Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-03-21
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pose the conduct of the officers, and 10 de-
ve'ope "a lnsp,rac5 against the interests,
perhaps against 1',s liberties. of the country,
no less enormous ia its extent, than niger,
Gus in its effects
A charge so high and so boldly made.
will, no DOUBT, excite surprise in some, whist
others Will affect 10 treat this also with con.
tempt, knowing, AS do, tina. / stand on
Itenabis, nay, on imprcgnable ground, i sh all
mot disturb myself to ascertain who may be
offended, or who may discredit the state.
M 'nts and views, which are about 10 90
made.
| The term "consprac," is severe one
- am appraised OF its impoT, and know
what risk in making it..
Altho' l shall designate those who are
implicated, by the term, SO conshirafors"--
Will not insinuate. nor do i believe, that
every one who was, or yet may be an ad.
herent or advocate of John Clarke, deserves
this mputation--indeed / am well conyin.
oed that some individuals, not only members
OF the legislature, but others, had entertain-
| cd so exalted an opin ON OF the talents, OF
the integrity, and public service of john
Clarke, that they felt indignant at any In-
sinuation against either, and were predis-
posed to Condemn aa accuser, without ta-
king the trouble, or giving themselves the
time to reflect upon the al Legations, or the
facts relied on to support taem Men of
his description deserve to be pitied and
forgiven. The time will surely come when
their Judgments, yielding to tie powers
4 truth, win overthrow their preluti,ces,
aud then their own no est mind, will Ias
decisions upon the su JJect, equally just and
ingenious.
To men VINO know that their m Is are
homes, that their motives are pure. make
| the appeal and invite the m e. ar ii
| me IN the DIS ussionS, about q be mad " n
patience, canlo". and hearts frs, rom >
ludice or propose son ! Let hem recal.
lect that i am voun.eer in this Cause.
without fee, reward, or expectation OF ,)rr-
| sonal bench THAT from tn mos bril- ant
success, iron triumph to wh.cu every
tongue will add It's applause as Wi as sans.
ton, can Pain nothing ;--},is ON d.
feat, or tr u a va TO, " Misrepresentation. I
| may not only loss the esteem of my friends.
but draw upon myself the indignation of an
irritated community BY victory, l gain
| only sound; by defeat, may b consign-
ed To execratIon
In the first stages of this nvestigatioD,
the conspirators, adopted the impious de-
sign OF exciting against myself the diatrust
and Indignation OF the pu lie and altho'
published facts RELAXING to matters which
ei'her ahorded their own PROOF. or were
capable OF being proved WIN very Little
trouble, and tho dc manded The means of
| adducing proof, yet the persons WHOM I'd the
power, aud whose public duty required il
10 he exercised, turned their backs uDon
what ex sted, and anticipated ny dcstructi-
on merely because the testimony was not.
by me, distinctly exhibited and pu, ic un-
folded, whca the means WAS withheld by
themselves
Eatrcnched as they were by power,-py
| popularity the public treasury, and
20 inf 70 nj I'm. tIaN
seem TO fear that Il single individual. who
pretended to no popularity, was supported
| BY no party-who had concerted no % an.
but was actuatcd only by the impressions of
| truth and public justice, and supp )rteI on
| ly by his own pen, could single handed, and
| IS IL were, manacled, overthrow their in
genious and drlusive schemes, AMI cou d, i'm
| defiance OF the mos powerful com ,ination.
gam complete TT umph over such a host.
such are the facts - rney are now OF puo-
| lie record and notoriety and il has again
ial en- Z, M lot to enter upon a new, and
similar du'y,--no less than to shcw that
| John Clarke is not the only person VINO de-
serves public Indignation.
The consp rators were weak enough "a
| suppose that calumnes against myself would 0
excite such prejudice, that the pain and
artless tales which were unfoldei by nv
pen, would be disregarded, and altho' tile
lreCeht example ought 10 teach hem OF their
error, yet driven I de pt rat on, o. impeIled
by folly, they have entered more openly AID
publicly into anew pr js Il Of the SINE al
cription. Let them go on Lit them IL
they chuse, wage an ineffi escous war A.
gainst mYseif! ! Let them endeayor 10 per.
suade the people, that l am as black ia}
heart, as they are in crime, aud what then
Do they fattsr themselves that An ini,,red
deceived, and plundered people will receive
lsuch things as vindication To the mo
pie It viii he unmPortaut whether my life
has been devoted to virtuuus or TO yicious
ipurpOses, ~ whether the important servi
ices have rendered proceeded from bene..
violent and patriotic motives, or from The
mere wantonness OF m schief
d. not offer these arguments to dwarf
the c)n'pirators from their ncfarious ,a,r.
poses They are perfectly welcome. an
lthey have done before, TO bring into reyjeXS
my private life, or such parts ms may suit
their purpose. i hold them and their coad.
tutors equally at defiance aud IN cont mpt.
WIN Mey dare uuer a simiIlr invi,ation
and dcIa loe Or will the pub 10 indivaa,io,,