American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-06-07

"We can assert without fear OF contradiction
says the Washington City Gazette of Monday 81 that
when the Ubiquitous Rip Rap contract was formed,
Mr Calhoun was at his post and instead OF being
the guardian Of the public treasury, was prvy 10
the fraud practised on the government" This is
truly the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the press in one of its
most mischlevous forms. If there be any man in
the United States incapable of the transgression i'm
Piled IN the above allegation, ii is the Secretary of
War Whateve' may be said or thought about the
comparative force Of his titles to the Presidency, it
IS certain that he deserves unlimited credit for per-
sona and official recttude, and for patriotic zeal and
general ability in the administration of his depart
ment His lofty and generous character might lead
him to place undue confidence in the probity Of
others-his broad views and high public aims may
have carried him beyond the point of nice exactness
ara caution IN the application Of legislative appro-
prlatIons- he has perhaps consulted rather the true
ends than the mere letter of money bills-but the
soundness OF his intentions cannot in fairness, and
In decency should not. be questioned and he has,
equally. the suffrage of the liberal and enlightened,
IN favor OF the real wisdom of his plans Ii is TO be
collected from what passed at the final discussion of
the appropriation for Fort Calhoun in the House OF
Representatives, that the great majority Of the
House were satisfied with the explanations totching
the Rip Rap contract which were furnished by the
Department of War; at least, so far as the depart
ment was concerned
Editors and essay writer's will be readily permit
ted to have their predictions and their antpathies
IN reference to the choice of the next PRESIDENT
IL cannot, however, be allowed 10 them to be unjust
and slanderous towards any of the supposed candi-
daes-to Willy one, in order the TO exalt and
giorliy another No reputation, in which the whole
country has deep interest, and which has been la
boriously ard fairly and Is honorably as well as
anxousy cherished by the possessor, should be
suffered to be assailed, unless upon the most sub
santla grounds and from the best motives without
general cry of indignation Instead of endeavor!
Ing to deame the men who are understood to COM
pose the list from which the chief magistrate is to
be taken, we should consider it as an object of de-
sire, and matter of national pride, that they all be
deemed worthy. For ourselves, having full conf
dence IN the public and private virtue and. capacity
oil several OF them, we feel complacency in the
number and think that the Union may rejoice in so
saie ana strong an array.-haf. Gaz.
FlRE.-The Cotton Factory situated near Water.
town Bridge. in the County of Mddlesex on Thurs
cay morhlng last about half past o'clock, while
'he work people were absent at breakfast, was dis
covered to be on FIRE, and notwithstanding the un-
examped exertons of the people in the vicinity,
VINO promptly assembled at the fret alarm, was in
the short space OF about two hours, almost wholly
destroyed, The fire originated in the garnet, and
p'onaoy is another instance of spontaneous COM
ousuon from The cotton litter and sweepings of the
factory The machinery in the factory had Just
ooen pun IN complete ORDER; much the largest
proportion being entirely new, and the remainder
thoroughly repaired. The first story had been pre-
pared ana appropriated for machine Shop and
furnished with tools and fixtures for an extensive
business. The loss is extremely heavy, being es-
tmated from twenty to TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars,