Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-19


dissolutiou But it is difficult to conceaH tbe
truth, where il is the right of every person to find
II out, and 1t Is still more ridiculous 10 evatle the
discovery by assuming AN air of resentment on
an attempt at bullying. lnspeaking ofthis SUBJ
Jcct' we nave more than once regretted the i'll
ness OF MIR. Crawford, aud expressed the pain
10 which we were subjected by having to expose
what we believed to be his serious and incapaci-
tating illness. Those professions we shall moi
now repeat Our whole course has dcnonst,a-
tea That we are no enemies of Mr. Crawford.
though the political friends of one of his oppo-
hehts.' w e continue TO feel for hun the highest
personal respect; nor IN our opinion vi
oGttinS That sentiment by discussing the state
OF his health. Our own duties, and the relation
IN winch Mr. Crawford stands to the people oi
the CnIod States leave us but one alternative
10 speak with the candor which becomes fee
men, aud a free press. This we will do now
lave heretofore done, Il shall continue to do,
perfectly regardless of the constructions which,
! the ignorant, who cannot pcIccits the force ol
moral causes, or the unprncplcd who will not
acknowledge them, may place upon what VIC
say.
In the Enquirer of the 9th inst. appeared the
following letter of Mr. benjamin Harrison. OF
Cihrics tity county, whose opinions of MIR.
Craw'ord's health were the result of ocular in
formation.
Being IN Washington during the last week. and
having hcen appointed one Of the Members of the
corresponding Committee for this County for the
promotion OF the election of VIM. II. Crawford
Esq 10 the Presidency of the United States t,o't
II my duty to obtain all the ihiorma ton in nv now
ar, on the subject of the health of tha, ocn,Icm,,
"uh TINS view expressed Il wish to see Mr. Craw-
ofu, mat might satisfy myself tn the condition
of hisheaith. VIXEN gcntlnan prcscu, oss,,reI mo
mar mere was no difficulty in my obtaining an in
'efView, ana Tor this purpose he kindly offered
me a letter of introduction to the Chief Clerk i'm
the Treasury Office, and through Tie mems IF ,h,
gentleman had the pleasure of an interview v;,b
Mt. Crawford himself. The result of this was IN
satisfy myself, that Mr.. Cravford's heal,, was i;
ar way to be entirely rc-rstablshed: that his n,;nd
Is IN no respect impaired, and although he still la
oo"rS under that bodily debility which always fol-
lows long prottactcd Illness vet there i evor,, ~
son To nope that, in short tiic his cutirc STRENGTH
WIN ne feSofed--in the course of our conversation
which lasted about 10 or 10 minutes whom sweat
ing oil ms health, Mr.. Crawford remarked that Ina
nau nod comfortable difficulty in articulating and
that ms sight had been affected. but that he was hc
coming better daily: he speaks slowly but Iist;uc,lv
ana venture to say with the ability but pro-
hably rii the same facility, with which he has al
ways done. | left his office under the convic,ior
that his restoration to prftct health in the course
friends
Believing that efforts are vet ma ing To misren
resent the state of Mr.. Crawio-ds health, an, thus
To inlre the election of valuable man. have
thought it light TO tender this voluntary communi-
cation, accompanied by my name.
am, yours, SC.
BENZ. HARRISON.
Berk'ey Charles City, Oct. 18Th, 1924
The Editors of the Enquirer pay . very ius,
tribute TO the character olthc writer, in which
we acquiescc with much pleasure & Droucunco
the testimony OF his letter, 10 he c0nciusicc II
Is c0ac'usioc-and no man acquainted with the
nature of the disease with which Mr. Crawford
has been, and is afflicted, will question the fact.
Air. Crawiord's disease was .paralytic, and the
never failing effects ofthis malady, are such as
Mr.. Crawford himself admits i'm his convo,s.-
ton with Mr.. Harrison.
We have not time to cnumerate the symptoms of
the disease--but reference to medical books will
satslyouF readers that they cannot be mistakcu
The editors of the Enquirer in the honest i'm
rr;dence of their zeal for Air. Crawford gave
publicity 40 this letter, which, has actually had
me eject with Discerning people, of disprovIng
tue hasty deductions which they derive from ii
Emanating from a gentleman of high standing.
none dispute the accuracy Of its information
from friend no one doubts, that the particulars
are disclosed with all the caution and softness.
winch the terms of our language admit or which
a rigid adherence TO truth would sanction
So much for Mr.. IIarrison's letter. In add
ton to the evidence which il discIoses other n,r
ticulars have reached us, coming in a more in
direct but not more questionable shape Upon
Their truth we implicitly rely, and we affirm that
they have made the most serious impression ND
Oh several OF MIR. Crawtord's friends i'm this city
-rncn whose political zeal has not transported
them 10 the point of sacrificing the interest and
tranquility OF the country, TO the elevation of an
Individual. These particulars are that his health
has suffered irreparably, and that whilst he has
not yet recovered from his first attack, there is
reason to apprehend from the character of the
disease, that 1t will be succeeded by Others His
speech is affected, and so considerably, that hc
has no power in the modulation Of his voice
So painful is it to us 10 mention these things
that If Mr.. Crawford's obtaining the vote of Vr-
ginia, depended on their conccamcnt we would
preserve silence. But they are connected with
circumstances which remove our delicacv, tho
they do not diminish our regret, and compel us
to speak out. where VIC would gladly be silent
w @ affirm with almost as much confidence as If
the managers of the plot had admitted us 10 the
secrets OF the caba, that the whole system of the
caucus operations has been changed-the w w.
III. CRAWFORD is the oste1asiLie whilst
HENRY CLAY is the real candidate of the
caucus party. This is to be the plan: the man
ayers will avail themselves of Mr.. Crawford,s
popularity in Virginia TO elect the ticket noni
mated by the Richmond Caucus last wintcr-tte
deusion that Mr.. Crawford's health is rctricy-
ing, is 20 be kept up until the election is over in
Noyember-Wh hen the ticket is elected, and the
people have no longer any controul over the
question:, then, and not till then, will the truth
be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS gentlemen who manage
those things, will for the first time discover Mr..
Crawford'S physical incompetency, express their
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