The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-07-31

moment that TINS date hau Ocen deSlgneuig as
sumed by MIR. Russell. he consulted MIR. Brent,
who, concluding with lin that the date of The
gear was an inadyenency, authorised HIM to
rectify it in the copy. Mr.. Thrusion thought he
might extend the kindness TO Mr.. Russell FAR
Their, by making the same change in the paper
itself lie passed his pen therefore through
the figures 1872 and wrote over them 1916,
thinking that was the year in which the letter
was written. This change was not only made,
without my knowledge, but when made
known to me was disapproved by me. Mr..
Brent supposed that all would be set right by
making known the alteration to Mr.. Russell
himself, and obtaining his consent TO the rec
ti.icetioa of the date of the year. lie did so;
and Mr.. Russell not only approved OF the
change, but brought his original draft to the
Department, and showed the date OF If to Mr..
Brent, to confirm tne second correction. on
~ ask. how intense must be the pressure Of
that conscientiousness, which attempts to pal
late the variations in Mr.. Russell's two papers,
by representing incidents like these, as crafty
wiles of mine to ensnare his innocence?
Mr.. Russell complains that after tae original
Of his letter had been fonnd, The duplicate
should have been communicated TO the House
ST ALL He complains that should have pre-
sumed to have made remarks upon both OF
theR e e2psns q hat Tent Il to the h91Ss
th.'e in person sought for a member who
would consept to make the call which was
necessary for the ofieial publication Of my per
soaal remarks. As usual, part of these state
menis Is true, and part is not. NY call al the
House Of Representatives on the 9th of May,
Was accidental; being on my return from Wiz
Messing the experiment Of Commodore Rod
sers's noble invention at the Navy Yard did
not there seek a member who would consent
to make the call. never asked any member
to Make the call though told several mem
bers, who spoke 10 me OH ihe subject there,
and elsewhere, thai it was my tpiSh the dacu-
ments should be communicated to the House.
The Presidents message to the House of the
4th of May, which Mr. Russell had seen be-
fore he left the city, had informed the House
of my desire that the letter should be commu-
ricated, together with communication from
lie respecting it.
The truth Is, that my desire for the commit
nic5,tion of MIR. Russeii's letter to the House,
had commenced on the same day that his own
had ceased Mr.. Russell, from the 26th of
January to the 22d Of April. had been indelat-
igabie in his exertions to bring this letter be-
fore Congress and the pablick. lie had pro-
cured the origi9al draft of it from Nendon: he
had procured the cal for it from the House,
he had endured the toll Of rewriting. with his
own hand, at least once, letter of seven folio
sheets of paper: he had brought, and deliver
ell it with his own hand, 1T the Department.
at the moment Of fruition, his appetite fails
him. Doubts Of consequences to htaiself, as
we'll as to others, seem to fash across his
mind. He leaves the P3per-For WHAT
Tor communication 20 the House, in answer to
their call? No! 'tTo put it iato the power
ftke person tsko might consider himself The
T1osi liable 10 Be affected BY lis puJlicatiOa''-
for the "preyious examination and consent Of
the ADVERSE PARTT." he seems 70 invite
objection to its being communicated. He ia
quite Indifferent whether it be communicated
or not and, if not communicated, he desires
that il hay be returned to him. Bat to make
IT'S terroFs irresistible, he has double and treble
charged it with elimination OF violated instruc-
tions; and to voucn his charges. has twice
armed himself with offcia. copies from the
Department, of the caac3tjsd part of The ID
structioEs Of 18th april, 1873.
had never wished for the communication
to the House or to the publick of the letter,
untl had seen it. The efest of its perusal
upon M zlind was certainly different ffom
what sir. Russell appears 10 have anticipated
/ saw at once what it was and what il meant.
/ also saw, in a great measure, what its sri
ter was, which had never seen before, and
the discovery of the original letter, two days
after. disclosed him to NE in al his glory
Ia the private relations between us, I remem-
bered what ne had been to me, and what
.. 4 T.
before, until and icluding that very morning.
saw that lie was nov to be, in substance
and IN intent, MY aCcuser and that OF the
colleagues with whom had acted, before the
House, Of which he was a member, and before
the nation. In he original he had been Sc
cret accuser, under the mask Of seli-vindica-
ton. In Inc duplicate : had laid aside the
mask, though not tie professions Of uDleigned
respect and 10 al The secret diseolourin5s of
the conduct and opinions of his colleagues,
had added the new and direct charge of a
Wanton and wiiful vio!stion of their instruc-
tioss. az understood BY themselves. To have
shrunk from these charges would, in my esti-
nation, have been equivalent to an admission
of their truth. To have suppressed them, ar
ter the prying curiosity, which had long been
stimulated to see this mysterious and fearful
letter, would have been impossible. No hon
durable course was left nae but that Of meet
ing the ADVERSE PARTY on the scene which
he himself had selected forth operations; and
| knew that little more would be necessary
for my own vindication, and that of my col
leagues, in the minds of all impartial men,
THAI from the materials furnished by Mr.. Rus
sell himself. to expose to tho House at once
the character n: the accusation and Of the
aceuser. did, thaefore, desire that both
the letters OF Mr.. Russell, and my remarks
upon them, should be communicated to the
House bat, even then, if Mr. Russell, in
stead Of affecting indifference, had fairly ac-
knnHledrea his errof. and reliasted fhat The