The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-03-23

This olfccr, who otherwise seems To have been
az honest and meriton0us man enough appealed
10 the Secretary Of the Treasury who hrst cali
ed the collector 10 account for his conduct then
gave him severe reprmand Tor this fantastic
exercise of his little brief authority aud cnncIu-
ded by ordering him 70 reinsiate his subaltern
Nr. CRAWFORD concluded his letter 10 the col
lector BY telling him that il there was any morti-
hcatiun attrHding the retTaring this step ne must
impute il 70 his own preciptancy in taking it,
Some dissstisf. ctiOn, however was produced 10y
this interference. probably originating among the
friends Of the collector and his fav0rite and
republican meeting was easily collected al New
port, 10 censure the conduct Of the Secretary OF
this occasion II was reported, that be received
the result IN bis usual cavalier style, with some
such EXPIRE ssiOn Of resentment and indignation as
d" that he not 20 be dictated 10 By the repu5h
cans Of Rhode Island" The remark was quite
in character for him % make bot II has since
been denied that he ever uttered 1.-THE name
OF Mr.. HUNTER, for several wears a highly re-
spected federal senator from Rhode Island, was
by public runor associated with this transaction
and Il was also connected with a supposed negO-
citation for the vote Of the state OF Rhode island
to Mr.. CRAWFORD, in consideration of a distin-
guished foreign appointment 70 Mr.. HUNrERI
" under the next administration" This charge
has been publicly repealed by the friends Of Mr.
CRAWFORD ia his name; and the following is an
extract from a letter published by Mr.. HUSrER,
under his signature, in tie Providence Journal on
this subject
! "To this mass Of gross assertion and invention,
/ Gays Mr.. Hunter) plainly and calmly assert,
upon the most perfect consciousness or inno-
cence and Of the truth, that have not had at a.
\ ny time with MIR Crawford anv conversation in
SO III. L.. "a H.
er intruded myself Is 70 this topic upon bis at
teution conceived II point Of delicacy TO
iorbear remark upon this subject, and no allu-
/ sion Of his was ever calculated to draw one from
line. lie has not been with me, nor do believe
with any one else, an intriguer. lie never offer
= ed me an Office of any kind, nor did ever from
him solicit any. He would disdain 20 accept
i the friendship Of any man upon the mere terms
/ Of selssh prospective benefit and il know my
self, am incapable OF making to any man such
n Ia proposition. | repel as contrary 90 all nv
thoughts and habits Of lite, the idea Of bargain
ing Tor Office, and especially of contriving 81 a.
ny means TO pledge the sutfrages Of such think
Z. ing, sagacious and independent race, as arc the
I, ltTeemen OF my native State. deny that Goa
I ition Of the principal leading influential repub-
l cans and federaists could impose upon this
u people, or beguile them of their rights" They
I would with instructive acuteness detect such a
coalition, and if opposed TO the plain sound sense
= of the body Of the community, would disappont
! and defeat it.
i As 70 the charge Of being federalist, Gays
1 Mr. Hunter al uniform, consistent, and mode
rate one, always solicitOus to adhere to the
principles Of federalism as illustrated by the ad-
\ minstration OF Washingon, proudly plead gull
lily. have differed with my brethren On various
\ occasions, but always in the conviction and in
/ dependeDce Of my own judgment that the par
lflticulnr measure objected 70, which they aimed
4 at was contradictory TO the policy and princ-
a pies OF the father Of bis country and that era Of
d Our political felicity which his measures created,
i and which his admonitions ought to have per-
I lpetuated. Andis it then crime, being such a
e tederaist, to entertain an opinion in favour Of
d Mr. Crawford? Iregret that my good will may
! do him dsservice, but am a citizen Of the Uni
D ted States not yet DISTINGUISHED, and have a
/ right to form and express an opinion upon ques-
k lions OF public policy. When there is no federal
o candidate, is federalist excluded from express
ling His preference Of those candidates who are
! presented for selection, or rejection; Under
such circumstances has not federalist right to
5 act on the mere ground of personal preference,
Especially if he feels that ground fortified BY no.
J llitiCal considerations derived from experience
and settled into conviction NY first aCquaint-
ance with Mr.. Crawford was in the stormy peri
cd Of 1871, IL and ID. 1t was in opposition 20
I him learnt to respect and esteem him II was
in debate that l felt the vigour OF his intellect,
and admired the cleamess OF his statements, the
} cogency Of his logic, his energetic but unambi-
I uous eloquence, and high mindedness Of honour
} and sentiment He was true to his party, and
iyet dared at times, at the risk OF popularity to
/ differ from it. His force was felt a. a political
\ Opponent, and YET he was cherished in the per-
, sonal estimation Of such men a. Bayard. LLOYD,
Potter, Dana and others. And is it inconceiya-
bic 10 newspaper writers and their employers,
that there may exist a disinterested preference
for particular individual uninHuenced by The
wish or hope of Office, with no calculation Of E.
ventual benefit and with a disdain Of intrigue or
Y solicitation Icommiserate tie feelings Of such
linen aud augurs i'll Of The political morality Of
tkc country if such is the prevalent sentiment"