The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-14
D0nacSt;c.
WASHINGTON. Ia,

line nature OF the discussion which is now
gong ON III The House OF Representatives OF
the United States, characterized by a gene
raj latitude transcending as well the natu
raj limits OF the question before them, as the
rules OF discussion generally heretofore ob
served IN that body, precldsS all necessity
lor comment on che present state of our If
!airs; as every question of moment or inter-
est TO the American people has been brot'
into view. We shall publish the debate as
rapidly as 1t can be prepared for the press.
1t strikes US, that when it shall have been
pubished,tf the good people of this land will a
gree with US IN one thing that there is no lon
ger any pretence for the groundless clamor
heretofore raised of an abridgement of the
rights OF the minority in the House they
VIII at least agree, that there has recently
prevailed aperfect Freedom Of Speech.
Nat. Int.
The following letter. addressed to the E.
ditors without solicitation or request, is evil
IDENTITY the spontaneous efusion of an inge
nuous and honorable mind, disdaining to per
nit ITSELF to be usedby party prints for the
purpose OF furthering their factious views
1t.
NIesarS. Gales and Seaton,
Observing that you have been CHARGED
with having inserted, in the paragraph in
your Gazette announcing my resignation of
the ONCE OF Secretary of the Navy, words
which did not belong to the paper, which On
that occasion sent you for publication, I
feel it due in justice to you to declare that
am satisfied that your insertion of the oc-
currence was Conformable to what went
from my Hen.
Having made this declaration, it is equal
ly just to myself to offer an explanation of
the affair as it relates to myself. On the
day on which my resignation was rendered
and accepted, on my return to my house,
deeming it consistent with the convenience
OF beth this public and myself, that it should
be speedily known that / had Withdrawn
from ONCE, did pen paragraph for YOUR
Gazette, IN the exact words you published,
closed it, and laid it on my table after
few moments ofrefecton determined that
1t might be Better to present The bQre fact of
my resignation using nothing PREDATORY ac-
cordirBly, resumed my pen and wrote q
paragraph from which the words imputed TO
You as an Interpolation were left out, and
which in preference l intended to send toyou
At the instant that had finished this last
piece, company arrived requiring nv pre-
sence-atter their retirement, / returned to
my desk, took up the note last penned as
believed, and sent it to you for publication
and threw the other into the fire. That this
was my intention and belief, you can bear
me testimony for, you recollect that soon
alter the appearance of the notification il,
question, L did remark to you that the
words now excepted to were not used by me
IN the fafer sent you, but that on vour
both assuring me that you copied Uerbatian
from my note, and that you had not preser-
we'd that note, admitted the probability of
the mistake on my part which was the
more easily the case, when | reflected that
d. pen one IN exact conformity with vonr
publication. } will add, that | did say Is
others, previcueiy however to this explana
ton with you, that your publication was cr-
roneous, but now repeat that / am sqfi,
ted that the mistake was mine, In sending
.!:@ .:-:.-- - :.....,:::;;,,,;::.
At, gentlemen, this address has in the pub
lie estimation any importance, ] trust it will
be found iii the attempt which, in it. ! most
sincerely make to shield You from an impn-
tation which am now satisfied is unmeri-
ted.
With respect to tic fact Of NY haviDo
contemplated retiring from the Office Of Sc
cretary of tlic Ndyy, i had determined with
the return ct peace, Of occurring within nv
Official term) to claim the privilege of rctire-
mcnt; but, as things have taken different
COURSE have the consolation 70 know that
still an willing and able 20 shoulder nv
mnsket IN defenfc ef my country in war
which consceuti015iy believe 10 be both
and just; and which shall have
10 Us support my 5csr personal pxeuions.
respectfully yours,
PAUL HAMILTON
Jan. g.. 1918.