Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-13

writer of the article for the Journal insinuates.
With respect to the apology which appears
to have been expected from us without being
asked, we have only to say that to apologize for
doing wrong, under erroneous Impressions, is
to us sincere pleasure. Not being sensible of
has ing committed wrong, we had nothing to a
pologize for.
As to our not having defended tho Admins
tration ii was, because, after the ratification of
the Convention, we did not see the occasion for
it. The Secretary of State is well aware that
we did, previous to the ratification OF the rrea-
~, publish favorable view of its principle.
Free discussion serves to elicit truth, rather
than pervert or conceal it; and the Secretary
could not but be assured, that we should have
been proud to pubsii-any exposition of the me-
rits OF that Treaty, which he, or any other func-
| tonary, had thought proper, especially as the
| object of that Treaty had our most cordial APP
probation--a sentiment which will be found i'll
the National Intel!igencer of June 4, (almost
contcmporaneously with the publication of the
summary of arguments against the Treaty. in
the following words:
| Gas far as our personal feeling on the subject
goes, we should have considered il, under all
the circumstances, an unfortunate incident had
the treaty been rejected"
With respect to our not having, s'to this day."
published all the documents on The subject, we
assert that we have published all that we have
tally communicated. We had no access to
to them: we published what was procured for
MS by one, than whom no man has taken n deep
ef interest In the success Of the Treaty, and we
published oycry word of it. If TIE Secretary
had been pleased to furnish us with the papers.
they would have been published promptly and
literally, at whatever cost. Their publication
IN the National Government Journal was I'M
known to us, until now stated IF yet consi-
dered material. the remainder of the documents
will be published.
But what need of all this History of trans
action with which, in fact, the Secretary of
State had, properly, no concern? II he had
transmitted documents to us for publication, and
we had been guilty of errors in regard to them,
either OF omission or commission, he would have
had just ground of complaint. But what is the
TACT: We obtain, with great difficulty, from
MEMBER ct Congress, copies of certain Docu-
Inents and Proceedings of the Senate; we pub
iish all that appears TO to be necessary to give
Just view of them: we are informed that part
omitted Is deemed material; we publish it in
stantly-aii will not do; the accident has hap
Pcned, and IRE shall be punished BY refusal 10
publish important public documents in this pa
per, the only one which has sufficient circula-
uon to d'ifuse the information among the People
who have right to il. We are to be punished
however, Il, part only, it seems; which infor-
nation reached us first through the columns of
( tue JOURNAL.
! live have succeeded in defending ourselves
against the writ of Terror promulgated against us,
we arc entirely satisT Beyond the limits Of
self defence it is not wish nor shall we per-
init ourselves, to go. We made no complaint
against the Honorable Secretary, but it would
have been dishonest to our readers to conceal
| the fact, formally and officially communicated
| to us, that he had Intentionally chosen another
vehicle for communicating official information
| to the Public.
candid and dispassionate review of this mat
ter leaves us yet in utter establishment that the
| Secretary of State--this elevated officer; this
sef-Posed, enlightened andcxperienced States
man, should, for a cause thus trivial-for an er-
ror, ii IT were one, rectied as soon as known,
have taken mortal offence, and deliberately re-
solved to withdraw his confidence and counte-
nance from print which has from IFS founda-
pon stood by IFS country and its Republican adj
'ninlstratons, through evil and through good
report, and has enjoyed the uwaver.ng conf
I ience ola JEFFERSON, n MADISON, and a Mon
| ROE for four and twenty years
Oar readers have view of both sides of this
! Misunderstanding, and we have not the least
desire toprcss the matter further upon their at
tention. NM y,t