Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-07
f1S 1-a Gents Singled

L j .
Peaied to the people, complain Cat he
us an injured man, alleges that his wit
nesses have not been examined, that
both sides had not been heard. Thus
ingeniousiy endeavoring to divert tue
pubic enquiry from tbs proper objects.
and excite degree OF sy mpathy In his
Iown favor, and by these artful devices
% save himself, awhile, from final de.
lstruction and disgrace.
! Among other things, John Clarke
charges the Legislature win absurd and
inconsistent conduct, in expelllng Mr..
George Williamson from the armorv
on one day, and reinst ting him on the
next: and indeed, it would , seem
strange to persons not acquainted with
the :ac.s, that the same person. who.
on one day used their influence to dis.
place Mr. Williamson, on !, succeeding
day should be equally active in ,heis en-.
beavers TO reinstase him. To lohn
Clarke aad his friends it has givsn an
opportunity to charge the persons who
acted In this manner with e, kleness
and inconsistency; and this charge be-
ing piausibly exhibited, aE1rd3 him
an opportunity of pretending, tnar he
has been treated with injustice, and
| with cruelty.
The testimony alluded to was that
OF the two master armorers, George
Williamson aud Daniel A gherton. Bv
many OF the members thay were con.
s,dcrSd not c1mpctent, because they
were implicated Ia the charges waicn
had been exhibited.
FROM the manner In which the i'm
portance Ofthe;rt.sti,nony is announces
20 the world, ii woald seem, ina. these
witnesses would have Completely IN.
done ali that had oeen proven Dy thi..
y or forty others. Tnis was en,,rs
hnesse, mere deceit aud wilful de-
cePtion. Theirtestlmony wa, on,v in.
tended to save John Ciarke's character
Ia regard to an immense sum of mo-
ney drawn from rhe treasury upon
raise vouchers, and to support a snu-
rious and fabricated account iafelv
trumPedup to give Solora5le pressnce
tor those drafts.
Nor Was it pretended thar ,bs
testimony ofthese men was wantel for
any ether purpose. Concerning these
fabricated accounts, more hereafter.
Being perfectly well acq tainted with
the motives which operated on manv
OF the members i'll both ms sances. and
knowing that their coaducs, upon each
occasion was justi6able, | think is my
dity TO olf=r an expiaaItioa--and thu.
tn people to whom the appeal is made.
will be able to form opinions upon a
fuii view Of the facts.
Some tine before the meeting IF the
legislature, direct chargs, publish ID
~ me IN regard to m oney drawn our oF
the treasury by certificates of John
Oiarke, In favor of Joseph Young, a
miiiwright, had NOT only ex cited m ,ch.
Pupilc notice, out had led to an ex,mi.
nation or that particular matter. Iohn
Ciarke, In letter addressed TO th. ex-
ecutive council, had positively denied
It's truth--and demanded an inves,,o,.
ton: A committee consisting of a.
i t;,i M'Rae, John Heath and
William Munford, was appointed bv
that board to examine this particular
CharSe. lhey had meeting two or
three days before the comm-ace ment
OF the session, and reported TO the ex.
ecutlve council, of which board tb.v
were members, that the charge was
false and grouudless.
This committee reported also. that
their opinion was supported by the do
cuments then referred 70, which their
report accompanied, and among these
were the e~parte afidavits uf Georrs
Williamson aad Daniel A therton.
These afhdavits were annexed to a
lengthy account for extra work. CON.
sistlng OF two hundred and ainety.lour
items, to none OF which were there Ell
Their dates or prices, relating to trans
actions OF ten or eleven years stand
ing.
The aft lavit Of Williamson stated
that he had been an eye witness TO the
execution of the work; that il was well
done and seemed to CONVEY ao on,n.
ION that the aggregate value of the