Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-08-29
ktNHNOND. AUGUSF eo. l82s.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
addressed TO The People Of The United States
ny A fELLow-cIrizEN.

| come now In the defence of charge
which, though am bold TO affirm, is alleged
against Mr.. Crawford, with less foundation,
ana more unmerited, than any other, yet as
no specifications are given, it will he more
difficult tn be met and exposed-I mean the
charge ofintrigue.
am not however without confident be
iief, that shall be able 10 make this accusa-
ton yield 10 the force of truth, if can have
the appropriated attention of every dispas
sionate mind.
tls too well known that an excess of pre-
Judice, destroys the power of conviction and
passion always weakens the strength of iudg-
ments. In relation TO this charge, no mans
political life can more abundantly attest the
truth ot these reflections than Mr.. Crawford's
Without pointing to IA single fact where such
an Imputation IS either apparent or probable,
| without referring even TO solitary instance of
| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, he is branded with a trait
mat has obtained beiefand currency with less
evidence 10 support it, than any other, with
winch his peace has been unsparngly inya-
ded-and there appears TO be tenacity in
urging 1t, equaled only by the consummate
assurance that seeks 10 force it down upon
me public opinion, exclusively by the main
strength of unaided and obstinate assertion
| This charge originated with one of the bit
terest personal enemies Mr.. Crawford ever
had, and when mention the name of Clark,
that enemy is perfectly understood and would
"i ITSELF, II his private character could be
known, be more than sufficient to prevent the
| trouble of this vindcation for, If there is an
hoaest man in the world who really knew
HIM, that would suffer his mind To make up
decisive opinion upon the credit of his un-.
supported declaration, that man would be the
slave OF a credulity emitting him more to pi.
ty than resentment. know that run a ris!,
| inrtpIfInr 1ha rms ~ ,,,h. ,l,
deserves, by bringing this character into view :;
hrs, because 1t must degrade every subject with
which 1t is connected, and secondly the terms
Indlspensably necessary To its faithful descrip-
tion VIII subject me 10 the charge of perse-
| cutIon, the atmosphere in which he can alone
move, breathe, and have his being" But it
Is absolutely requisite To obtain a right under
standing of the source from whence this charge
has arisen, painful and disgraceful as it NAV
be to take Governor Clark along in our com
/ pany, and bold up 10 view Il part of the dis
gustng picture of bis life
| 1t is a well known fact, and fake no plea
sure 10 mentioning it, but is demanded by the
| occasion, that IN Governor Clark's early life.
such were the dlssipated courses of that life
mar no. decent man could even accidentally
i'li intO his company, without the certainty Of
! direct insult; and such was the untoward
turhulencr of his disposition, that unless a
sense oil prudence dictated a separation, per-
/ sondi difficulty the inevitable conse
quence- The harmony of every company
was married into which he intruded himself.
Tor his society was never sought or solicited,
the tranquility of the hospitable and the hila =
rIty of the festive board were destroyed, nav
even the peaceful pastlmes of the theatre
and the stIllmore innocent amusements of the
| oa'i-roOm could not escape his licentious
rndeness At this time, and in this unques-
tlonable STATE of things, Mr.. Crawford then
Just admitted TO the bar, and of uncommon
energy OF character for which he has always
been remarkable, determined and frequently
| TOOK occasion to express that determination,
| that AS his professional pursuits would fire.
quently bring him in contact with this indiv-
dual, ii respect for himself would consirain
! him TO chastIse any insult from that quarter,
that nothing but general acqRescence in such
| drunken hectOrlng, had encouraged mind
nj for distinction in nothing else, to violate all
! the decencies ofsociety with IMMUNITY. that
he would not submit To it, and accordingly
carried his threat into execution. This was
certainly the incipient and true cause of that
deadly quarrel, which has so long, and can
with truth say, on the part of Mr.. Crawford,
with the deepest regret, agitated the repose
of society. Clark with shrewd discernnent,
of which in his whole life he has given but the
solitary instance, plainly saw that the opening
career of Crawford like the famous Eclipse
TO use the fashionable slang of the turf was
sufficient to make himself and his rider, and
he like Purdy has fastened upon him with un.
tottering steadness, and set him with death
like closeness, resolved that nothing but death
shall separate their fame. He has never lost
an opportunity of having it distinctly under
stood that he is the constant rival of Mr. Craw-
ford, and by that means has actually succeeded
in
gentleman, knowing that every step he rose
upon the public estimation, he would be o.
e bhged To carry his lOathsome load, and if
may use the expression, this fungus, that ha.
grown out of the exuberance of his political
= greatness.
To shew that this has been an ungraciou,
} and an unwilling strife on the part of Mr.
Crawford, has it not been kept up 10 the pre-
y sent day by his unfiagging adversary Has i
= not been renewed by him, after it had dice
( away from the public mind, for upwards o
y, fifteen years, and that too while Mr.. Crawford
was absent from the state upon public business
Q and when its continuance had long since ceas
ed, when no no fresh instance of provOcatior
had been offered and there appeared not ever
plausible reason for its revival? The iufereno,
!. is too obvious To- he misunderstood. 1t wa
t. this contest that brought him into notice, ant
it is this alone that will keep him in sphere
To which, few so ignorant have ever aspired
- and none SO malignant have ever attained.
Ii cannot have escaped The observation o
q the rejecting class of community, how easily
= in popular governments, the public mind cal
$ he troubled, how extensively its surface ma
be agitated, aud like the force of rapid cur
90 rent how difficult it is To- Obstruct Or diver
any steady direction 1t may have acquired
. . lis tendency ceases only with the suspensio
p NJ its impetus. In the strugg G. between thes