The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-03-24
Mr.. Pittman-In an editorial article in

Victory" noticing the fate OF the bill con
corning the Chesapeake and Ohio canal in
the senate OF Maryland,you introduce, gen
WINDER as the author OF the rejsction
Of that bill, ins manner which does great
injustice to him; and you go out of your
way, to pass most unmcrited ceusure
on his military conduct during the late war.
The transactions to which you evident
~ aliude, were public affairs of deep and
universal concern. and gen. Winder must
yield to every citizen the right of indul.
cling and expressing his own opinions in
relation to them; and to this sarcasm, as
TO many OF a similar kind, he must pa.
patiently submit, however unjust. Gen.
Winder has, however, the consolation Of
knowing, and it is known to the writer,
that every step which he touk while in
command of the 10th military district,
was fully known TO Mr.. Madison, the then
president of the United States, to the
present president and tc the secretary at
war; that in the most important as well
as in the most calanitous moments of his
command, they not only knew but were
personally present, and were partakers
an them. They saw and knew what
sen. Winder was doing and if they had
disapproved. having the power to do so,
would undoubtedly have directed his
movements. But under the new. per.
picking and unforeseen difficulties, in
which they were placed, they found moth.
ing better 10 suggest, than what the gen.
had himself suggested, and he has the
consolation to know that they have always
approved OF bis conduct. Besides this,
At cannot be unknown TO you that congress
instituted an inquiry into those matters
and with feelings and dispositions, by no
means, The mos, friendly to the general
and that they found nothing to criminate;
and, further, that board of as highly
intelligent and honorable officers, as any
service can boast of, after labosious
lnvestlgahon. not emily acquitted him of
blame, but commended the zeal and
activity with which, under a 1rain of
most untoward circumstances he had
underworld 10 perform his duty.
But, MIR. Piuman, have seen enough
of this world to know, that misfortune,
and especially military misfortune, is too
often, in TIE opinion of many,synonymous
with crime. Washington was driven
from Long fsland--routeda at Brandywine
and beaten at Germatown. Bona
par'e was not only beaten, but DESTROYED
at Waterloo. do net pretend TO com
pare the actions or misfortunes Of general
Winder with those ofthese Incompatible
men; but surely he may claim from, VIVA,
has herf'eucd 90 them and hundreds of
others ofthe most distinguished generals,
that misfortune does not generally imply
gull, or even incapacity.
With respect TO gen. Win9sf's conduct
81 the senate of Maryland in regard to
;he Chesapeake and Ohio canal, the fol-
lowing fair and candid statement of his
opinions and acts, will enable you to
Judge how far you have been from doing |
justice to him in the article have been
noticing,
General Winder has uniformly and
on all occasions manifested warm zeal |
Ii favor o: internal improvements gene.
rally, and especially in bis native state
Among the first and leading objects Of |
this description he has siwa>,, consider.
cd the Potomac canal--and The only Ii
imitation he has ever put upon his sup.
port if that measure in its fullest Ia,i. !
;ude has been, in asseDting 20 that pro-
Jet, 20 avoid lettering himself uhd the
state from any, or Ell other internal im-
prOVemeHts which might be deemed
useful and beneficial. He uniformly a.
vowed to the warm and jealous friends
at the Potomac canal, his readiness to
concur i'll any law to promote that OBJ.
iect which left the state perfectly