Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-25

endeavored to respcc. h;rn. II is fof the
world to decide how far persoHal motive
ought to weigh against the performance ot
an act of public justice: But Il appears to me
that no obligation os friendship imposes the
duty of concealment ON one party, when the
other has perverted ficts, and employed that
pcrversion for an improper purpose. With
out pretending to satisfy the scruples of men
who have hatreds tn crafty or views of am
bition to accomplish, Unjust call the attention
ofmy fellow citizens TO this simple truth, that
It has been the voluntary act of Mr.. Smith
himself, that he has placed me III a dilemma
which compels me to speak, OF TO be faithless
to the government which have sworn to sup
port. 1t is to me, can assure him, the most
painful of all tasks and in executing it with
every possible tenderness, do it with re-
luctance that gives pang to my heart.
declare then 10 the American people, that
the letter inserted Mt page II. Of the pamphlet
of Mr. Smith, addressed 70 Gen. John Arm
strong, and the letter inserted at page g Of
the same pamphlet, addressed to Cen. Tur-
rcau, were written b. myself, with the ex-
ception of one paragraph in the latter, which
have understood was written By Mr.. M ID
sou; that-they are, without any particular
dictat;on from Mr Smith, the production Of
my pen; thu: the motives and the views con
| htStcuNN tilc jetLcf NIC-l. cru.
conisan.iy declared by Mr. Smith, gre known
Ito me; that those motives and those views
involved Considerations of Il personal nature,
hostile 70 Mr.. Madison and his admiustra-
ton, more than they embraced any views Of
pub.ic god; tiat 1T the time of writing the
letter tn Gen. Tnrreau, verbally reynonstra-
tedwith Mr.. Smith against the proceeding
III rs bold manner as decorum would per-
nit; taat views, both personal and political,
were connected with that letter and with
the whole Of Mr Smiths subsequent Official
conduct ; and that, generally, ] am under
the full conviction, from actual knowledge,
that the facts and the differences presented
to public view in Mr. Smiths address are fab
nicated, .misreprescnted, or strained, calcu-
| lated more to foment the passions Of party
than to developc the truth; and am persua-
dcd, from Mr.. Smiths own declarations, that
| with sespect to the allcdged existence Of
| French influence in the cabinet, Mr. Smith
| docs not himself seriously believe what lac
| insinuates.
With respect to the two letters in question,
| wrote them for the good Of my country !:
| At all times have been willing to lend the
| exertions of my mind for her benefit
Whilst the letters were appropriated 10 no o.
| Their use, j never claimed them. But now
| that they have been converted into instyu-
| ments of reproach to the government, and
| prosttuted to unauthorized purposes, feel
myself justified in declaring them mine
| wish tito be distinctly understood, however,
| that consider this declaration, as no other
wise important than as it exposes a fraud
practised upon the community.
| If Mr. Smith or those who are more dcYo-
ted to him than to republican principles,
should object to this statement as being vague
& indefinite, ne, or they have nothing more to
do than to authorize me to descend to partic-
uiars, and to speak without any reserve.
]. B. COLVIN.
July %, 1871.