The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-15
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
PHILADELPHIA, February IS, 1903.
Mr.. PLEASANTS,

MIR. PLEASANTS,
A MAN who feels respect for
the community, and who is not Indifferent tc
the esteem of men of worth, will never he
state, when the occasion appears to demand
it, to vindcate himself, however exalted or
despieable the assallant may be. ] have seen
IN two Richmond papers, two kinds of impu-
tation upon my conduct, which uttered here,
or il such way, as to be entitled to general
public notice, shoEld not have troubled you
with this article One of the writer's signs
his essays HortenSiuS, and has taken offence,
Or undertakes to cenSure me, OH two differ
cnt grounds. He says the great 5subHc aUe-
nue., has been shut up meaning to infer or
to insinuate that the AURoRX was closed a.
gainst any sentiments, such as the writer
thinks proper TO publish, OF others of SINH
lar opinions. The second exception is to the
manner in which l have intimated my OPT
Mon of the best policy to be pursued in rcla-
ton TO the choice of President. 1t is not
very important whether | guess right or am
mistaken as to the author \; If am right, !
am sorry he should condemn ME for exerci-
sing my right of opinion OH such an occasion ;
because might with as much propriety cen
sure him & the question of right or wrong
correct or mistaken judgement in the case,
would be to be determined By other Judges,
and by events with this nfeliCity attendant
on the issue that, only one Kind of event, or
one result, can come forth in evidence. That
is, the result of the measures and policy of
whoever may be chosen President i NAV
surely claim the right to Judge for my
self or an occasion ike this, and at a mo-
mcnt like this, without being fairly Ii
able to the charge of an undee bias or i'm
pure motives. On the other point, that of
shutting nh me dpenue, the writer was
certainly uncaHdid, because, not having ever
tried to obtain admission to the avenue, he
hadn right 70 make the assertion before a
trial He was, therefore, az least, uncandid
in that particular. Perhaps, however, he
concluded, that as had given an opinion of
the impolicy VI bcSering a6out men at this
time, when greater interests arc at stake, |
should not act contrary to my usual practice
OF conducting the AUpoRb.
The other writer, forget his signature, or
if he had any, and should not have noticed
him at all, had not the writer of Hortensius
attracted my attention. lie asserts, IF do
not mistake, pretty roundy, that ] am con-
csincd in some intrigue, or some scheme as
netariotS as tire Nazoo, which have so of
ten branded with merited infamy. 'Fhs wri-
ter who could assert such things, without
foundation, viii never do any credit to any
cause, nor harm To any adversary. I shall
never enter into contest, with writer, who,
on the threshold, comes forth with such as
scrtions-when he wrote, he must have been
conscious Gf he has any Conscience that he
was making a 6oid stroke 7vith q sfraqv--and
IT he could not Shew some shadow o. colo,
for his allegation in such case, that he mus,
for ever after, stand on record as--a man oI
SfT0Tv.
AS am neither anxious to avert such &C
cusatlons as those Of the latter writer, nor ca
ger to encourage controye rsY which is by