Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-08

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committee, and the perseverance with which,
under very adverse circumstances, lcncountcr-
ed the toll and fatigue Of SD long Journey, in
so short "A time, may not afford the most satistac-
tory ycrifcation OF certain bold and confident
predictions, that Il would not dare 10 shcw nv
face here, in yindication Of my own character
against an ingenious plot, that shall always be-
icvc was intended to destroy it forever; yet, if
il viii afford any consolation for the inortiica-
ton, that must result from this additional proof
Of the little reliance that is to be placed in rasl,
ami nasty conclusions, l have no hesitation in
admitting that rcgaid the unfortunate contest
IN winch have been Reluctantly involved, with
all those apprchensions which Il rational man
may be supposed TO feel, who is fully sensible
that he has every disadvantage, and the most
fearful odds, TO encounter, without any thing
more 10 sustain him than tie mere justice of his
cause.
Little, indeed, is the merit I can justly claim
for my iovtitudc in engaging in this unpleasant
controversy; for, L am free TO confess that, If
Mr. Crawford had not rendered it necessary to
my reputation, Should not have had the tcnc-
rity to enter the lists with antagonist posses
sing such formidable and appalling advantages
over me; and do sincerely declare, that, even
after had written my Address TO the House of
Representatives., would most gladly have with
held it, If could have hoped, by any more pa
chic means, to have obtaincd L withdrawal of
ms unjust insmuation, or to have paralysei its
effects. hadnot been such an inattcntive and
careless observer of the current events of 4 few
years past, (Which tic public have also witness
ed rs not to have forcscen the consequences
OF ANY attempt, on nay part, to question the JUS
ticc of MIR. Crawforis attack upoa me, or 10 de-
fend myself against it, And hence, have nei-
Their been surprised by the abuse vliications and
preJudications, that have been pronounced a
gainst me, by gentlemen whose i7,onltiaiitJ
appears 10 have rendered them extremely anX-
Ious to become my judges; nor by the unblush-
ing falsehoods, and other vile means, by which
certain newspaper Editors have cndcayorcd to
torestal and prejudice public opinion against me.
These consequences well knew beforehand [
should have to meet. They were painful in an
,icipation; their realization is excessively So;
but had no other alternative than te bear them,
or, most disboHorabiy, to shrink from the de-
tence of my own character. l did not hesitate
between such alternatives, whatever may be
the result, / shall never regret the chuicc
made.
The good people OF this UGion have Witnessed
the harsh and unfair treatment that | have eX-
perenced, and have no doubttlicy viii CONCUR
with me in the opinion that il is high time that
an orefoaafinG end '!n,ninccriug spirit, too Of
ten heretofore exhibited, which would thus O.
else OF IN acknowledged right, of the perform
ance of public duty. should receive salutary
check; and shall not regret the opportunity OF
contributing to that object, by aiIordiDg de-
monstration of the utter impotcncy of such
means to produce tire slightest effect upon my
self
Whenever lie time shall arrive that any A.
merican citizen caunct, IN decent and respect
iui terms, yindica;e his own character against
inlalibility Of the latter, without being viliGcd,
denounced, and prcjudged, on the .Rooy Of the
House Of Representatives,, and such conduct
shall be tolerated by public sentiment, & back
cd By power anil patronage, VIC may bid a iina
adue to our liberties, ana aggression may tri
uInph with i,np1nitr.
But, among all the occurrences that have
presented themselves in relation to this unhapp,
affair, nothing has surprised me more than tina
yon should have stated TO the public that | re
manned here several days after Mr. Crawior,
made thc report IN question; and that othc
gentlemen, who knew | had left the city, under
| the orders Of Tic President, and in pursuance o
arrangements Tor my cmbardation for Mexico
which had been made before the report was sell
TO the House, should themselves have imagined
| or could have supposed, that an intelligent PEG
pie could be induced TO believe, that any ustif
cation for the yituperativc reproachcs that liav,
been so unsparinGly bestowed upon me, was I,
be found in the circumstance of my having en-
braccdthe first opportunity that presented itself
on my journey 10 vindcatc myself, is also rattle
| more than was prepared 10 expect. Nor is i
improbable that it may be regarded by those
| impartial Judges, to whom we all have to sub
IDlt a. an article to lesson the odium that is Just
| ly due 10 The means which left NE no other al
| Tentative than to submit i'll silence to injurious
lmputations, or to defend myself under those
disadvantageous circumstances.
| After Mr.. Crawiord's effort, which occupies
nearly three colums ofyour paper, to prove thai
had ss7ora .fatscIy, it can no longer be doubt
cd by any one that his report was intended tc
inpeach my crcdibility the more especially a.
it appears, from his own view of the subject
that the letter therein alluded TO, was not one o
those which he was bound to have comnunica
ted, or about.which any remark whatever wa
required BY his official duty. Who, then, Cal
be SO unjust as to blame me for defending my
self? Where, let me ask, is thcman to be found
who sets the least value on his character, & be
ing conscious of bis innocence, would not have
done 500 If, then, there Is any blame for bring
ing this subject before the House of Reprcsen
tativcs, al late period oftilc session. it is due
TO Mr.. Crawford-not to me; for my defence
was produced By his attack AMI this he nigh
have made earlier, or forbornc to have made al
all.
The truth is, that never saw or heard of The
report until the morning after it was made. A
copy of it was then brought to me by member
of the House of Representatives, about one hour
before my intended departure, and SO entircl,
unexpected was il to me, that could not de-
/ eide what course it would be best 70 take in re
gard TO it, howcvcrwaited the balance oftha
day, endcay0uuing to collect such documents a.
! | supposed might be useful to me, IN any even
that might probably happen, left the city the mex
morning, and arrived at Baltimore the sam,
evening, without having determined how o