Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-28

Lord Castcrcagh. Upon this Mr. Secre- |
tary Cooke WIS sent to inform him, that |
if he published the contradiction he should I
be hanged to that he replied he was rea- !
DIV to meet the event; upon which Mr. |
Cooke told him that since he was indi!fe- |
rent about his own life, he must know that !
If he persevered, the whole system o! courts |
martial, massacre and horror should be |
renewed throughout the country. BY that |
menace he was effectually restrained. Had |
YOU thought of mentioning those things, you
might have jocularly added, that though
these statements might serve some present
party purposes, it was rather more unfair
to Judge of us by the calumnies of the Irish
government than it would be to Judge OF
Mr.. Jefferson and his lventls by the etito-
rial articles in the Evening Post. The
weapons you are using have been tried IN
Ireland among my friends and my enemies,
where every thing WAS minuteiy known,
and they failed OF effect. lfIhad ever done
any thing mean or d:shonoraGlc, if had
abandoned or compromised my character,
nv country or my cause, | should not nc
esteemed and beloved in Ireland as am
proud TO know am should not enjoy the
affection and respect ofmy republican Ccun-
trymen in America, as YOU, SIR, and vow
friends confess do. 1t would not DC in the
power Of ono who had departed from the
line of his duty in theirs and his common
country, by simply expire sing to them his
sentiments of YOU, to DO YOU such an cs-
sential injury as | am accused cf having
committed.
Another charge made against me, la that
am an alien, Interfering in the politics
OF this country. BE il So for a moment,
and 1T me ask why is it that am IN alien
in this my adopted country at this day
;,,r NF i,.tg Ia,
encc, was prevented from coming to it in
1898, Z, from being natural zed upwards
of three years age. Surprising then that
] should refrain from intermeddling with
politics in every other case where YOU are
concerned ! feel myself authorised TO ex-
ercise the rights of citizen as far as by
law may for vou know it is an esta-
blished rule of equity AMI good sense that
no man shall be benefited by his own wrong.
But hoy do come forward? Not rs CT
zen, but as witness. Allow me 10 ask YOU
If / possessed 4 knowledge Of facts which
could prove M Jefferson guilty of rob-
berry or n cheat, and unfit to be trusted
with power, would you think me culpable
if, Notwithstanding my alienage, / made
them known to the public to prevent their
being deceived and misled And shall
not be permitted because in consequence
Of your very misconduct am not citizen,
to testify TO facts which will prove you un-
fit to be entrusted in this country with any
kind of delegated power? Whether Peter
Porcupine or Mr.. Carpenter ever went
through the forms of Naturalization |
know not but perhaps they might both
be safely considered as aliens, and yet
have never heard any Of your friends cen
sure their interference in the politics of
America. | do not mention these gentle
Nl.1, H..
ample as my vindiCatIOn, but l wish to shew
the pIiabilty Of those principles which are
to be erected into barrier against me.
AS witness, then, sir, come forward
to testify not to my country men, but tn the
electors of this CITY, to the whole OF the
u. 5. If you should ever aspire to govern
them, AMI ] now present you with my evil
dence.
In the summer of 1898, after the attempt
of the people Of Ireland for their cmanci-
patton had been completely defeated af.
ter every armed body had been dispersed
or had surrendered, except few men that
had taken refuge in the mountains of Wick
low while military tribunals. house burn.
ing torture and every kind of devastation
were desolating and overwhelming the de-
fenceloss inhabitants, some Of the state
prisoners then in confinement, entered into
n negotiation with the Irish ministers for
efteCting general amnesty; and as an IN
ducement offered, among other things not
necessary TO the examination OF your con-
duct, to emieratc to such country as might
be agreed upon between them and the go
vernment. When ! consented TO this offer,
for one (and it was the case with the great
majority ] solemnly declare that / was
perfectly apprised that there were no legal
grounds discovered upon which TO proceed
against me. further knew that the crown
solicitor had, in answer to the enquiries Of
my friends Informed them there was no in
tention Of preferring a bill Of indictment
againts me. So much for the personal
considerations by which might have been
actuated; and now, sir, to return.
The offer was accepted, the bloody sys.
TEN was stopped for a time, and was not re-
newed until after your interference, and
after the British ministry had resolved o.
penly to break its faith with ms. On our
part we performed our stipuations with
the most punctilious fidelity, but in such
manner as to preserve 20 us the warm
est appreciation of our friends, and to ex-
cite the greatest dissatisfaction of our en-
mics. Government soon perceived that on
the score Of interest it had calculated baC-
~, and had gained nothing by the contract.
1t was afraid Of lettingus go At large Co DC.
velope and detect the misrepresentation
and calumnies that were studiously set a.
float, and had therefore, am convinced,