Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-22
liz 1-2 Gents Singled

\
| Res0tUed, That committee be appoin-
ted to frame an address to Gen. Wiikin-
SOM TO be signed and presented by the CHAIR
man, dcmoDstrative Of the sense this meet.
| ing entertain of his public services and
eheir confidence in his integrity and paa
triotism.
n committee was accordingly appointed.
ana an address reported TO the meeting;
winch being read and agreed TO, the Chairs
! man with four other persons was designas
ted to wait ON the General, present him
WITH the same, receive his answer, and
forthwith cause the address and reply, TO.
gether with an account of the proceedings
OF the meeting, to be published III the
newspapers.
Signed by order OF the meeting.
CORNELIUS CUNNINGHAM,
Attest. Chairmans
JOHN b. CoLvIN, Secretary.
According tn direction, the Committee
yesterday waited upon gen. Wilkinson with
me following Address, TO which lie return-
ed the annexed answer:
lS1R,
1t is the peculiar duty of a free and en-,
! lightened people, while they examine with
the severcst scrutiny the conduct OF pnplic
men, aud regard with jealous suspicion
every public character, to pay the tribute
OF Their esteem to every confidential citi-
zen who has ialsiiied the dishonorable im-
putauons cast upon his fame. Justice and
candor require, that while they punish
| with their censure, they should reward
with their appreciation for unfortunate
would be the fate of that country in which
calumny opll could be heard, and tho
confidence of the people could not be de-
clared.
Under these impressions the citisens Of
washington offer you their sincere COM
! gratulatloDs on the issue of the enquiry
that was lately Instituted on your conduct.
AS respectable portion of the Union they
were affected with the livelest sensibihty
when they heard ON the floor Of the house
! OF Representatives the heinous charges
that were adduced against 50 dlStingu saed
soldier and citizen; and living on the
immediate theatre of action, they watched
win peculiar interest and attention, every
measure that was adopted and every cir.
cnmstance that was disclosed on the shb2
/ ec' = yCur character and conduct The
experience OF seven months, however, du-
ring which the enquiry was pending, and
iiie charges agains, you might have been SUBJ
sa- t[0ed had fuzzy prepared thew for a
decision so honourable 20 yourself, and 80
| fatal TO Your enemies.
| We beheld, sir, the accusation brought
forward under concurrence of circumA
stances which rendered the motives for
It's institution doubtful and suspicious. On
the first whisper of detraction, we sawyou
court the enquiry which had been solicited
| by your accusers, while they, as if consci-
Gus OF their precipitancy and weakness,
endeavoured TO retrace the steps .hey had
taken.
I An invitation was given 10 your enemies
to make full development of their kno W.
ledge on the subject-You de6ed them TO
meet you before a judicial tribunal,-but
they denied you the honest and lmpre-
scripuble privilege of being confronted
with your accUsers ;-they attacked you
on field which YOU were rot per-
mitted to enter, and while they objected
TO the weakness and incompetency of the
court OF enquiry, they refused to extend
tits privileges and powers. 5nch was tho
primary aspect of their inconsiderate ac-
lcusatlon; and such were tie disadvantas
lses under which you were competed to-
labor in conducting your yindcation. BUS
with spirit of liberality and innocencs
YOU waved oil legal objections to the intro-
lduction Of the unautbenlieated tocumenta
which were laid before Congress IA evil.
ldencc before the court: and though ST.
lence might have ensured your acauittal
lyoa proceeded to a minute deveiopement
lof the transactions which formed the basis
Iof the accusation. This developement
has incontes;ibly demonstrated your inno-
icence and the interchangeable zeal of your
lenemies.
Permit us, sir, to embrace this oppoftus
nifty OF dwelling on the recollection Of the
lsoryices you have rendered TO your couny
liry.-It was destined for your hand 10 seal
the Convention of Saratoga, which secur.
ed the issue Of that confess which made ps
a ration and for you II was reserved 10
lbafile the arts and enterpfize &c
conspiratori ard save your country from
the horrors Ct civil war. These signal
ervices will never be forgotten by a free
people
Had not the Honest energy Of your cha.
racter actuated all your measures At New
Orleans, had you preferred the insidlous
call of private friendship to the paramount
duties Of patriotism, a fair portion Of Ame>
RIGA might have been lost 70 your country
men. But the storm has past--thc bolt tina,
was intended for your destruction has fall
len harmless at your feet, and we rejoice, Dir,
that you have triumphed over the arts o.
your enemies, and proved yourself desetv-
Ing Of the confidence Of your country.
In behalf Of the meeting, have the me-
nor TO be,