Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-12


MIR. Floyd, in his first call for infor-
nation, was unsuccessful for the Pre-
siaent sent him only the public docn-
ments required, not imagining that any
other were desired.
Mr.. Floyd then, at the suggestion OF
Mr.. Russell (and how else could he have
known or consented 10 it?) calls for
private letter oil Mr.. Russell, da ed Feb.
l8l5. The object of Mr.. Russell will
be easily seen and appreciated IN the
sequel, il it is not already. The private
letter is not immedia "ly found; and Mir.
Brent, Of the Department Of State, calls
on Mr.. Russell and requests OF him, il
he has it, duplicate. Mr.. Russell &C
quiesces, and gives duplicate OF his let
ter, marked copy in his own hand
writing, but, at the suggestion OF Mr.
Brent, he erased 'cohy,' and wrote d.
hHcate.' The original being su6se-
qncnily found, which Mr.. Russell, you
will perceive, presumed to have been
lost, was unhapply destitute OF the pre-
diction, opinions, indications OF wisdom
On his own part, and want of sense and
patriotism on the part o! his colleagues,
which shone so conspicuous in the dupil-
cate.
The President, III his message TO Con
gress, states that he has the original and
the duplicate; tina, the publication would
lead to painful controversy, and requests
the House not to insist on their rcques'.
Before this message To0S read, Mr..
Floyd, who had called for the iniorma-
lion, moved thai il ShoRid not be read,
but referred TO the committee originally
appointed 10 obtain the information. On
motion oil Mr.. Po,nsett, it was read, and
the House became possessed OF the
existence Of the mysterious fact, that the
President thought it improper to COM
municalc Mr.. Russell's letter, without
communicc ing Mr.. Russell's copy. MIR.
Floyd, the original mover, desis,cd from
The inquiry. MIR, Fuller, Of Massachu-
sets, then took It up; and the letter, and
lis copy, have appeared in public.
mo more alike tlI..a Vulcan and his wife,
Let us advert now 10 The topics of the
letter as they appeared in the duplicate.
They were the ceDsures of Mr.. Russell
on his colleagues for oyer-rating he La
bradpr Fishery, undertaking the navi-
CATION OF The Mississippi, disregarding
the interest Of the West, trusting the
goodness OF God, and the valor Of Loui-
siana, which latter (;a February. 1922, as
we shall see) tie hfeaicts will, in 1915, as
ii had dore, drive away, with shame, the
British from New Orleans. Ali this is
in the duhlcate'--none OF il in The ORR
ginal
Now hear Mr.. RusselPs defence
First, the call was unknown to him.
Who bu, Mr.. Russell and the President
could have known OF this 'fri0ate' let
ter? But Mr., Brent declares, that Mr..
Russell told him that Mr. Floyd had
called for it at his instance. Mr.. Bailey
says, that Mr. Russell (who had pre-
viousy told him that Mr.. Floyd acted
without his knowledge,) did confess at
in his presence, to Mr.. Brent,
that he had acted at his (Mr. Russcll's)
instance. But the fact speaks for itself
and the cradle of the letter is faIsehood.
Let us see how this hopeful iniquity
gets on in the world Mr. Russel!'s de-
fence is ,riplicate, it consists of person.
al intercourse with Mr.. Adams, publ
cation in the Boston Statesman, and an
other in The National Gazette. He says,
though he called it duplicate, he did
not mean it as such On the moving of
the resolution, he had his duplicate
(seven folio sheets ready for delivery.
He told Mr.. Brent he had received the
copy from Mendon, the lace of his re-
sidence. He afterwards told Mr.. Adams,
that the two last sheets had not been sent
to him-that he wrote these from memo
ry, and the variation vas accidental
when afterwards, in the Boston States
man, he AYERS, that he had right to al
ter, and did alter the private letter, called
for publication Cat his own desire) and
although he called it copy, it is not a
copy; that it is the same, and yet il is
not the same; and the variation is acct
dental, and yet he designed i, |.
1t is painful TO observe obliquities of
mind and conduct, especially in men en-
gagged in administering public affairs,
who are warned by Sallus,, tina, they alb
stain from prejudice of every kind from
malice and hatred in particular. MOI
can it be otherwise than painful to be OBJ
liged to declare that man in whom the
public wished to contidc, has forfeited
for ever the public confidence, by an I'M
worthy effort to injure his associate. For
the latter can gain no additional honor,
and must suffer great deal of PAIN
The oak survives the whirlwind, i is
true, but its boughs tremble, and its