Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-08-05
sEMI.oFFIcIaL DIsPUTArloS.

As for the "prevarricationo alleged
against us, il is comprized in the total
misunderstanding, by the honorable
Secretary. of our sentiments towards
him, which. were il in the case of any
ordinary man, we should say he seems
to be determined to misunderstood.
When we described him as an elevated
officer, self poised, enlightened, and
experienced statesman we spoke our
real sentiments-ihose sentiments which
though we have not played the syco-
phant with him (nor with any osher man,
be it our proud consolation under off,
cial denunciation,) we have always ex-
pressed, in public and private, without
caring whom it pleased or it displeased.
Upon this point we will onlyexpress our
sincere regret that one. who has so ma
ny claims on our personal respect, should
have permitted himselfto use this Ian
guage, and we willingly leave it to an
impartial Public to decide whether we
have deserved it at his hands.
The honor Of controversy with the
Secretary of State being above our am
bition, and, well knowing, besides the
fearful odds against which we contend,
we shall dismiss the article which we
have reluctantly copied from the Jour-
nal, with very few further observations
on the facts of the case.' ea
The Senate Documents to which the
Secretary refers as having bee n printed
at cur Office, were printed confdentiaily
for the senate. We could not avail our
selves of documents thus confded to US.
We do not venture even to retain CO.
Ply of documents SO printed, lest by
some accident, the obligation to secre-
cy might be violated. As Printers to
Congress, we are under obligations Of
duty which we do not allow ourselves,
in our capasity Of Editors to transcend.
The copy from which we publish the
convention. Sc. we have heretofore sta
ted. was obtained from the Senate by
member of the House of Repre- senta-
tives--there being no access to the Of
flee ofthe Senate for others than mem
bers of Congress. We published as we
repeat, all that appeared material to
the understanding of the Proceedings of
the Senate. A part, being omitted in
adyertenly, was published as soon as
the materially of it was intinated to us.
Every disposition was known to meet
the wishes of the Secretary of State.
Had he requested the publication of a
ny other documents. connected with this
question, and placed them ia our hands,
they would have been instantly. publish
ed. Since our last notice of the sub
iect, we have examined this matter
more closely than we had done, which
enables us to understand more clearly
what the Secretary really complains of,
than we did before, and we will endea-
vor to let our readers understand it also,
if they take any interest in the matter.
The Message of the President trans
hitting to the Senate the Convention for
ratification, as published in the National
Inteligencer of the 2sth May, was in
the following words:
To the Senate Of the United States:
transmit to the Senate for their con-
stitutional advice with regard to its rati-
fcation, Convention for the Suppress
sion of the African Slave Trade, signed
at London, on the 18th ult by the Minis
ter Of the United States residing there,
on their part, with the Plenipotentiaries
of the British government, on the part
OF that nation, together r,th the CORES
pondence relating thereto; part OF which
is included II, communication made to
the House of Representatives on the 10Th
uit. printed copy of which is among the
documents herewith sent
Motives of accommodation to the
wishes of the British Government, rem
der it desirable that the Senate should
act indefinitely upon this Convention as
speedily as may be found convenient.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, .qpril so, 1924.
We began with the first page, and
first line of this Document and publish
ed the whole, except the omissions
already described, Of the Documents
which really at companied the Convention
as far as page 80. The other Documents
which it appears that the Secretary
wished published were those included
in a communication to the House of
Representatives of the 10th of the pre-
eeding month, copy of which was also
transmitted to the Senate with the Trea-
ty. What we published was all that inn
msd;atalv accomnanied the Convention.