The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-10
LETTER
Ofthe Secretary Of JHar.

Al
1t may be due to myself and is certainly due
70 others, that the reasons under which
retired from the direction of the War Ice
partmcnt at juncture SO critical as the pre-
sent, should be fully and promptly known to
the public. These reasons vii. be found
in the following brief exposition Of facts.
On the evening of the 2eth ul,. the Presi-
dent called at my lodgings, and stated that
a case OF much delicacy had occurred ; that Il
high degree of excitement had been raised "a
rnong the militia of the District, that he
himself an object of their suspicious and me
nlces !; that an officer of that Corps had given
him notice, that they would no longer obey a.
ny order coming through me as Secretary OF
War and that in the urgency OF the case, 1t
might be prudent so far to yield to the I'M
pulse, as to permit some other person to cXer-
else my functions i'll relation to the defence
of the District
To this statement and proposition, an
swered substantially as follows-that was a
ware of the excitement TO which he alluded,
that knew it's source and had marked it's
progress that the present was not moment
60 examine it's more occult Causes, objects
and agents that it ostensibly rested ON ebay
ges known to himself to be false, that It WAS
not for me to determine how far the supposed
urgency of the case made it proper for him
30 yield to an impulse so vile and profligate--
30 injurious TO truth and so destructive of or
der that for myself, there was choice !;
that could never surrender a part of my le
climate authority for the preservation Of the
rest-shat | must exercise it wholly or none
at all that came into Office, with objects
exclusively public and that to accommodate
my principles or my conduct 10 the humours
of a Village mob, stimulated by faction and
he'd by folly, was not the way to promote
these, md that il his decision WAS taken in
conformity to the suggestions he had malie,
eltreatcd him to accept my resignation. This
he declined doing. 1t was an extent to which
he was pleased 70 say he meant not to so !;
that he krew the excitement was limited, as
well with regard to time as to place that he
was now, and had always been, fully sensible
of the general zeal, diligence and talent,
which had put into the discharge of my du-
t., and that it would give him pleasure, were
l to take time to consider his proposition. l
renewed the assurance of my great personal
respect, and my readiness to conform to his
wishes on all proper eccasions.-I remarked,
that whatever zeal, diligence and talent l
possessed, had been employed freely but
firmly, and according to my best views Of the
public good, and that as long as they were left
to be SO eXerted, they were at the service of
my country--but that the moment they were
made to bow to military usurpaton or politi-
cal faction, there should be an and of their
public exercise. We now parted, with an
un Outstanding that should leave Washing
ton the following morning.
1t has been since stated TO me as fact, Ito
which give the most reluctant bel:ef) that
on the morning of the 29th, and before my
arrival in the city, q committee of the inhabi-
tants OF Georgetown, of whom Alexander G.
Hanson, editor Of the Federal Republican,
was one, had waited on the President, on
Lehutatioa, and had obtained from him a
promise that, should 10 longer direct che
military defences of the District. On this
fact, all commentary is unnecessary.
1t but remains to exhibit and to answer, the
several charges raised against ME and which
form the ground worR of that excitement, to
which the President has deemed it i,ruGeat
to sacrifice his authority, in declining to sup
port niue. They are as follows, VIZ.
1st That (from n-win to the DistriotS Of
Columbia, and design to remove the scat Of
govsrament,) I gave orders fr the retreat Of
the army, in the aifAir of the Gath ult. under.
circumstances not making retreat necessary
or proper
This charge has not for its support the
shadow of truth! ine commencing general
viii do ne the justice to say that gave him
no such order, & that he was and is under the
impression, that tire retreat was made earlier
than believed it to be proper. To the Pres
ilent appeal, whether did not point out the
disorder and retreat OF a part of the first line,
3OOD aIler tiS dCllJl DCtt1ill, anu
as base & infamous
I'd. That in despite of the rcnlonstranccs OF
Gen. Winder, and by the interposition Of my
authority ] had prevented him frCm defending
the Capital.
This charge contains in it a total perver-
sion of the truth. When the head of the re-
firing column reached the Capital, it was hal
ted for a moment. Gen. Winder here took
occasion to state to Mr.. Monroe and my
self, that he was not in condition to main
tam another conflict and that his force was
broken down by fatigue and dispersion. IN
der this representation, we united in opinion,
that he should proceed to occupy the heights
of Georgetown.
Sd. That had Withdrawn the covering par
T. from the rear of fort Washington, and had
or .ered capt. Dyson to blow UP the f.rt with
out firing gun.
This charge is utterly devoid OF truth. The
Govern = party was Withdrawn by an order
from Gen. Winder, and Captain Dysnn's Off
cial report shews, that tue orders under
which he acted were derived from the same
source, though no doubt, mistaken OF misrep-
resented.
4tn That by my orders the navy yard had
been burnt. This Ike its predecessors, is a
positive fllsohood.
Perce,ving hat no order was taken for APP
pris.ng corn Tmgey ofthe retreat Of the army,
/ sent Mai. Bell to communicate the fact & to
4 l.. T.,