Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-23
TESTIMONY AND DOCUMENTS
on TIE
MEMORIAL OF .NI.sl.1.T EDW.4RDS

TESTIMONY AND DOCUMENTS
MEMORIAL OF .h1.fl.1.F EDW.4RDS
lCoScLUDED.1
This great statesman, this political pl,ilose
pher, this experienced orator, did not appear
10 consider, that the illegal conduct of minis
tor could be justified by an alledred absence OF
improper personal motives, nor that a duty. I'M.
an the punctual performance of which the whole
fabrication of legislation rests, should be re.
Paatediy violated, and with perfect impunity.
wiz not complaln of any thing that has hap
pcned to myself in this business; of the hberaii-
y with which bad motipcs have been irnputed
To me; OF that inpatient justice, which, on this
Hqor, condemned me for defending myself md
arSu'nentatiyely accusing a responsible officer,
upon Statements, which are now established, but
which were then not examined. Bat, boa
leave to ask, whether treatment like this can be
Just In ITSELF is likely to sharpen that inspec
tsoa, which it is the right of every citizen to an.
ply to the conduct of the high officers of this
Government, AMI which cannot be rcpress ed
Wlthoutgrcat danger to the liberties of the PEG.
Pile.
The advantages under which have la.
bored IN this Investigation, must be o,vious to
the committee. While l hare been informed
oy them that no charges against me have been
submitted TO them, the trial, if such it NAV be
called, has assumed much more the appearance
OF an investigation fipy conduct, than that of
Ntr. Crawfori's Called upon as n witness, a.
gatnst my own consent, not being willing to rest
any ofmy charges against the Secretary, or my
own defence, upon my own oath, have been
required to swear TO facts that consider who'll
ly immaterial, as it relates to his conduct, at
least, the: arowed object of the inquiry; and the
occasion has been embracodof requiring me to
defend, not my general character Tor veracity,
but to maintain it in PARTICULAR and special ca
ses, by which have been perfectly surprised
and for which no adequate time is allowed me.
Inmy address to the House, ] have made Ger
tain statements against Mr.. Crawford, which
the committee are pleased to denominate char
ges. For specifications of some of those state
ments, lhave referred to certain publications
under the signature of A. b., of which ac:sho,y-
ledgeI myself to be the author, thereby making
myself responsible, from that Inosaeat, for the
charges they contain. When wrote them,
or whether l wrote them at all, neither could
add to, nor diminish, the responsibility had to
ken upon myself, by exhibiting them as char
ges to the House; and it might, with as much
propriety, have been asked of me to swear that
wrote my address, as that l wrote the publ
cations which, by the reference made to them,
became part of that address. How they ORR
ginated, or what was their object, before they
were offered to the consideration Of the House,
docs not appear TO me to be either material, in
an inquiry into Mr.. Crawford's conduct, nor to
have been within the intention of tue reference
to the Committee, especially elf no charge a.
gainst me has been submitted to them.D
The only inquiries that appear to me mate
rial, in regard to those publications, ore, whe-
Their the facts they allcge arc true or flIse, and
if truo, whether they amount to proof of any
thing on the part of the Secretary, worthy Of
apprehension. If the charges against him are
well founded, no motive for making them can
Justify excuse hig.
III am to be convicted of having made them
aajustifabiy, and critninally, not barely by an
acJuittal Of him, but oy positive Judgment a.
gainst myself distinct allegations ought to have
been made against me, and fair opportunity
ii dcfencc should have been allowed INC. Such
n trial should be very willing TO meet but a.
gaiust any collateral and Indirect operation for
that purpose, and particularly, where techni-
cality has not been overlooked, | solomnly pro-
test.
hare been required to swear that wrote
these publications more than two years ago, and
this has afforded tue ground for attacking my We
racity, h the special cases ALLUDED to, without
my beng allowed the necessary time to dis
prove, inyadatc, or explain, the allegations
that have been made against inc.
Wit! regard to nv having denied the author
ship ofthose publications, have nc hesitation
in admitting that have frequently, and truly
GSDIeJ, t1aL Il WTObc at dppcdlCu
that signature, during the time referred TO BY
the testimony in this case; that is 20 say, the pc
riod that includes the first and the last Of those
publications.
have, also, constantly denied that there was
any a. Il. plot, or conspiracy, in the case; aiis
have at all times, treated such suggestions witt
the contempt they deserved. Not only has the
existence of sucl. "pIot" conspiracy
been affirmed in several OF the most distinguish
cd newspapers Of the Union, but the committee
have recently heard it boldly asserted on the Zoo
'5F the House of Representatives.. This have
denied. and still do deny, so far it is intende,
10 duplicate me. No man, but myself, is, o.
ought to be, responsible for any thing have
written, on the subj. embraced by thos'
publications, and one man cannot make con
spiracy. For whatever purpose the assertion
of 'splot, or conspiracy" has been made, it has
know, been more correctly denied than al
6rmcd.
am, also, equally free to admit, that thoug'
my general course was neither to deny, nor &C
knoyvlclgc, that was TIE author Of these pub
licatious, vet, may have repeatc5ly.sPokeni i
regard to that matter, as any man Has right t
speak IN regard to anonymous PubiIcatlo