Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-05-23


We must commend Wythe's zeal more
than discretion : Not that we undervalue his
POWERS, or overrate our own ; for, on equal
Terms we might be unwilling TO cope with him
But in such cause, even David with his
stone and his sling would find himself superior
TO giant.-Wyihc is 100 loose in his rpcol
lection offacts, and too rash in his conclusions,
to be dreaded as an antagonist. With truth
so strong Y on oar side, we should not even
fear a rencontre with the real Wythe with
him whose name is SYNONYMOUS with the
genius oflogic and the wisdom Of the schools
If George Wyihe could ever have prevail.
ed upon himself to support such positions.
Wythe asks us lchtn did we fail tn defend
Mr.. Crawford with the ready zeal of parti-
zans Z" We ask in return against what charges
hare we defended him, except the cases of
the suppressed documents, aud the .9trustn
address ?-We have seen and quoted from
other sources various other charges against
HIM when did we notice them ?-IVp lsha
duly investigate them when we think the
proper time arrives yet there e is u time
Tor all things" We should be willing TO
take our own course, and leave Wythe
to take his. We claim. as deep an :. in
teresl in the honor and welfare of our
country" as he can fpel--but we differ about
the means of promoting it, We have not yet
fully entered the lists of the Presidential Elec-
ton. There is time enough before us. We
have thrown open our columns for those who
chose To spPak-and if Peudletoa had 80 let us
alone" and not addressed himself personally
to ourselves, we should have permitted his
assertions To have passed with our readers for
what they were wOrth-but peace be with the
dead
As 10 the publication ofJudgc Tait's letter.
we haze stated the fact precisely as it was
We published the letter, because we had that
moment received it-and Wythe then con
cludes, that we had " abandoned Mr.. C's.l
general merits !"--Surely non seq,titur!
tie has now " specified" the crimes" Of
Judge Tait-but has he " proved" them p
Would old George Wythe have relied
upon such proofs Would his calm and dis
eliminating and equitable spirit have taken
the eTPsrte statement Of the most infu-
rated personal enemy, whom TAFT and
Crawford have upon the face Of the earth,
as conclusive against either Of them?-W Would
he not have thrown il from him with indigna
tion?- AS to the documentary evidence, how
easy is il to obtain il let The recent contest
between the friends of Campbell and Shelby
satisfy us. Hit IS easy in such transaction,
how much more so in contest which had
broken tie whole state Of Georgia into two
hostile and Irrltaird factIons-and where the
partZnns Of Gen. Clarke were ready To believe
and to circulate the mos extravagant asser.
lions against w. II. C.?-.Can this he cons.
dcred such proof ~ is sufficient ~ convict arv
mao of crimes" unkerrd too Is silent e 10 be
guilt, when the accusations are such as = man
may scOrn to answer? Is Gass' word 10
he relied on as proof Of bribery, when Gass
is proved To be- rilnin But we say
agah we will not dip into the "kcnnels" Of
Gov. Clarke's pamphlet
We thaDk Wyihc f,r the quotation from
the pamphlet. We are not in the habit of
consulting it and therefore do not keep q
copy by Whatever might have been
Ciark's motives for projecting il in 1903, his
views "a publishing il in 1890, are avowed
upon the face nf il. One very important
purpose" is 70 defeat w. ". C's "Gtriher
promofon.' Now we would wager any SUM
that even CIV. Clark would confess by fur.
ihcr promolion' he principally meant the
Presidency Of the u. S.
The pamphlet was not printed about the