The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-01-17

some other ofhs writings during our Re-
solutionary war, all his subsequent pubhea-
tons, political, religions, and personal, are,
m my opinion, worse than worthless. The
two paris of his Rights of Man, are charac-
terlstic of The same mind, aud indicative Of
The same soul. Is the two parts OF his Age
of Reason, aud all proceeded from the same
heart as his Letter 10 Washington. The
latter three of these pamphlets, | am sure
few OF you would now read, with any other
sentiments lhrnthose ofabhorrence and dis
gust. They are rapidly passing into oblivion;
aud the sooner they arc forgotten, the more
probiti0tis viii II be tn the cause of virtue
The world will lose nothing, should the two
others he forgotten with them. In enter
| tanning these sentiments, ii is certainly with
all the regard and Neneration due from me
| To Mr. Jefferson, as one of the men 10
whom the nation owes il deepest debt of
| gratitude. am charged by Gen. Smyih
with attempt 10 ridieue Dir. Jefferson
An expression distorted, and misrepIesent-
ed IN the kennel new spapers 9th present
| day, IL the support which the General has
foo this accusation. Oh THAT expression and
OF the cause from which II proceeded, will
not now speak. II the animOsities OF poll
teal contention are not TO be eternal, it is
time 10 consisn that subject To silence
Butt address you in the face ofour common
country and hope and trust tins paper
vii pass under the eye of Mr.. Jefferson
himself | say, without fear of being disa-
vowed by him, that he will not approve OF
the use ol has name by any one, for the pur
| posi- Of casting odium upon me and take
this opportunity to add, that | deprccale,
with equal earnestncss, the unauthorized
use by any OF, of his name, to obtain favor
of any kindf rme.
But, advancing from these skrmishes Of
The Generals Wit, To meet him in his main
array. lie objects IN me, that | am mo
stat, sman." To this you will not expect
me to reply. But he adds, " that the pr
nlcious passions warp my judgment, and
do not leave my mind IN proper state To
decide Oh the interests of nation, aud to
adopt an enlarged and liberal system of
policy" This is a serious charge, but the
votes upon which General Smyth has pas
| scd 80 severe a sentence on my character,
were all gwen IN the interval between &c
tobcr, 1898, when first took my seat in the
| senate, and December, 1905. At a dis
lance OF seventeen or eighteen years, 1t can
! acarccly be expected that should be able
to reenllect, and still less To prove, the mo-
yves Or REASONS upon which every one Of
those was given but ] will shew, to your
| satlsiactlon that all of them were founded
upon reasons very different from amy which
could originate in the motives charged up
on me. And after assigning those reasons,
J Will leave IT 10 your candor TO determine,
whether they were of 50 weak a texture.
that they can be attributed to no other than
| IactlOus motives.
| The first was on the 2Gth of October,
1908, upon bill enabling the President 10
take possession ofLouisiana ;against hich,
as General Smyth says, voted in mino-
rIty OF SIX. Cpon recurring TO private
Minute OF my own, made nj the time, find
the following remarks:
e." The objection traS 10 Me second section
as unconstitutional
10 enable you to Judge Of the sincerity
with which voted upon that principle a
Salnst the bill beg leave To submit To your
mcdltaions the section against which this
objection was taken:
Andbe II further enacted, That, until the
expiration OF the present session of Con
gress, unless provision for the temporary
government oitlle said territories be sooner
made by Congress, all he mtiitdrY, ciri
dHd J1dttldt PoUerS, exercised by the Of
hecrs OF the eliSting government OF the
same, snail he vested m such person dnd
persons, aud shall be exercised m such
manner, as ne PfeSident Of Tie L. HottS
H@" d'ret'' tor maintaining and protect
ing the inhabitants OF Louisiana in The
lree EMO! mrnt OF their liberty, prorert.
"n" feI'S'on.
L'l me ask You, before we proceed fur
'''ef' To stop here to reflect we'll upon the
extent and consequences of the pow er con