Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-05-06
FROM TIE IN. ~ PUBLIC ADvEar1sEn,
THOMAS PAINE
To MORGAN LEWIS.

There are two descriptions Of men in the
world WAC cannot suiier dana ges. Ths
one is the man whose character is already
so infamous that nothing said of him can
maSc HIM appear worse than he is The
other is the man whose character is so in
vulnerable that no reproach against him
can reach him. 1t falls pointless to tho
ground, OF reacts upon the party frora
whence 1t came.
The first time Mr.. Jefferson was elected
president the majority in his favor was %
to 81. AS this majority was small, the fac
ton OF the feds redoubled their abuse and
multiplied falsehnod upon faisehood TO throw
him out at the next election. Their ma
hgnity and their lies were permitted to
pass uncnntradicted, and the event was,
that at the next election Mr.. Jefferson had
a majority Of 100 tol
As this is an instance that inyulnerabIA
character cannot suffer damage, leave il
to Coleman, Cullen, and Rufus King 90 i
IDENTIFY the persons of the contrary descrip-
ton and they may, if they please draw
lots among themselves to decide which of
tnem shall stand foremost on the list of in.
JamoHa security from damage.
When Morgan Lewis in conversation
with William Livingston, said that tDe
mn Clinton, Jitage Comstock and Jpe,ge
'JohHs9n 9oere three cfthe damndest rae
cats that ever disgraced tie connciGs ofs,
'sfafe,' the venom and vulgarity of the
expression were too visible to do injury.
and the character of the man who said IL
too equivocal to obtain credit. II was nos
worth the trouble of Contradicting. Ca
lumGy is a vice of a curious constitution.
Trying to Kill it keeps it alive; leave it to
itseii and it win die a natural death.
Chancellor Lansing's III Judged and i'll
written address to the public comes pre-
cisely under the head Of calumny. He in
simulated IN that address charge against
gov. Clinton when he (gov. Clinton5 was
almost three hundred miles distant from
New-Hork, and when called upon bv Geo.
Clinton, jun. to explain himself, that the
public might know what ne meant, refused
to do it. Mr.. Lansing holds the Office of
chancellor curing gooa behavior, and this
rs the revenue of good behavior. The
words god bebaUfor, which are the words
OF the constitutions, must have some mean
ing or Why are they put there They crr-
tainiy apply 70 the whole Vi a mans moral
and civil character and not merely 20 OIL
cial character. a man may he punctuaI
III his official character because IL is his in
tcrest to lac so, and yet be dishono.ablc and
Unjust in every thing else.
Mr.. Lansing should have rccollected that
gov. Clinton $ long experience i'm the ofice
Of governor enabled him 90 give usefu, adj
vice to voting beginner, and his well
known integrity pIcciddes every idea of his
giving any other. II goy. Clinton gave any
advice 90 Mr.. Lansing on the subject he
speaks Of, Mr. Lansing ought to have felt
himself obliged to him, instead On which he
1 has turned trcachcrous and utgrateful
But though men Of Conscious INTEGRITY.
calm and philosophical, wiuaot descend 10
the low eZpedjeiu Of prosecuting Tor Tho
sake OF what are called damages, therene-
lvcrthclcss ought to be law for punishnz
Icalumny and this becomes the more ne
Iccssary because it oiocn happens that the
prosecutor for damages is himself tie ca
tlumniator. Morgan Lewis prosecution Of
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