Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-05-16

view of Tie subject, and therefore feel il n duty owe
not tess Ia sruia than TO private riendshp, 10 state
what know of Mr.. Crawlords political teneis ron'
the period OF Our first acquaintance iii he became n
/ member of the senate Of the United Suites since
when, his course asa public mau has been known to
| tie nation.
| summer OF i796. We were associated in nur l.bors
in fhr lite, airy institution in the city of Augusta
and of course together daily in discharge of
our sevrra duties IL the beginning of 1923 settled
oil the upper counties OF Georgia IN the prac-
iicr OF law. 10 the winter following he ,eed in an
adjoining cornty, and commenced also the practice
OF law. We we're together in the same circuit the
har till the end OF the 1908 In Eoveriher of
that v~ar elected Judge OF The western circuit
and Mr.. Crawford continued the prarice of Law ~
der my administration ill Nov. 1907 wien he was
appointed senaior OF the u. States. He filed the
| vacancy made by The death of Mr.. Abraham Bald
win. have been iius minute as IL respects pur-
suits and 10 dates, to show that ia those times
were msch together and Of course, probably, well
acuuan tel with each others political and other srn-
n,eu,s. might here observe that i, the |isifon
in those days for every speak his sentiments
] freely as men and things. Parties have heen
strongly marked in the at Georgia since the va
ZOO speculation which took place in 1898; il is no,
therefore probable that Mr.. Crawford would
conceal his political opinions in the state of
things which then existed.-There has more
over subssted between Mr.. Crawford and
| myself from our first acquaintance an init
mate, unreserved and unbrol<rn friendship
until the present day. believe I have known
him well and have been acquainted with his
inmost thoughts from tbe beginning. From
1896 TO the present NOM here has been no
reserve between us. | believe there is no
man living who has had an opportunity of
knowing him better than | have had.-It is
from this intimate knowledge Of the man ac-
CURED in the way / have mentioned, that
feel it my duty te declare. that at no time have
believed or suspected Mr.. Crawford To have
been federalist nor have | ever known or
believed that he ever had any leaning To q.
wards prediction fer that party. He
has always been esteemed and held a repub-
can in the state of Georgia, where he was
brought up and where he was first known as
a public man. The truth of this must be
known to the whole Of that community.
never heard him charged with nor did ever
hear that he was suspected of federal partial
lucs, until very lately in the newspapers. /
know he was the political friend of Mr.. Bald.
win and urged his election to the Senate OF
the United States in Jan. 1899. / was Mt that
time member of the Senate of Georgia.
know that he was the friend of Governor
James Jackson and possessed his confidence
which any one knows he could not have done,
| NJ he had ever been suspected of federalism.
AS to the Address" which has been so
much the subject of remark Of late, I have
only to say, never heard it imputed to him
as fault by the republican party in Georgia.
1t should he remembered that at that time he
was young man, not yet admitted to the
bar, and as modest and unassuming as he has
since become distinguished for the strength oi
his intellect and integrity Of his character
Nor should the conduct of the French go
vernmeDt and the excitement of the moment
he forgotten. 1t will occur to all that this
Address of the young men of Augusta was
previous to those heightened measures Of the
federal party which excited general opposition
and terminated in their overthrow. know
that MIR. Crawford fully concurred in this OPP
position.
| have thought it proper to say thus much
| could not say less if | said any thing.
submit IT to your discretion to publish this
letter or any part Of it as you may think pro-
per.
am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
C.. TAFT.