Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-05-30
RICHMOND. MAY 80. Ia95.
F~R TIE ENQUIRER.
TO WYTFE .iND PENDLETON.
Mutato nomine de te
] adopt this motto. because I nresumc

III L am mistaken, there rs an obvious mode
To correct the mistake, and To which Wythe
and Pendleton are invited. 1t is IN assurance
TO the contrary from the author of either.
feet satisfied that IL cannot be done. should
nor adopt this expedient, hut for two reasons
either of which l deem conclusive. The
first is, that an effort is essayed to impress
the public mind with the conviction that they
are the productions, oftlco residents of Vir-
snia, and appearing in one of the frs, prints OF
the state they are TO be assumed rs evidence of
the public feeling in Virginia A feeling, in
every respect coutradctcd by the truth of the
case. However this may be with what little
force or propriety it may he urged on general
grounds ; how small suever be the claim that
one writer has upon another on political ques-
lions TO PROFOUND heterogeneous, yet flatter
myself on this question the prsprety of the
application will be indisputable. 1t is sus-
tanned by the best possible authority--the
practice of the author of these productions
himself. And surely he has too much cour-
tcsy to deny privilege to Others, which he so
liberally appropriates TO himself.
Ii will be borne in recollection, that after
detailing IN spirit of pure and attic wit, an
anecdote of Mr.. Crawford, the author of these
pieces subioins: /" Will Mr.. Crwford or some
of his friends come forward under his hands
to say that the aDecdote is not in its material
parts correct 2" Having therefore furnished d
standard. Pendleton cannot in reason complain
if he is brought to its measure. A single line
IN the Enquirer will undeceive the writer GC
II be,) that he is in error--These remarks
are eXtorted by suggestion, that ne
individual had taken the field in favour Of
Mr.. Crawford here but solitary one-that
he was native of Georgia, and to exc out
deficiency OF matter, an dpoState pun was made
| by Pendleton upon his signature. How il
was ascertaued that the gentleman who pen
ned the article was a native of Georgia, is
presumed TO be a matter of conjecture. Be
it so, however, he resides in Virginia is tied
to her soil by every charm that can endear
it, as well as by full stock Of old Virginia
feeling. If the writer were permitted to
indulge a similar conjecture, might he not
supposed that the author of Pendlet0n
and Wythe was gallant and distinguished
officer in the army?
Let il he granted, however, that no essays
and "paper shot are expended in Virginia
in favor of Mr.. Crawford. The reason is too
| obvious for description. He is so unequivo-
cally her manifest favorite, that any one must
lose his time and and labor by endeavoring
to establish the proposition by the columns of
IA newspaper. 1t would he Just as vain and
idle, as an effort to demonstrate the evidence
of the senses by the deductions of the mind
| 1t is no part of the motives Ofthe writer. to
vindicate the character of Mr. Crawford or
to bring any assistance to his pretensons and
claims to the high office to which be aspires
In Virginia they are too well known and
justly valued-they require no " foreign aid %
They are not, 10 use the intelligent and beau
tlful idea of Pendleton, the fragments of" an
unfinished circle :" on the contrary, they rest
! on basis whole as the marble founded as
the rock" too secure to he shaken.
But there are some topics TO which reply
is unavoidabIy forced.
| Had there fallen from the pen of Ppndleton
and Wythe one lingering sentiment of gene
rous feeling for those whom he has uniustIy
implicated i'll this controversy if that pen
had not been stepped in the bitter gall Of po-
litical acrimony the columns ofthe EnGui-
rer had never given to the world string of
Imputatlons equally ungrncrous and unbound
ed But for an imaginary and fastidious de
voton TO the Independence of the press, the
Editors surely could never have lent the res
Pectable sanction of the Enquirer to attacks
on private character, so wanlon, lliberal and
unjust.
speak not of Mr.. Crawford-He is fair
game. He is mark tan elevated one) before
the public eye. Nor is If permitted to him
sci or his friends 60 complain of any structures
on his public or private character, however free
and severe.
The man who seeks the lofty station to
which he asplrPs, must submit to every test of
the furnace and the crucible. A lust and re-
nprous people will pronounce with impartial
fidelity upon his pretensions and his claims :;
no rant of a newsmonger can efTectuay ex-
alt or dePress them. A sure reliance is afford
ed 10 tlme-truth, and his country. But GER
taIny Judge TAFT has not deserved the deep
and bitter reproach in which his reputation is
attempted TO be involved
| This gentleman has been long before the
public. He has filled so many stations of the
highest political importance he has filed
them with so much fidelity, dignity, and ia
lent, that the time has long since arrived, when
ne might read his history IN natiOn's eyes"
The evidence on which he is arraigned, is
contemplate and ridiculous-the miserable
! pages Of boisterous pamphlet written by
Clark Of Georgia, from which the angry bolt
has recoied on his own devoted head, and dis
closed in serene and purer light the excel
lence of those adversaries, whose virtues he
hated, but could not reach"
Ii Is Wanted in terms Of curious cnmmpnda-
ton, that This Clark inflicted chastsement on
the person Of Judge TAit. Yes. Let il he
told--procaim it from ihe house. top-sonnd
II from Dan to Becrsheba, that this mirror of
chivalry did accomplish this mighty feat.
OHdsr t0hnt circumstances They must be
also told. He tcnk base and cowardly adj
vantage OF the position and situation Of Judge
Tat, who was sitting in his zig, and who
clark knew was cripple, upon one leg This
is the champion And is il uron the trefi-
mony Of this man, cnnamed and furious IN
bate, that the reputation of Judge TAFT has
been so harshly. and had almost said wan.
tonly assailed? Hes-ihr reputation or a man
Of genius aud uf virtue, who uni'es in his per
son the manners Of gentleman. the soul oi
y pairInt. and the endnwmenfs Of the achnlar