would as the Enquirer
Teens to intimate, have proved hmnlelf) hero I"
II there be any thing like nhnuaton n this cafe it
is furely to be found in the Editor Of the Ledger
who has attempted to tribute 4 meaning TO our
.
indirect manner. We never touched upon the quel-
tion how far Mr.. Jefferfon was capable OF filming
IN the camp as much as in the cabinet. We ,niply
iab0ured TO fhow, that Mr.. ]. that daft
ard!y traitor which his enemies had nourtrayed -
that his conduct was debated by timdity" rha,
he did not retire before the Brth army either hen
they were at Richmond, Manchefer or at Mont
cello, fooner than tie eSigency OF the moment de-
manded ofhin, and that the pre!ervaton of the mi
,ary flores and many of the pablo records was ow-
ing to his vigilance and activity. We thought we had
done enough in proving that MIR. JeHtrion had all
the siyit OF man. without going further 60 prove
that he had all the PIN Of hero. We did not con-
ce've this to be an enquiry, which had any connec-
zion with shf in!inua,ions OF his enemies; and there
fore we did uot lay, did We mean tc inEuuate,
that Mr.. J. hero.
But our Vindieation was not merely unnecefIary
1t Is even lame and unsatisfactory" And why
Eecaue 1t contains grelt deal of trng details of
nc manner OF Importance, as now Mr. looked, even
| how lie reted, and many fnall matters not worthy
OF notice" Theft puny objections would never
have efespej the Editor OF the Ledger, had he ma
turely oaiiae.ed the points of our defence If man
DC charged with puiillanimous conduct, is it not ne
eeiary toProve that he was tranquil and undiaur-
bed IN the md OF danger for fuch only were the
e>rFeiiions OF lieut. Hudon II man be accufed of
lying from an enemy, is it no, ncceary to fpecify
the very place which he at during that particular
time, that II may be !hown Gather that he not far
c!tant from the enemy that he at fon,r other
place i'll the act of attending certain important du-
ties, which could not be diicharged without him
Bat beeAuie we pointed out the place 7obrre Mr. 7.
rele1 on the night Of the 5;h January 1884, is this
the fame as deicribing the manner bo7o he reled |?
Let admit all this Specification of time and
place and manner to be " Of no manner of impor-
tance 5" does not indirectly erve to corroborae tine
validity Of our !tatemeutsl A prudent reafoner would
avoid entering into detail, when his eaufe could NOT
bear minute invefgaton. 1t iurely then no indif-
fsrent proof oi the minute knowledge which we have
or which we think we have, of the bilory of thoie
times, that we have unneceiIaiy entered into min,-
n1, which il they are proved tn be incorrect may
ihae the readers faith in the more material part, of
our evidence.
1t is unsatisfactory too Gays the Ledger becaufe
" appeals are made to Perions fome occaiions
whole opinions at that day would have been deemed
uhwouhy Of notice. Does this editor mean TO irEa
nate, that they unworthy OF notice ati, day too
We DEFY him 20 mention .7e, whole opinions on this
iubjeSt are unworthy Of notice Whatever dill,ke
this gentleman may have TO many details, com
mon enis ought to have convinced him that no man
Opinions are 7c',y efaoee, who offers too little ct
the editor ol the Ledger mention a Jingle witnefs to
our caute, whole evidence any day is not as 4ooy
thy OF notice rs his own ,
TO give them importance, impofng military IL
Ties have been conferred on perluns who never held