Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-08
RICHMOND. JUNE a 1904

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RICHMOND, JUNE 8, 1894.
FOR THE ENoUiRER
Ii the minute details Of the history of these
t'mss should reach posterity, (which, for tht
nnnor OF the nation hope they never will
this present year, one thousand eight hundred
ana f'cenfy;) four, will he distinguished in ou,
annals, as The era Of Finding and proving, a
distinction than which none more odioos Was
evar bestowed an any portion OF time.
In my opinion, it is a serious misfortune 10
any man Of honor, tn have his name involved,
or even mentioned, in any controversy of the
kind. This, indeed, is the only consideration,
wnich can give the friends of John Randoiph
% Roanoke, any pain or even the smallest con-
Germ, on account Of the structures that were
made IN Congress, or the coarse abuse TINT
has been lavshed by certain public prints, on
particular passage of his late letter to his
constituents. No man-whatever folly may
believe or knavery PRETENDING man, who
has the least knowledge Of Mr.. Randolph,
and who is endued with capacity to form an
estimate of a character the most strongly
marked imaginable, will for moment believe
him capable of an intentional departure from
the most rigid truth. Yet those who value
the public services of this upright and distin
5ushed statesman, much more the friends who
love him, cannot silently endure public impu-
tations ON his honor. The imputation Of an
untrutb is one Of those SANDERS which cannot
be permitted 10 pass unnoticed.
Mr.. Randolph told his constituents. that &c IL
=" WAS at has instance, and not ,riihout cons;de-
ratte resistance on the part Of a nss;orifv of
{" the committee" on Mr.. Edwa.tiss memori-
al concerning Mr.. Crawfordl, :" that the Sec
" rotary had the opportunity given him, TO file
IN
wards" On the 27th May, Mr.. Webster
rose in his place in the House of Representa-
ti'es, and Expressed his astonishment at this
=" paragraph" regard to my character
he added " and the character of the com
m,ttee with whom am associated. does no.
allow me to pass over this statement and
rise for the purpose of saying, that the order
Of the committee for communicating The nd
dress fe Mr.. Cra,sford, for the purpose of gir-
'ng hun an opportunity Of answering Il, was
" not made at the instance Of Mr.. Randolph ;
and further, that no one o,'the committee made
~ any opposition wiinferer TO that motion.
nope am fully and distinctly understood
wish TO be so and 1 again repeat that no
one of the committee minated the least on
"poslIion TO the motion" 4 nd, then, MIR. Web
ster produced the minute of the proceedings
OF the committee, TO shew the business of his
account of its transactions.
L torbear any particular commentary on the
tone and temper of Mr.. Webster's remarks.
though they be such as should not have ex-
pected from him such as are not exactly in
unison with his own highly decorous and res
pectable character. He, no doubt, thought
imselfin|ured, and spoke under the influence
ct feelings whirh sense of injury inspires.
make every allowance for mOmentary ex-
element. My purpose is To shew the public,
(r, .k,tS<l 4 Il. 4
Webster HIMSELF and the other members of
the committee, that whether MIR. Randolnh
vas mistaken in his impression of the temper
OF a majority Of the committee or not his
truth stands amply justified by the simple
state of facts.
1t appears distinctly, that MIR. Randolph was
not present when the COMMITTEES frs, met :
and that, before he Came, Mr.. Taylor of N. Y
proposed resolution in these words" Or
dered, that the CHAIRMAN transmit TO MIR.
Crawford, copy of Mr.. Edwards memo
rmi. and the accompanying papers, together
with copy of the resolution creating the
y committee and that Mr. Crawford be re
:" quesfed 10 ansloer The san,e.n The last MEM
her OF THIS proposition, THAT containing the
request to Mr.. Crawford to answeIL was, after
some con, ersation en- the subject, struck out
las Mr.. Floyd says) or ioithdraion by MIR. Tay
iar himself las he states it); struck out or
Withdrawn, as l understand Mr.. Taylor, OUT of
motives of delcacy towards Mr.. Craw ford
Mr.. Floyd states, that il was after this part oI
the resolution had been thus rejected or abao.
doned, that Mr.. Randolph came into the COM
mttee room and Mr.. Macarthur saws. tina,
when he came, the proceedings of the com.
mttee were read to him. Mr.. Randolph then
moved to amend the resolution, by adding a
similar instruction with that which the com
miee had before discarded, piz. thai tbe
chairman should inform Mr. Crawford ,ha,
the f" committee were proceeding in the ex-
animation, and were ready 20 receive anv
Z" communication which he might think nro.
per to make, in reference to the samen-
This amendment was accepted by MIR. Taylor ::
and the resolution, thus ineBdpd. was unani,
mously adopted. is the exact history of
the facts, as given by the members ofthe com
mittee, in the House of Representatives.
MIR. Randolph doubtless considered the in
siruction given TO the chairman, TO signify 10
Mr.. Crawford, that the committee was ready
TO receive any communication he might think
proper to make on the subject, as that part of
the resolution, which gave Mr. Crawford an
opportunity To answer the accusation of Mr..
Edwards. lie had moved this Instruction.
Therefore, he told his constituents, and told
them truly, that II was at his instance, that
the Secretary had the opportunity given him
/" 10 file his answer to the accusations
When MIR. Randolph Joined the com mi,tpe
ne found, that proposal, similar TO that
which he himself afterw ards moved. and in.
tended Git seems) by the mover (Mr. TayJor}
To answer the very same end, had been al
ready made and actually rejected or allan
doIred by the committee. or the motives
~ hch arlt,allv ied IN this d,f.rv.<:....,:.