Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-16

u III.
return to his constituents, is very naturally nsked
why gentleman obnoxious for his politics Was an.
pointed 10 so important an office Mr. Iovr;c in
his own defence, relates what had passcd between
the President, his colleague and hi,rsef in relation
toirish and the letter OF Gen. jackson. Subsequent
~, wh' 'oen. jackson is brought on the arena as a
conspicuous candidate for the Presidency. This ex
traordinary advice of his to Mr. Monroe. is very
naturally anu very justly objected 10 him. No Re-
puoiican could have given such advice, and If no.
thing ese tins alone, ought forever TO exclude him
Nom the Presidency. The churge, however. is
roundly denied by his friends, and Mr. Kremer. one
OF the PENNSYLVANIA Representatives. and his warm
supporter, formally called on the President 10 ex
cuipate Gen. Jackson from the change of writing
such letter. Tie President docs exculpate him
and MIR. Lo.'rie in consequences calls on Air. Mon
roe 10 do nm justice, by yleding UP the letter in
xuestion. To this Mr.. Monroe gives no answer
Zen Jackson, too, observes profound silence.
ihere Is dignity, moderation, and appearance
OF truth IN Mr. Iowries statement and ;n his letter
70 the Presidedt which is to our minds conclusive
How could MIR. howrie have invented such ta,e
the letter OF Gen. jacobson to the Preslent, Why
should he so firmly persist in his sta,enents unless
ne Knew they were true, and could be established
by "incontestible evidence? An opposite conclu-
sion is impossible. No disinterestcd mind could adj
mt IL. mere can be no rational doubt that Cen
jackson wrote such letter. end that il was read tn
the PRESIDENT of the u States should So ia give ia
party feeling, as to desire to screen Gen. jackson
rom consequences that he has SO Justly incurred
That III the attempt he should cvnce willingness TO
sacrifice AN amiabe man, and what is as bad, ex-
pose ms own character, to SUSPICION and obloquy.
We publish the explanatory letter of MIR. Leigh
with much pleasure. We did not designedly misre-
present the character of his speech at the Capito
we are not entirely satisfied that we have esse,,ti
ally done 50.
"eare perfectly satisfied that Mr.. Leigh did not
say that the meeting of the people at the Capitol
vas 'reasonaoe--in that we Inexperienced him.
But ne dtd say, and repeats it, i'll his explapa tion
that Convention called without the interposition
OF the Legislature would be treason under the STA
tute OF 1871. Now the assenblage of the people
Tor the purpose eli organizing such Convention, is
necessary, before ii can exist. If the Convention
are guilty IN acting, the people must be equally so,
who appointed and directed them to act They are
the guiltiest of the two, since such Convention
would be only creatures of their will The religious
fanatics who projected the Gun Powder treason.
were as guilty IN the eye of the law and in that of
morality, as Guy Faux whose desperate hand was
10 nave hred the trainaId if the citizens of Rich
mond were to despatch Representative to Com
vention formed without legislative authority would
IT be far to consign him TO the fate of Guy Faux,
anu let has constituents go Scott free.
We will not be guilty of the PRESUMPTION of en-
fering into an argument with Mr.. Leigh We do
nor think, however that any thing the people can do
is treason. We do not think that the statute was
intended at all for the case OF Convention assem-
bling by the authority of the people, even though
they have not the authority of the peoples seruu,fs
ne Legislature, for their existence-but that il
was INTENDED only for case where part of the
ota'e' or small portion of the people, attempted
not peaceably to amend the CONSTITUTIONS blu, forci-
bly, TO set it aside and erect separate aud nde-
pendent government If, from a strict construction
OF this statute, ii could apply any such case, we
should be inclined TO think it an usurpatioa, and
merely void and of no effect" If we are wrong in
THIS all our own ideas of the sovereignty of the peo-
pie are false, and to be uliearned