Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-07-26

contribute to the purposes OF argument, |
they are, on so grave an occasion, as IN |
worthy the calm deliberations OF the Ameri |
can people, as they are below the conside-
ration of Mr.. Smith. Glaring must DC to
every person the contrast between the gen.
tlemanly decorum and the temperate rea.
souiug of the one, and the coarse rudeness
and the vehement ranting of the other.
This advocate would have US believe that
many persons both in and out of Congress
thought that Mr.. Smith from want OF Ia
Tents and integrity was quite unit tor the
Department Of State, and that his appoint
ment was the effect of an intrigue. Were
there any truth in this remark, II could not
fail to convince every person OF the utter
un6tuess of Mr.. Madison himself for ms
Office. II in plain English says, that, from
the officious persuasion of few intrigucrs,
he had appointed to the most important and
the highest station in the government per-
son without talents and without integrity
and this person, not stranger respecting
whom he might have been misled |; but one
who had been his colleague in Office tor the
long term of eight years, and OF whose mt.
ness he of course had better means of jddg-
ing than any other person or persons what
ever--nay nnore--to this same person with
out talents and integrity was offered by MIR.
Madison not only the mission to Russia,
but the important Office of the Treasury
Department.
No practice Is more common among IL.
liberal men in public life, than that Of depre.s
ci0ting one dnother's talents and integrity
when they entertain opposite opinions up
on national subjects. Those who may
think with Mr.. Madison in the cases emu.
merated in Mr.. Smiths address may con.
slider the ex,secretary greatly deficient in
talents, and those who may believe that the
first duty Of RrpubAcanism is blind deuo.
ton to the schemes Of Bonaparte, may not
easily be reconciled to the opinion Of ms in
tegrity.
1t is quite apparent that Mr.. Smith does
not enjoy the good opinion of our chief
| But knowing, as we all do, the standard by
| which he estimates the merits of men, that
have from time to time been nominated by
him to the Senate for the most imp
| and dignihed Offices, no considerable persons
can surely attach any kind Of Importance to
his good or tohis bad opinion Of a gentleman
As Mr.. Madson's advocate has taken
the liberty of Introducing what he has sta
ted to be the opinions of others as TO the
qualifications of Mr.. Smith for his late Of.
fce, too will take the liberty Of exhibit.
ing the opinions Of certain people as to the
qualifications of Mr.. Madison for his Office.
And this distinction will be perceived in
our statements. In his there is nothing but
a general assertion without any designation
OF persons; in mine there is a precise re-.
ference.
Before the last presidential election, the
heads Of Departments under the late admin.
isfranon, The colleagues in office of Mr..
Madison, Uere all Of opinion, from their in.
timaie knowledge Of him, that he zuas utter
iy unft far the efficient duties Of the Esecu
the department Of our government. This
[ zV1H not be contradictedby one of them--nay
nor by those zoho hold their offices at his uuiiI
and pleasure. To his election were also
opposed all the prominent republican news
papers throughout the u. States. These
| circumstances were well known atW ashing-
ton, and greately alarmed the Madisonians.
At the then preceding session of Congress,
under belief that the people, if left to
themselves, would prefer another gentle.
man, it was found to be expedient to form
a caucus for the purpose OF nominating and
recommending MIR. Madison. The imme-
diate effect of this stratagem is wen recol-
lected.
Anothervie may be taken of this caucus.
II uvas eHectea6y the extraordinary exer-
tions and personal influence Of certain gen.
tlemen in Virginia, zVho thereby brought
upon themselves the personal enmity of Mr..
Monroe; and strange to tell, these very
gentlemen have since been cast off by Mr..
| Madison and Mr. Monrne has In Their